|
|
2007/01/22 - 17h30
A busy winter refit for Groupama 3
|
| By Pascal Blouin |
| Launched last June, Groupama 3 undergoes its first winter refit so as to be ready to start the record breaking campaign. With
a full season of sailing since the giant of the seas is out of the Multiplast boatyard, the Groupama 3 team used the winter
break to modify some imperfections and optimize the platform of the maxi trimaran.
|
A general checkup
"Groupama 3 is on dry dock for its first time since it hit the water. First thing was
to validate that the platform was in accordance with the initial plans. Loïc Le Mignon took apart rigging, winches, transmission
systems and electronics to check everything and see if they can be improved. We then took radiographies of most of titanium
pieces of the boat."
Floaters: reinforcement and reliability
"Eric Beylot and his team from Gepeto
Composites (total of 5 people) currently work on floater's reinforcements, installed in front of the cross beam, to counter
the waves vibrations. These operations which are carried out in collaboration with HDS and VPLP naval architects should be
finished for mid-February."
Appendage: revision and optimization
"The two floater's rudders were
sent to AMCO to check their profile, and a third appendage is being built. This third rudder will be a spare part, in case
of damage on the first records of the season. It will also be on board for the Jules Verne Trophy.
As for Groupama 2,
the foils are being checked at Gobal Service in Caen.
Finally, we are working on the trailing edge of the daggerboard
to make it less noisy (80 ambient decibels, which is unacceptable). This is all done in collaboration with Martin Fisher."
Rigging:
weight diminution and search of performance
"To reduce windage and gain some weight at the top, we passed the lower
and upper shrouds in Pbo, instead of Kevlar, which they were made of before. With the same concern, we removed a runner. And
sail wise, we sent back the main sail and the light gennaker to the sail maker (Incidences, in Brest and La Rochelle) to reduce
some volume."
Groupama 3 should hit the water again at the beginning of March. Franck Cammas and his team will
then go out for a few testing navigations off the Brittany coast before beginning their records breaking campaign.
 |
|
|
|
|
