Franck Cammas and Groupama enter standby for round-the-world record

[Source: Cammas - Groupama] Today, 1st November, Groupama 3 is on standby, waiting for favourable weather conditions to begin her Jules Verne Trophy attempt.

"We're seeking to gain any advantage we can. Setting out from Brest will be easier from a maritime viewpoint, both in terms of hoisting the sails in the lee of the harbour, and making for the start line off Ushant with what we expect will be a fairly strong N'ly wind", explains Franck Cammas.

Franck Cammas and his crew spend a week climbing the Mont Blanc, an excellent physical preparation in view of the round-the-world race. 21 October 2009. Video copyright Groupama

Time to beat: 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and 4 seconds

On 20th April 1993 Bruno Peyron headed a team which completed the first legendary round the world in 79 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 56 seconds and thus became the first crew to win the `Jules Verne Trophy'.

In seventeen years there have been twenty attempts to beat the record, only six of which have borne fruit: Bruno Peyron in 1993, Peter Blake and Robin Knox-Johnston in 1994, Olivier de Kersauson in 1997, Bruno Peyron in 2002, Olivier de Kersauson in 2004 and Bruno Peyron again in 2005.

In 2005, Bruno Peyron placed the bar very high: 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes and 4 seconds... It is the main aim of the year once again and a challenge taken up by Franck and his men.

The Jules Verne Trophy course (21,760 nautical miles)

It begins by crossing the start line defined by an imaginary line linking the Créac'h lighthouse on the island of Ushant and the Lizard Point lighthouse. From there the aim is to circumnavigate the globe by leaving the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port, and crossing the finish line, described above, in the opposite direction.