Groupama 3

Ask the world's top sailors who they think is the best, and you often hear the name Franck Cammas. In France, Franck Cammas's position on the fame scale lies somewhere between Rock Star and Religious Icon. Young, handsome, and very skilled, Cammas is enjoying a record-breaking career at the helm of Groupama's mighty multis, while still popping off to race everything else that floats - taking second on the f-18's a couple weeks ago, for instance.

Back in France after righting Groupama 3 in the New Zealand port of Dunedin, eight of the crew of the giant trimaran were in Groupama's press centre in Paris today to answer questions from journalists and web surfers during today's press conference. Extracts from the interviews...

Gitana 13 - The Route de l'Or: Lionel Lemonchois and his nine-man crew are again plying northern-hemisphere waters. They crossed the equator today, Tuesday 19 February, at 1:56’39’’ (French time), at a longitude of 97°W. Team Gitana thus spent 26 days 17 hours and 32 minutes covering the 7,500 miles between equator crossings in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Sailing off New Zealand, Groupama 3 capsized following the breakage of her port float. The ten men were very quickly airlifted via helicopter by the New Zealand rescue services and taken to Dunedin (South Island). They will do everything they can to salvage the trimaran once the conditions on zone have improved.

Groupama 3 - Jules Verne Trophy Circumnavigation: Tasmania is already in Groupama 3's wake and the midway point in this round the world record attempt was therefore crossed this Saturday morning at around 0443 UT, that is after 23 days at sea! And though the Indian Ocean has now given way to the Pacific, it is also an opportunity for Franck Cammas and his men to rediscover some high speeds for at least the next three days!