| Groupama 3 Comes Out To Do Battle |
| Monday, 17 July 2006 |
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Franck Cammas’ Maxi Trimaran Groupama 3 was launched on June 7th 2006 with a full set of Future Fibres composite rigging.
Future Fibres has been the supplier of composite rigging solutions to Franck Cammas’ highly successful sailing team since 2003, providing custom rigging solutions for Groupama 1 and Groupama 2. Seven months under construction, this latest addition, Groupama 3, has been designed specifically for around the world racing and record attempts. It is the largest Maxi trimaran built to date, lighter and more powerful than its predecessors, and the first to be equipped with retractable curved foils. This new design is potentially faster under medium wind conditions than current Maxis on the circuit.
The requirements for the rigging were very specific: the need for optimising power to weight ratio and a supplier willing to provide the highest level of service. As with the previous two Groupama projects, Franck Cammas and his team selected Future Fibres to deliver the custom rigging solutions.
Future Fibres’ services to the Groupama design team included cable load testing, lash testing, fitting optimisation, custom mast interfacing, cover abrasion testing and product development.
In addition to supplying a standard range of sizes, Future Fibres is able to
build cables to specific stretch equivalent, break strength or diameter requirements.
Its bespoke construction method serves as an invaluable tool for designers, freeing them from sizing constraints. Future Fibres’ state-of-the-art rigging systems and the professionalism of
Team Groupama have proved to be a winning combination.
The 105’ Groupama 3 was designed by Vincent Lauriot Prévost of VPLP Yacht Design and built at the Multiplast yard in Vannes, bringing all the experience gained on Groupama 2 to the concept and construction of the new boat. Groupama 3 is now at its home base in Lorient for final validation and sea trials before Franck Cammas sets about attacking an ambitious sailing programme including several record attempts.
Tom Hutchinson, Future Fibres’ CEO comments: “Groupama 3 promises to be another record breaking project for Future Fibres. Supplying the rigging on this project was a fantastic opportunity for us to work with Franck’s team right from the outset, enabling Future Fibres to optimise every element of the rigging package.”
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