The French are back

Tuesday 03 November 18:00 GMT

A French campaign led by offshore specialist Franck Cammas was confirmed today for the next two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. The project will have the backing of Groupama Insurance Group.

It will be the first French entry in the Whitbread/Volvo since Eric Tabarly skippered La Poste to third place in the 1993-94 race.

The announcement was made as Cammas was in the French port of Le Chateau in Brest, preparing for a bid to conquer the Jules Verne Trophy aboard the Groupama 32-metre maxi trimaran.  

Argentinean Juan Kouyoumdjian, the designer of the winning boats in the last two editions of the Volvo - ABN AMRO ONE (2005-06) and Ericsson 4 (2008-09) - has been chosen as designer for Groupama's new Volvo Open 70.

Despite concentrating on his imminent departure on the Jules Verne, Cammas is relishing the Volvo project. "We are committing to the Volvo Ocean Race thanks to the support and trust demonstrated by Groupama. For our team, it is a huge responsibility which we are tackling," Cammas said.

"Groupama is once again showing its trust in me at the very moment when we're committing to a new challenge, while a lot of sponsors wait for a sports event to draw to a close before announcing that they're renewing a partnership.

"This is even more motivating for me within the context of the Jules Verne Trophy and makes me keen to pay Groupama back for the trust it has shown with enthusiasm and determination." 

Cammas and Groupama have collaborated on offshore sailing projects since 1997. Commenting on the decision to extend the partnership to a Volvo Ocean Race campaign, Frederique Granado, director of external communications at Groupama, said: "It's now been over 12 years that we've been writing pages in our shared history with Franck Cammas and the Groupama team.

"Today we have decided to continue this commitment by participating in the Volvo Ocean Race to inspire a more international dynamic in our common project.

(Click on graphic to enlarge)

"Groupama is developing strong links overseas, where we carry out nearly 30 per cent of our business, and the Volvo Ocean Race is clearly the most suitable sports event to reflect our group's new expansion. 

"We trust in Franck to take up this new challenge and we appreciate his ability to create a team and manage a crew and also the design of the most high performance boats. These qualities will be decisive in the Volvo Ocean Race," she added.

Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race is delighted by the return of a French boat to the Volvo Ocean Race.

"The French certainly have their place in the Volvo against the cream of the Anglo-Saxon and European crews. It is excellent news that the Groupama team is joining the next two races.

"I have known Franck Cammas and his team for a long time. They are formidable competitors, who are remarkably well organised.  It is going to be an exciting race."

Groupama's entry extends a rich history of French links with the Whitbread/Volvo. In total there have been 21 French boats in the race and nearly 300 French sailors down the years.

In the 1985-86 race, L'Esprit d'Equipe was the only French boat to start the race out of a fleet of 13. It was skippered by Lionel Pean, who was the first ever French winner of the race after 111 days 23 hours.

French sailing legend, Eric Tabarly skippered the Belgium yacht Cote d'Or, in that edition of the race, which finished 10^th after 125 days 19 hours.

Tabarly sailed a succession of boats named Pen Duick into the history books over three decades of ocean racing and record setting. He competed in the Whitbread three times, in 1981-82, 1985-86 and finally in 1993-94 coming third on La Poste.

Tabarly took 123 days 22 hours to complete the circumnavigation. Fellow Frenchmen Andre Viant and Alain Gabby have skippered yachts in the race, three and four times respectively.

In more recent times, French sailors have been heavily involved. In the 2005-06 edition, Sebastien Josse skippered ABN AMRO TWO with fellow Frenchman Yves Le Blevec among the crew.

Sidney Gavignet, who was a crew member aboard La Poste in 1993-94 and Assa Abloy in 2001-02 was part of the winning ABN AMRO ONE entry in 2005-06 and finished second with PUMA in 2008-09. Laurent Pages also competed in the last race onboard third placed Telefonica Blue.

The next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will start from Alicante in 2011 with the final route to be announced in March next year.

History of French yachts in the Whitbread/Volvo

1973-74

• Total of French yachts started: 6
• Toal of French yachts finished: 3
• Grand Louis, French yacht with skipper Andre Viant. 138d 8h finished third.
• Kriter, French yacht with skipper Jack Grout, Michael Malinovsky, Alain Gliksman. 141d 2h finished fourth.
• 33 Export, French yacht with skippers Jean-Pierre Millet and Dominique Guillet. 175d 22h finished 12^th
• French yachts Pen Duick VI, Concorde and Pen Duick III did not finish.
• Total number of yachts started 19, five did not finish.

 1977-78

• Total of French yachts started and finished: 4
• Gauloises II, French yacht with skipper Eric Loizeau. 127d 7h finished sixth.
• Neptune, French yacht with skipper Bernard Deguy. 130d 11h finished eight.
• 33 Export, French yacht with skipper Alain Gabbay. 133d 00h finished tenth.
• Japy-Hermes, French yacht with skipper Jean Michel Viant. 143d 6h finished 14^th.
• Total numbers of yachts started 15. All finished.

 1981-82

• Total of French yachts started: 6
• Total of French yachts finishing: 4
• Charles Heidsieck III, skipper Alain Gabbay. 120d 7h finished second.
• Kriter, skipper Andre Viant. 120d 10h finished third.
• Mor bihan, skipper Phillipe Poupon. 125d 15h finished seventh.
• Euromarche, skipper Eric Tabarly. 126d 23h finished tenth.
• French yachts 33 Export and Gauloises III did not finish.
• Total numbers of yachts started was 29, nine did not finish.

 1985-86

• Total of French yachts started: 1
• L'Esprit d'Equipe, skipper Lionel Pean. 111d 23h finished first.
• Skipper Eric Tabarly skippered Belgium yacht Cote d'Or. 125d 19h finished tenth.
• Total number of yachts started: 15. Yachts not finishing: 2

1989-90

• Total of French yachts started: 3
• Charles Jourdan, skippered by Alain Gabbay. 136d 15h finished sixth.
• Esprit de Liberte, skippered by Patrick Tabarly. 164d 21h finished 17^th.
• La Poste, skippered by Daniel Malle, 181d 22h finished 21 and last.
• Total number of yachts started: 23 Yachts not finishing: 2

1993-94

• Total of French yachts started: 1
• La Poste, skippered by Eric Tabarly. 123d 22h finished 3^rd.
• Total number of yachts started: 10 (all finished)