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2010/05/19-11h43
A trophy for a record
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| Jules Verne Trophy |
| With Franck Cammas, Frédéric Le Peutrec, Stève Ravussin, Loïc le Mignon, Lionel Lemonchois, Jacques Caraës, Thomas Coville,
Ronan Le Goff, Bruno Jeanjean and Sylvain Mondon (meteorologist-onshore weather router), the crew of the trimaran Groupama
3* were back together last night at the Musée de la Marine in Paris. The latter is a timeless place, which is remarkable for
somewhere that houses the symbol of racing against the clock: the Jules Verne Trophy!
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Indeed all the protagonists were gathered together for the handing over of the Trophy: From Florence Arthaud and Titouan
Lamazou, the forerunners for whom "going around the world in under 80 days seemed plausible" to Bruno Peyron the
previous winner of trophy. Everyone was there to offer their congratulations to the crew, which smashed the 50 day round the
world barrier on 20th March 2010**.
The clean lines of the hull, which levitates by means of a magnetic field, is
the object of desire for all ocean racing time chasers and round the world sailors. "We even thought about this trophy
during our watches with Jaco!" recalled Franck Cammas, still moved by the moment after the ceremony.
"To
be back together again, after two months on dry land where each of us have gone our separate ways to return to our various
occupations, is really special! This trophy has played hard to get and finally comes to us, not without its fair share of
effort, at the end of our 3rd attempt. This hull, a symbol of our victory, punctuates this chapter tonight. I've been very
well supported as much by the crew as by the shore team. It's a very enriching collective adventure, the likes of which will
remain with us our whole lives".
After the ceremony the merry group had a toast to friendship at the Café
de l'Homme, where they discussed their different dreams and desires... As you might expect a whole host of projects were envisaged,
with everyone keen to share their adventures. Doubtless we shall witness these diverse and varied plans in action in the near
future.
For Franck it will be this coming weekend with Groupama 70's participation in the Transmanche, the
start of which will be given late afternoon on Friday 21st May.
*With Stan Honey being held back in the United
States, he was unfortunately absent last night.
**It took 48 days 7 hours 44 minutes and 52 seconds for the 10 men on
Groupama 3 to loop the loop.
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