La Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale http://www.routedurhum.com
Sunday 7 november
Route du Rhum: Transition
You cannot count on anything in the Route du Rhum. Unless you refer to the
suspense, which is something that is always guaranteed. With 474 miles to
go, Groupama 3 is tackling a zone of light airs as forecast. Speeds have
dropped from 20 to 10 knots, which is inversely proportional to the effort
put in by Franck Cammas.
For now the sails for strong breeze have been stowed away. The large solent
is out of its bag getting some air. The reefs in the indexsail have one by
one been shaken out.
On deck the spray is no longer lashing against the face of Groupama 3’s
skipper. We can imagine the sea which is becoming calmer.
Between the manœuvres, trimming and weather analysis for the end of this
race, Franck hasn’t got a lot of time to think about the situation. The
position of his rivals is hardly of interest to him now given their sizeable
deficits. They aren’t irreversible but they are sizeable.
At the last position report, it was Francis Joyon who was sending the
speedos into turmoil, making 18 knots in relation to Groupama 3’s 10 knots.
Suffice to say that at this pace, the 355 mile deficit he has at the moment
will quickly shrink away.
However, 474 miles from the finish, the skipper of Groupama 3 isn’t
surprised. He was expecting it in fact. Put away in the corner of his brain,
this distance doesn’t overshadow his flawless determination. Indeed Cammas
is a competitor through and through. He’s a sailor who knows that you can’t
count on anything until you’re across the finish line.
In Pointe à Pitre a moderate S’ly wind is blowing across the land. The sky
is overcast and there’s a sticky heat. The bookmakers could line their
pockets. In reality it’s the meteorologists above all who have their noses
to the grindstone, cursing Tomas, the powerful tropical depression which is
fogging the issue…
Patience is the order of the day then as we await the privilege of
witnessing the triumphant arrival of the winner. It is likely to be Monday
evening in Pointe à Pitre, which is the early hours of Tuesday back in
Europe.
Positions at 1500 GMT on Sunday 7th November
1/ Groupama 3 some 474 miles from the finish
2/ Sodebo 193 miles from the leader
3/ Idec 355 miles from the leader
4/ Gitana 11 some 578 miles from the leader
....
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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