Groupama 2 undergoes sea trials

Thumbs up from skipper Franck Cammas

Since the launch of his new Groupama 2 Franck Cammas and his team have been putting their new beast through early sea trials.

"We are really on our way," concludes Cammas of these first tests. "We did not have any structural breakage which is always possible once a new boat is launched. It is all seems to be very positive. We obviously still have much to learn because there are new systems and they need perfecting - in particular the hydraulic system for canting the mast. We don't want to make any costly mistakes."

Compared to the first Groupama, upwind: " Groupama 2 is much softer in the sea," continues Cammas. "That is what we wanted having refined the entries of the hulls. When a wave hits the main hull you feel it less. Because my helm position is further outside, I also have the impression that I am up higher."

It also feels like the platform is stiffer, and the crossarms flex less. The boat seems well balanced on the helm which is very healthy. When making course changes the windward float doesn't seem to dig in much.

Downwind the gennaker is larger than before as the mast has been moved further aft. The boat accelerates well and leavea little wake. When you lift the daggerboard in the main hull, the helm becomes softer, more precise and there is less hydrodynamic drag. Upwind, it is necessary that the boat is balanced perfectly because the foils in the floats are not very large ".

The crew have already taken the boat out in big wind and have exceeded 30 knots. "What was very pleasant, is that we remained dry. The boat seems to handle the sea very well."

After five days of sea trials, Groupama 2 has now returned ashore as Cammas and his sailing team fly to Quebec to take place in the fully crewed transat to St Malo starting on Sunday. This will give the Groupama technical team 15 days to check the new boat thoroughly.

"During these five days of sailing, we did not have any concern about Groupama 2. But we will check the whole of the structure to ensure us that nothing has occurred that is invisible to the naked eye. We also need to fit the carbon bars for the two bunks, which will be useful when we deliver the boat to Fécamp and then to the Mediterranean "says Stéphane Guilbaud, director of the project.

Once the old Groupama has returned to Lorient after the Quebec-St Malo then the two boats will undertake an extensive program of two boat testing.

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