Groupama 2 gets dipped

First photos of Cammas' new 60ft trimaran

While elsewhere sponsors are dropping out of the ORMA 60ft trimaran circuit, so there comes some positive news with the launch of the invincible Franck Cammas' new van Peteghem-Prevost designed trimaran Groupama 2.

We have written at length about this new boat already - click here to read more.

Cammas' new trimaran has been in build for 13 months its various components completed at seven different boatyards in France and Spain. The assembly took place at CDK Composites in Port la Foret, Brittany but the completion of the boat will now take place at the team's base in the WW2 submarine silo complex in Lorient once it is towed around there - a journey of around 30 miles.

Once out of the water in Lorient Cammas and his team will get to work on all the complicated parts of the trimaran - the rig, the rudder, daggerboard and float foils, the electrics and electronics as well as the rest of the accommodation - the bunk, galley, chart tables, etc.

The new trimaran is expected to be making her first sea trials in May prior to the departure of the Transat (formerly the OSTAR). In the Transat Cammas will be sailing his old Groupama. The new boat is not expected on to the race course until the end of the season.



Cammas wasn't present to see his boat go in the water for the first time. He is currently away competing in a skiing/sailing event in the Alps. "This is the first time that I am not there to see one of my boats go in the water, even if this is a special boat" he said. "I know that I can count on my team. While I am waiting to receive the first photographs by email, I think back to all the work that has taken place on the design for over two years, those who supported us and our sponsor and partner Groupama. They are fabulous. I also remember 1998, the date when I launched my first trimaran and the passages we have made since. I have only one hope: that we can get as good results with the second boat as we did the first Groupama."

The cost of the new boat is 2.9 million Euros (roughly £2 million) ready to sail. 15% of this budget was spent in research and development. Perhaps this is why numbers are slowly dwindling on the ORMA circuit.