There are some dates that are immediately etched on your memory, ones you'll remember for a long time to come. This 7 May is one such date for Franck Cammas and for Groupama sailing team with the first launch and the first flying sessions by the one-design catamaran Groupama 45, which is set to participate in the first event of the America's Cup World Series in three months' time alongside the world's top teams.
Crédit : Y Zedda
Though the road to the America's Cup is still a long one for Team France, the path leading to the America's Cup World Series is already being carved out. The second national team, after the Britons, to receive the foils and rudders that will enable the AC45s to fly, Groupama sailing team is debuting this new configuration, which confirms the abrupt change in tone that has come about largely as a result of the last edition of the America's Cup in 2013 in San Francisco.
Since the incredible final between the Americans and New Zealanders, the engineers, the naval architects and the sailors have been working relentlessly on these foils, which are designed to keep the boats airborne and hence faster: "An increasing number of boats are using foils. That's the way things are progressing. We've been practising this type of sailing for some years now, a point reflected in our win at the last Little America's Cup with Groupama C in September 2013. We're still in the early stages of this new era. It's thrilling and it's a change of direction that you simply can't afford to miss. This is why France has to be at the next America's Cup. Our engineers are among the best in the world and we mustn't let them head overseas. We have some great cards up our sleeves".
Alongside Cammas, the crew of Groupama 45 is keen to get going. Thierry Fouchier, Arnaud Jarlegan and Devan Le Bihan, Arnaud Psarofaghis are all familiarising themselves with this flying version of the AC45: "We spent two seasons on this boat in her non-flying version so we have a good foundation to work from. Despite that, the act of flying alters things aboard somewhat so we have to adapt to the situation. It's really interesting," explains Thierry Fouchier, one of the few French sailors to have won the America's Cup (in 2010 with BMW Oracle).
From Cammas Groupama
