Groupama Wins Volvo Ocean Race
After placing second in the final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race (from Lorient, France, to Galway, Ireland) Franck Cammas and his French team aboard Groupama, secured top honors in the overall event, which began last October.
If you’re thinking, of course a French boat would win this around-the-world race, think again. It wasn’t that easy; this edition was about big teams and big competition the whole way. "I think the secret was that we were outsiders at the beginning and we were forced to learn all the time," said Cammas. "We had to learn to race against the best crews in the world, and eventually it got easier. We made mistakes at the start, but all the time we tried to get better, right until the finish in Galway."
Groupama was smart in loading the crew with veteran solo Vendée Globe sailors, and tested past Volvo racers. Although most of the crew were French, some, like Australian trimmer Phil Harmer, Irish helmsman Damien Foxall and Swedish boat captain Martin Krite, were Volvo veterans.
The little-known series-within-a-series consisted of in-port races at all the stops. Kenny Read, aboard Puma, the only American entry, won the in-port series and, although you might say that’s like winning best personality at a beauty pageant, Kenny and the boys were happy for the first place. "Winning anything is fun, whether it’s an In-Port Race or a game of checkers," Read said. "And, it’s fun to compete against the best sailors in the world. We’re really pleased, and I’m happy for the whole program – it’s a great way to finish."
The next installment of the race is scheduled for 2014 in already-controversial one design 65-footers from Farr Yacht Design. The hope is to attract more participants by offering cheaper boats. One thing that’s for sure is if the ’14 event draws the same high-quality teams as this go-around, the kind of boat they sail on won’t matter much, and the multi-part contest will still be a thrill for sailors all over the world to follow.
Final Overall Results
1. Groupama 4 (FRA), Franck Cammas (FRA), 253 points
2. Camper (NZL), Chris Nicholson (AUS), 231 points
3. Puma Ocean Racing (USA), Ken Read (USA), 226 points
4. Telefónica (ESP), Iker Martinez (ESP), 213 points
5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (UAE), Ian Walker (GBR), 131 points
6. Team Sanya (CHN), Mike Sanderson (NZL), 51 points
Final In-Port Series Results
1. Puma (USA), Ken Read (USA), 45 points
2. Camper (NZL), Chris Nicholson (AUS), 44 points
3. Groupama 4 (FRA), Franck Cammas (FRA), 41 points
4. Abu Dhabi (UAE), Ian Walker (GBR), 37 points
5. Telefónica (ESP), Iker Martinez (ESP), 27 points
6. Team Sanya (CHN), Mike Sanderson (NZL), 16 points