Groupama 4 sets off on qualifier

Franck Cammas and his Volvo crew to complete 2000 mile passage via Lisbon and the Azores

Groupama 4 has set off on her officially qualifier for the Volvo Ocean Race. The race rules dictate that Volvo Open 70s competing in the fully crewed round the world race must cover 2,000 miles without stopping by 3 October. Groupama will be the third competitor to set off on her qualifier following on from Camper and Telefònica.

Groupama 4 left the dock today at 1000. Skipper Franck Cammas and navigator Jean-Luc Nélias have created a course which suits the needs of the team. “We're seeking some windy zones so as we can trial all sorts of sails and manœuvres in variable conditions”.

So they are heading due south across the Bay of Biscay towardsCape Finistère, before rounding a virtual mark offshore of Lisbon and then heading northwest towards the Azores before finally returning to Brittany. “We should be back again by next Wednesday,” says Nélias.

“We're setting out with the aim of sailing as if we were in race mode, with the same pressure in the manœuvres, the way we trim the boat and the same set-up aboard”, explains Franck Cammas.

The crew onboard:
Franck Cammas
Thomas Coville
Damian Foxall
Jean-Luc Nélias
Brad Marsh
Phil Harmer
Martin Krite
Martin Strömberg
Erwan Israël
Sébastien Marsset
Yann Riou