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2008/06/19 - 13h48
Franck Cammas and Groupama 2 at Brest 2008 but no Transat Quebec - St Malo
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Since committing itself to sailing back in 1998, Groupama has participated in every edition of the Transat Québec Saint Malo,
taking victory in 2000 and finishing second in 2004.
For this 2008 edition, Franck Cammas had put together a superb crew.
However, for want of rivals, it's not Quebec but rather the Finistère in NW France for which the skipper of the Groupama trimarans
will be heading in order to participate in the Brest 2008 gathering.
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Whilst the multihull is experiencing renewed interest with the preparations for the 33rd edition of the America's Cup, the
candidates in the Transat Quebec - Saint Malo aren't very numerous.
Under such conditions and in order not to offend
the participating 50 footers, the President of Quebec International Sailing was offering the two registered ORMA 60 footers
the chance of a record over a different course (leaving the archipelago of the Azores to port) with a staggered start.
Despite
being highly motivated, the Groupama team renounce this substitute transatlantic race: "It's a real shame. This is a
fine transatlantic race and we were all set to participate. Unfortunately there's not many of us and the organisers were afraid
we'd steal the limelight from the 50 footers" explained Franck Cammas, adding: "The whole team is disappointed,
the shipowner Groupama of course, but also the crew who were supposed to be taking part in the race. I'm referring in particular
to Jean-Baptiste Levaillant who hasn't missed a single edition since its creation in 1984 or even Jean-Marc Bernard who was
going to bring the race to life from the inside on the I Télé and Canal + TV channels".
Recent winner of
the Bol d'Or, the skipper of Groupama will therefore take part in Brest 2008. For its 5th edition, this gathering will play
host to a surprising anthology of boats, traditions and maritime practices, from the oldest of the great sailing boats like
the 4-master Kruzenshtern measuring a length of 114 metres to the more contemporary Pen Duick 6, aboard which Eric Tabarly
won The Transat (formerly Ostar) in 1976: "It's a unique opportunity for us to sail alongside our ancestors. It's thanks
to them that we can reach crazy speeds on our multihulls today. They paved the way forward for us. Added to this Brest is
also the festival of sailing".
However, prior to heading to Brest, Franck and his crew will be participating
in the SNSM Trophy (French lifeboat association), the start for which will be given this Sunday evening in Saint Nazaire on
France's Atlantic coast. On the programme, a round trip of some 570 miles as far as Saint Malo, the ultimate pirate town.
Groupama 2 will be racing alongside the trimaran skippered by Pascal Bidégorry, winner of the 2007 edition. Suffice to say
that the crews will relish what will be their only confrontation of 2008.
Following this is the World F18 Championship
in Spain, where Franck will be contesting with Jérémie Lagarrigue. Together the two men have successively won the National
in the series at Quiberon in May, as well as the `Raid des 3 Phares' race. Aboard their Nacra catamaran in the colours of
Groupama, they'll be doing battle with the world's top specialists.
Rendez-vous in Saint-Nazaire then for Groupama
2, who set sail for the start this Thursday morning in fairly gloomy conditions. The crew who will participate in the Trophy
and who are accompanying the skipper on this delivery are Stève Ravussin, Loïc Le Mignon, Alberto Barovier, Bruno Laurent
and Jean-Baptiste Le Vaillant.
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