Mission: 28+ knots across the North Atlantic

Groupama III sets sail on New York to Lizard record attempt

After a month and a half on stand by Groupama 3 this evening set off on what will be skipper Franck Cammas and his team's hardest record to date - the crewed passage east across the North Atlantic from New York to the Lizard.

The 105ft long trimaran passed Ambrose Light at the mouth of New York Harbour at 18:02:55s GMT today (Thursday) with 2,925 miles of North Atlantic Ocean to cross in less than 4 days 8 hours 23 minutes and 54 seconds - the present record set by Bruno Peyron and the crew of the maxi-catamaran Orange II in July 2006 (read about this here). Thus Groupama III will have to reach the Lizard by Tuesday July 24 at 02h 27m 49s GMT and average more than 28 knots!

The question is, despite such a long wait in Newport, RI, have the team left in the optimum weather conditions? For this record only the best conditions will allow them to constantly make the necessary speed required to break Orange II's record. Cammas admits that their cut-off was approaching and this was the best weather window available.

"The window weather is not really ideal but this is what we have… the conditions which benefitted Orange 2 last year when she set the new reference time, haven't materialise for us this year!"

However the crossing will start be intense, Cammas continues: "To cross the Atlantic - that is to say nearly 3000 miles in four days - inevitably implies maintaining a constant high speed. We expect strong weather conditions, with very high speeds and cold for the first part of the course since we will come very close to the ice zone when we pass south of Newfoundland."

While they will set sail in lighter conditions, Cammas reckons they will see 25-30 knots when they are level with Newfoundland. "It is from there that things will become complicated because we are not in a traditional depression accompanying us from one end of the Atlantic to the other. We will have to catch a second system weather which approaches from Greenland and which could enable us to finish with wind. But is still far from to be clear… the end of the course at the moment looks most uncertain.”

When Bruno Peyron and the crew Orange II made their famous attempt in 2006 they also managed to set a new 24 hour record of 766.8 miles and breaking this will also be one of the aims for Cammas and his team. 766.8 miles in 24 hours equates to an average of 31.95 knots...

"The 24 hour record is possible, at least on paper. In particular during the first part of the course, where should experience relatively good conditions for us. And if we return with in our pocket, it will already be a very good crossing!"

Even if the record attempt isn't successful it will still be excellent training for the main goal of breaking Orange II's record for the Jules Verne Trophy, non-stop around the world that Groupama III will embark upon at the end of this year.

“Since the beginning, our preparation has been for the Trophy Jules Verne," says Cammas. "If we don't beat the Atlantic record this year, we'll return next year. But what is certain is that this crossing will be hard, and it will enable us to test the crew, the boat, the materials and the organisation under difficult conditions….It is certain all these will be positive for our effort. "

The crew of Groupama 3 are Franck Cammas, Franck Proffit, Steve Ravussin, Frédéric le Peutrec, Bruno Jeanjean, Sebastien Audigane, Yann Guichard, Ronan le Goff, Loïc Le Mignon Pascal Blouin. They are being routed on land by Jean-Yves Bernot.

On the next page are forecast charts showing how the weather should develop...

Below is a table showing previous records on this passage:

Yacht Name	Year	Skipper	Type	Length (m)	Days	Hours	Minutes	Seconds	Avg. Speed
Atlantic	1905	Charlie Barr	Mono	5 6	12	4	1	19	10.02
Paul Ricard	1980	Eric Tabarly	Foiler	16.45	10	5	14	20	11.94
Elf Aquitaine I	1981	Marc Pajot	Cat	19.2	9	10	6	34	12.94
Jet Services II	1984	Patrick Morvan	Cat	18	8	16	36		14
Royale II	1986	Loick Caradec	Cat	25	7	21	5	42	15.39
Fleury Michon VIII	1987	Philippe Poupon	Tri	22	7	12	49	34	16.16
Jet Services V	1988	Serge Madec	Cat	22	7	6	30		16.71
Jet Services V	1990	Serge Madec	Cat	22	6	13	3	32	18.63
Playstation	2001	Steve Fossett	Cat	38	4	17	28		25.78
Orange II	2006	Bruno Peyron	Cat	36	4	8	23	54	28