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2008/02/02 - 10h51
Same trajectory
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| Jules Verne Trophy |
| Four years on, Groupama 3 is following the same trajectory as Orange II on its descent of the South Atlantic, but with a lead
of over 700 miles on the catamaran...
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Since last night, the tradewinds have begun to be orientated to the NE, enabling the crew of Groupama 3 to hoist the gennaker,
whilst bending its course in towards the African coast... Their average speed has naturally dropped slightly but the trimaran
is still racking up 600 miles a day and is maintaining a 700 mile lead over Orange II. This progress should continue as the
weather conditions will become more favourable with the arrival of a front moving over from South America, which will bring
its share of rain and squalls, but willl nevertheless generate a good, steadier N'ly air flow enabling Franck Cammas and his
nine crew to aim directly for South Africa by taking the shortest possible course in relation to the Saint Helena High. In
this way, the giant trimaran willl very rapidly enter the roaring 40's and find a W'ly breeze from the end of the weekend!
In short, the sequence of weather systems augurs very well indeed for their progress...
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