After being dramatically slowed at the start of the Indian Ocean (read previous story here), the progress of Franck Cammas has been steadier. The zone of high pressure, along whose southern edge they are currently sailing, isn’t as powerful as it appeared due to the crew being behind on the planned routing. As such they are not into the big surfing conditions yet, but the giant trimaran is making headway at a cruising speed of 20 to 25 knots in this very pacified Indian Ocean.

Repositioning

“After giving everything a try since Monday evening, Groupama 3 is watching the N’ly wind slip away just ahead of her bows. Indeed, despite very good speeds since Tuesday night, obtained thanks to the return of the front via the West, the N’ly wind couldn’t be reached, though it was very close on a couple of occasions (less than 20 miles to the East). For the first time since leaving Brest, a ‘door’ has closed just ahead of Franck Cammas and his crew, despite their unremitting effort and determination to try absolutely everything to avoid this…” explained weather expert Sylvain Mondon, from Météo France.

With the SW’ly wind having made it to the navigation zone, Groupama 3 is continuing on her way on starboard tack towards the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) this Wednesday morning (17 February). The strategy has been modified to make for Tasmania as quickly as possible and continue to truck across the Indian Ocean at as high a speed as possible, to enable them to make inroads into the reference time set by Orange 2 in 2005. At 0600 UTC Franck Cammas and his men put in a gybe to reposition themselves further South in order to make towards the Kerguelen Islands.

To follow Groupama 3’s progress, visit www.cammas-groupama.com