As announced a few days ago, the crew compiled by Franck Cammas and Franck Proffit to attack the
Jules Verne Trophy aboard Groupama 3 in the near future, comprised nine names each more inviting than the next. The only one
missing was that of the navigator set to replace Dutch sailor Marcel Van Triest, forced to remain onshore for personal reasons.
After a chance encounter at the Paris Boat Show, it is the navigator from Arcachon, SW France, Yves Parlier, who has been
chosen for this key position aboard. An atypical profile which makes him stand out not simply through his weather expertise,
but also for his experience of circumnavigations and his enthusiasm. Nicknamed the Extra-terrestrial, Yves Parlier will
have the onerous task of tracing the best routes to hunt down Orange 2's record time around the planet. A challenge worthy
of this man whose track record abounds with both sporting and human exploits...
Winner of the Mini Transat 1985, the Solitaire du Figaro 1991, the Route du Rhum 1994, the Transat Jacques Vabre 1997...
Victories and podium places aren't lacking for Yves Parlier, who has graced all the ocean-racing circuits for the past twenty
years. As a sailor: his determination to go all the way in whatever he undertakes, ready to complete the Vendée Globe virtually
without food after re-stepping his mast by his own means to the South of New Zealand. As a man: above all else, the talent
of this visionary must be celebrated as the great inventor who, in the tradition of Eric Tabarly, one day made his dreams
a reality. Renowned and recognised for his great finesse in weather analysis, it was to this complete and eclectic sailor
that Franck Cammas has chosen to entrust the navigation aboard Groupama 3. The two men share the fact that they are also one
step ahead architecturally as well as being meticulous on every level in the preparation of their projects. "This role,
which Franck has entrusted me with on this adventure, is a position I adore and in which I feel at ease. Groupama 3 is also
a fabulous, accomplished boat at the height of what can be best achieved today. I wasn't necessarily of a mind to doing the
Jules Verne Trophy but I am profoundly attracted by a Round the World. I like the Southern Ocean and I wasn't sure I'd ever
be able to return there some day. As a result this proposition is like a big Christmas present... especially on a boat like
this!" confided the now tenth man aboard Groupama 3
Operational manager of the maxi trimaran, in charge of
crew recruitment, Franck Proffit recalled the reasons which motivated the arrival of Yves Parlier aboard the modern G Class:
"We ended up without a navigator four days from the beginning of standby. We had several foreign pistes but these sailors
were held by the Cup. As luck would have it our paths crossed that of Yves Parlier, who happened to be available and above
all ready to set off on a circumnavigation straightaway. His profile met our expectations perfectly; he has the experience
of a round the world and multihulls and he immediately demonstrated that he was prepared to invest his time and energy into
the Groupama 3 project. Yves is a very good navigator, a very good sailor and he shows real expertise in the area of lamination,
which is a real bonus if we happen to encounter a problem of this kind during the Jules Verne Trophy. His experience of long
navigations means that he also has a great ability to manage his sleep and be operational at a moment's notice. He got in
with us last week and has already fully integrated the group."
Officially a member of Team Groupama for
this Jules Verne Trophy campaign, Yves Parlier has already put on his onboard navigator jacket and has taken winter quarters
in Lorient, NW France, the maxi-trimaran's base. During this attempt, the Arcachon sailor will be off-watch and will spend
the majority of his time at the chart table, with his privileged onshore discussion partner, Sylvain Mondon from Météo France.
Weather flash from Wednesday 12th December by Sylvain Mondon:
"Today we are observing a disturbed air flow over the North Atlantic as well as the absence of the Azores High. The
latter has also led today to a lack of tradewinds in the Northern hemisphere (generally situated to the South of Portugal).
We will remain in this weather pattern until Monday 17th December inclusive. However, from Tuesday things will evolve and
may give way to an interesting configuration. One of the depressions sweeping over the North Atlantic should take on a little
SE'ly in its course and position itself over Madeira. This will be accompanied by an E'ly air flow, comprising between 20
and 35 knots, in the Bay of Biscay for at least three days. The downside of this depression centre is that it will disrupt
the establishing of the NE'ly tradewinds, placing them fairly low down, beyond 25° North. The men on Groupama 3 would then
have a ridge of high pressure to cross between the Canaries and Cape Verde. It's a situation which will have to be watched
carefully over the coming days."
