Job done

Franck Cammas' Groupama 3 sets new Transmed record

In the early hours of this morning Franck Cammas and his crew notched up their fifth record on board their 105ft maxi-trimaran Groupama 3 in setting a new record, subject to ratification by the WSSRC, for the Transmed course between Marseille and Carthage, Tunisia.

Having set sail from Marseille yesterday at 07:19 GMT to try and beat the time set by Bruno Peyron in 2004, Groupama 3 crossed the finishing line by the lighthouse of Ras Quartajamah on Cap Carthage at 00:27:23 GMT this morning, in a time of 17 hours 8 minutes and 23 seconds, just 48 minutes faster than Orange 2 managed five years ago.

Groupama 3 sailed the 458 mile passage at an average speed of 26.72 knots, compared to 25.53 for Orange II.

A few minutes after crossing the line Franck Cammas commented: "We made a very beautiful first part of the course with a top speed of over 42 knots. The last part has been more difficult upwind with less pressure than expected and highly variable in direction. It was a tough crossing because the sea was short and brutal, but Groupama 3 was very well behaved. Nothing broke and the crew was great. That bodes well for the rest of Groupama 3's program. "