© Yvan Zedda
Factfile
Name	Franck Cammas
Nation	FRA
Date of Birth	22 December 1972
Place of Birth	Sao Paulo, Brazil
Website	www.cammas-groupama.com/

The lure of the ocean and the coveted Outright Round the World Record and Jules Verne Trophy has seen Franck Cammas fine tune his team and his machine after twice being forced to abandon the dream. In January 2010, he embarked on his latest record attempt aboard his 103-foot trimaran Groupama3. Less than two months later he was back and with a new world record of 48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes and 52 seconds. Cammas led his nine crew round the official course distance of 21,760 miles at an average speed of 18.76 knots with a top speed of 42 knots. In total, the team sailed 28,523 miles, which amounts to an average speed of 24.6 knots. This phenomenal journey also secured the Indian Ocean Intermediate Record of 8 days, 17 hours and 40 minutes.

From the 103-foot trimaran, Cammas downsized dramatically to the Extreme 40 catamaran, competing on the Extreme 40 Series, before going another hull down to join the record books sailing the monohull Volvo 70, Groupama70. On 23 August, Cammas set out on the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race with a crew of ten, the first real challenge for a team testing the waters for a Volvo Ocean Race campaign. By 29 August, Cammas had another world record, setting a new time for the Round Britain and Ireland of 5 days, 21 hours and 26 minutes.

Cammas has completed 69 races on board Groupama boats, achieving 57 podiums and 31 wins. He has been named the ORMA World Champion six times and is always a formidable adversary, regardless of the challenge. A rigorous, talented, perfectionist Cammas leaves nothing to chance.

Groupama3 - 103-foot trimaran (+ crew of 9)

Round the World Outright Record (crewed)
Elapsed time: 48 days, 7 hours, 44 minutes & 52 seconds; 21760 nm, average speed 18.76 knots
31 January 2010 to 20 March 2010

Indian Ocean Intermediate Record
Elapsed time: 8 days, 17 hours and 40 minutes; 15 to 23 February 2010

Groupama70 - 70-foot monohull (+ crew of 10) - five of the 11 man crew were under the age of 30

Winner of Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race - GBR (set a new Round Britain and Ireland course record
Elapsed time: 5 days, 21 hours and 26 minutes; 23 August 2010 to 29 August 2010; 1802nm, average speed 12.74 knots
Transmanche Race

Elapsed time: 20 hours; 21 May (17:45) to 22 May 2010 (14:45); 280nm, average speed 14 knots
SNSM Record
Elapsed time: 1 day 6 hours and 20 minutes; 18 to 22 June 2010; 320nm, average speed 11.8 knots

Groupama40 - Extreme 40 (+ crew of 3)

5 - Sète, France - May 2010
6 - Cowes, GBR - August 2010

Q&A

What inspired you to take up sailing?

Eric Tabarly's book about the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973

What was the first boat you ever sailed and how old were you?

An Optimist at a sailing school in Marseille.

Name your first sailing club

CN Marseille

What are you personal sailing career highlights?

1st - Solitaire du Figaro in 1997
1st - Transat Jacques Vabre, ORMA 60 in 2001, 2003 and 2007
Jules Verne Trophy in 2010

What are your future sailing goals?

Volvo Ocean Race with Groupama4

Who has had the greatest impact on your sailing and career and why?

Groupama because they give me the way to sail.

Who is your sailing hero?

Peter Blake

What other sports do you enjoy?

Swimming, driving and cycling

What does being nominated for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards mean to you and how would you feel if you were voted the winner?

To be nominated for ISAF is an honour to win would be a way to go further.