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2007/01/22 - 17h00
Optimization and reliability for Groupama 2
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| By Bruno Laurent |
| Two offshore races, including a trans-Atlantic crossing and five Grand Prix: that is to say 12 000 nautical miles covered
in 2006. The precious experience gained throughout the year on board Groupama 2 has led Franck Cammas and his team to carry
on a winter refit to optimize the boat and make it more reliable.
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A general checkup
"Taken out of the water, the boat was completely stripped: hydraulics, electronics and
electric equipment were sent for a checkup. With the same approach, winches and transmission systems are currently examined
closely."
Foils: a few centimetres to gain in stability
"The principal operation of the winter
refit consisted in moving the foils forward". A modification Franck Cammas wanted to make the Van Pateghen - Lauriot Prévost
design more stable in reaching conditions. "At the beginning of January, we took apart the foil casings. A hard work which
took nearly two weeks of labor "in the dust" for five members of the team: Yoann Bibbeau, Thierry Madec, Samuel Thomas, Bruno
Noël, and not to forget, Jean-Marc Normant who supervised the whole operation. In the mean time, the male mould for the new
foil casings was manufactured in Caen, by the society Global Service. Laid up with carbon, they will be installed in Lorient.
But before, we will have to rebuild the reinforcements located in the floaters."
Foils: revision and optimization
"Works on foils are also in process. This winter break is a good opportunity to check if the appendage suffered from
deformation with the effort. Therefore, sounding of the foils is made by Global Service."
Mid-March, a few days
only after his "big brother", Groupama 2 will go back to its element, in offshore configuration, so that Franck can start
preparing for the Transat Jacques Vabre, main event of the 2007 ORMA multihulls season.
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