|
|
2008/02/06 - 08h59
200 miles from the cape
|
| Jules Verne Trophy |
| Despite a more N'ly course now than Orange II was able to adopt in 2005, Groupama 3 is maintaining a 500 mile lead over the
reference time and should pass the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope this afternoon.
|
Heading due East at thirty knots, at least the early hours of Wednesday have been productive thanks to a low, which is
passing to the South of the giant trimaran. However, in the coming hours, this disturbance will get ahead of Groupama 3, causing
the 25 knot wind to back from WSW to the South this evening. This rotation shouldn't slow Groupama 3's progress, but it will
force the crew to drop the gennaker and hoist the solent jib in order to sail with the wind on the beam.
This won't
cause too many problems though the breeze isn't likely to ease from this Wednesday evening! Indeed, a zone of high pressure
is forming behind this low and could catch up with Groupama 3, which can't drop to the South due to the overly chaotic sea
state. The next few hours are going to be a drag race then between the giant trimaran and the light winds coming up on their
tails, whilst the Indian Ocean has already opened its doors. Positioned 200 miles from the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope
this morning, Franck Cammas and his crew should leave the Atlantic Ocean for around twenty days prior to rounding Cape Horn...
With a lead of nearly 20 hours over the reference time established by Orange II in 2005 (14d 08h 19'), Groupama 3 is holding
onto a small lead prior to this long rotation around the Antarctic...
Also of note is the fact that Groupama 3 has
a strong chance of improving on the reference time set by Orange 2 in 2005 (7 days 5 hours and 22 minutes) over the course
from the Equator to the Cape of Good Hope. To achieve this, Franck Cammas and his men will have to cross the longitude of
the cape before 1937 UT this evening.
|
|
|
|
|
