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Groupama control fleet after conservative approach pays
Groupama’s relatively conservative approach to Tropical Storm Alberto was paying huge dividends on Monday evening as the French team emerged fully in control of the fleet with a near 50-mile lead and a two-knot speed advantage.
Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/
Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race
Yann Riou/Groupama Sailing Team/Volvo Ocean Race
Rather than head for the stronger winds close to the centre of the storm, Franck Cammas’ crew timed a turn east to perfection ahead of the rest of the fleet – and what a move it was proving to be as they turned the smallest of advantages into a comfortable lead.
PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, winners of the last two legs, took a more northerly route but shortly after 1600 UTC were forced to tack back to the southeast to get out of the worst of the weather.
While overall leaders Telefónica and the CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand took a middle path that looked set to keep them safely on the fringes of the storm, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Sanya were forced to make a big detour to escape the worst.
At the 1900 UTC position report CAMPER were up to second, with PUMA and Telefónica falling into line just a few miles behind.
Worst hit were Abu Dhabi and Sanya, who fell back to 68 miles and 87 miles behind respectively.
Related Articles
- 26 May 2012Abu Dhabi pull away as key decisions loom
- 26 May 2012Abu Dhabi take lead as CAMPER hit a reptilian snag
- 25 May 2012Abu Dhabi edge ahead in leaderboard reshuffle
- 24 May 2012Telefónica snatch pole position as teams head north
- 23 May 2012Groupama brains trust ponder their next move
- 21 May 2012Fleet head north towards tropical storm catapult
Comments
@Dudawei I guess you could say it's conservative in that they moved away from the better pressure. Less conservative if you're putting your boat and crew in harms way? ie. Alberto
When they split from the fleet early in the first leg, that was a "bold move" now it is a "conservative approach" ??? Interesting point of view
Early to make a prediction but like Hervè said the Real Ocean Master Racer speak French people like Loick Peiron already made 45 Atlantic Crossing Cammas may be 25 who other could write that on the proper C.V.???A lot of people in the Sailing World think the French way to race are not really the Top support by the America's Cup results but when is coming hard and strong even if it's the first campaign also in a mono-hull (no proper food) the French show the knowledge they inherited from so many Atlantic Voyagers.
'Conservative' seems not very well chosen for Groupama's early gybe to the east. This proved to be the best choice while all others were 'progressively'(?) heading towards the eye of the storm? But: a great race and unsurpassed, fantastic coverage of it on internet!
Are we to believe that the French Volvo sailors, and this excludes those of other nationalities on the Groupama boat, are the only ones who have sailed across the Altlantic before?
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