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2007/06/27 - 12h56
Groupama 2, second on the SNSM Trophy
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SNSM TROPHY
From Saint-Nazaire to St-Malo, from June 22nd to June 27th 2007 |
| The third event of the ORMA Championship finished this morning at the foot of the Saint-Malo ramparts. The 60' foot trimarans
entered in the SNSM Trophy which left Saint-Nazaire yesterday at 1:03 PM reached the corsair city shortly after 5:00 AM. In
order: Banque Populaire, Groupama 2 and Sopra Group. On the finishing line, moored off the Cézembre Island, a short distance
separated the two crews of Franck Cammas and Pascal Bidégorry.
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A great finish after a long duel
Groupama 2 crossed the line only two minutes after Banque Populaire. A great finish after a long duel and over 16 hours within
contact along the Brittany coast. The ORMA Champion title is now open! As for Gitana 11, they were forced to abandon the race
due damage to their pulpit while passing Ushant.
A few weeks ago, during the AS Lease Challenge in Lorient, the skipper
of the Groupama trimarans cited: "The boats are very closed in terms of performance and we have to sail hard to win."
The first position of Banque Populaire on the SNSM Trophy with an advance of only two short minutes confirmed the skipper's
quote... On his arrival in the Vauban basin, a tired Franck Cammas after a night with no sleep reflected on the conditions
they had for this quick round of Brittany. "The course was basically a large windward-leeward race starting upwind and
finishing downwind... with a wind of 16 to 22 knots at the start we tacked along the coast: we passed inside Hoedic, into
the Teignouse channel, then between Groix Island and Lorient... very nice! Then the wind became stronger and the sea heavier
the off Penmarc'h coast. But the conditions remained navigable. As planned, we finished along the Northern coast with a wind
from abeam."
Leading most of the race, Franck and his men saw Banque Populaire coming after them shortly
after the Brittany Point: "We had a great lead passing Ushant, but they caught up with us very quickly on the reach. We worked
through the various options, changing front sails and trying a more coastal option towards the end. But looking back on the
situation now, there was nothing we could have done. I hope we get our revenge on the Rolex Fastnet Race" concluded the skipper
of the Groupama trimarans.
Groupama 2 will go back to her base tomorrow in Lorient, where she will stay until
the next event: Douarnenez Challenge - Penn ar Bed Record from July 13th to July 15th.
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