The crew of 31.50m catamaran Groupama 3 are awaiting a weather window for a Jules Verne Trophy attempt within the next 4 days. If the weather is suitable she will leave Lorient on the afternoon of Wednesday 23rd January, in order to make the start line off the island of Ushant in the early hours of Thursday 24th.

Waiting for a favourable weather window since 6th December 2007, Franck Cammas and his nine crew have already seen two gaps open up and then close again (on 24th December and 1st January). Interestingly, were Groupama 3 to cross the start line off Ushant next Thursday, it would set off three years to the day after Orange II, current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy with a time of 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes and 4 seconds.

The gap on Thursday 24th January viewed by Sylvain Mondon, weather expert on Groupama 3: “The window we’re studying is narrow, only lasting a matter of hours and it emanates from a rather atypical situation for the start of a round the world record attempt. The Azores high, which is currently positioned fairly North, is climbing up towards the English Channel whilst repelling a cold front.” www.cammas-groupama.com