Cammas dominates in-ports

Tour de France a la Voile resumes in Spain

Franck Cammas and his team on Groupama 34 continue to dominate the Tour de France a la Voile today winning both in-port races in Rosas, Spain.

“Today was all about sailing to the left of the race course,” said Groupama 34 trimmer Maxime Paul. “We benefited from extreme focus and two great starts. We sailed with our usual line-up so the communication was great."

Sailing conditions were ideal with 10 knots of wind from the east, a calm sea state and a strong sun. Both starts were very close. After a general recall in race one, the fleet started again under a black flag.

The competitors sailing to the left of the course did best. Groupama 34 and Team OmanSail led both races ahead of Nantes St Nazaire E.Leclerc, third in the first race, and Bretagne Crédit Mutuel Elite, third of the second race.

Like TPM-Coych, others sailed to the right side but did well anyway – the local team took fifth twice today. “We didn’t do exactly what we were planning to do upwind but I’m happy with our day,” said tactician Martin Le Pape.

All 96 sailors leave on the 57-mile leg to Gruissan, France tomorrow morning. The weather forecast is for it to be very light in the morning with sea breeze filling in in the afternoon. The leg gets underway at 09:00 (local) but the fleet will motor in convoy if the wind proves too light in the beginning.

Groupama 34's Maxime Paul said: "Tomorrow’s leg will be sailed in light conditions, downwind, with the sea breeze coming in stronger than today. We are not worried. We'll have the right amount of wind in the right direction to quickly reach Gruissan."

Overall results after 24 races:

1 GROUPAMA 34, CAMMAS Franck 918 pts - Blue spinnaker
2 BRETAGNE CREDIT MUTUEL ELITE, TROUSSEL Nicolas 854 pts
3 COURRIER DUNKERQUE 3, SOUBEN Daniel 841 pts
4 SODEBO, COVILLE Thomas 823, 7 pts
5 TEAM OMANSAIL, POULIGNY Cédric 817 pts
6 TOULON PROVENCE MEDITERRANEE - COYCH, BERNAZ Jean-Baptiste 733 pts
7 VILLE DE GENEVE - CARREFOUR ADDICTIONS, METTRAUX Elodie-Jane et GROUX Nicolas 713 pts
8 NANTES - SAINT NAZAIRE - E.LECLERC, DOUGUET Corentin 706 pts
9 NORMANDIE, CHOQUENET Baptiste 663 pts
10 MARTINIQUE - BE.BRUSSELS, WOLTERS Delphine et MOURES Matthieu 634 pts
11 ISKAREEN, DITTMERS Christiane et BRUHNS Sönke 621 pts
12 BIENNE - VOILE – SRS, PETER Luzius et KUNZ François 567 pts