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17.12.2010 Back to news
Groupe Bel in the Catalan lands!
 | © Gilles Martin-Raget/Groupe Bel |
There are challenges that are harder to get underway than others and there are challenges taken up that are more enjoyable than others! Today, seeing Groupe Bel in Barcelona, fifteen days from the start of the Barcelona World Race is very satisfying for all the team. Since having to abandon the Route du Rhum because of a broken keel pin, the crew has doubled their efforts! Scarcely three months after the announcement that Bel would be competing in this double-handed round the world race, you could say that sailing is a constant race against the clock on land and at sea.
Challenging warm-up
Towards 16:30 on Thursday, the smile on the faces of the men as they approached the pontoon said it all. “We’re here!”. A definite relief, but most of all good training. Sixteen hours of sailing in a 50 knot wind during the night, easing off during the day were enough to confirm the last changes made at the yard and to enjoy good sensations at the helm, “We left on Wednesday at 23:00, and you needed to be motivated to do so! There was a lot of wind, it was cold and we had organized a small party with the whole team, without which we would surely never have been in Barcelona today. We had up to 55 knots during the night. First we were only under ORC, then as we passed the Pyrenees, as the wind was easing off, we were at last able to run up the mainsail, which we were unable to do in Port Camargue for a week, because of the wind! This enabled us to test a few sails and to confirm a few choices. I am really happy to be here. We have been in really good company these last few days”, explained Kito when they arrived.
For the technical team, it was a question of polishing up the last details, so that the two sailors would need nothing, absolutely nothing, during their tour round the world. In the main, it was a question of confirming the sails, particularly when taking her out on Monday (20/12), if conditions would permit" said Hervé Giorsetti, technical manager. It is a considerable task to forget nothing and plan everything!
Cleaner and lighter sailing!
A sailor, he is above all the creator of the hydrogenerator which Kito and Seb are taking with them for the race. Cleaner and lighter sailing round the world is good for the earth and for the yacht’s performance! So, it was natural to turn to Yannick Bestaven, who received the Blue Boat Prize at the Paris boat show for his fine invention. Working on the principle of a bicycle, a propeller is installed at the end of an arm, submerged in the water, supplying the boat with electricity, thanks to its speed, until it reaches full autonomy. On Groupe Bel, the hydrogenerator will be coupled with a wind turbine and solar panels which will enable the crew to load and consume half as much fuel! “Everything went well, despite the cold! The hydrogenerator works well, since we delivered her without having to recharge the engine. It’s starting to be really up to scratch. For us, this is a very good test bench, since out of the 15 boats competing, 10 are equipped with it. We will draw our conclusions in three months’ time, at the finish”, Yannick Bestaven indicated, visibly happy with these few hours on board Groupe Bel.
An international event that is a match for Groupe Bel
Rarely has the Catalan capital been so popular. The same question was heard again and again at the Paris Boat show in the last few days. “Are you going down to Barcelona?” It must be said that it is unquestionably the most important international sailing event at the end of the year. With 30 sailors and 8 nationalities, Spain has boldly turned itself to sailing; and in style. It is virtually a custom event for the Bel Group which unites 11,500 workers in thirty countries. What better symbol than this 60 foot yacht flying the Group’s colors for three months, during which it will sail more than 25,000 miles, or 46,300 km across the oceans. What better way of federating the work teams around their yacht and skippers to begin this New Year? Remember that more than 8,000 employees fixed their thumbprints on the Groupe Bel mast. We can already imagine the excitement that will be felt during this “Barcelona”!
Everyone in Barcelona!
Groupe Bel will obviously be present in the racing village to welcome the public expected in droves on the quays of Barcelona, as well as the Spanish and French employees from the Group, who, we have no doubt, will support their favorite crew fittingly. For the rest, entertainment, games, competitions and maps for following the race have been sent out to the four corners of the world, so that this New Year's Eve will have a little flavor of Churros and Vache qui rit®, etc. Why not?
The Barcelona World Race in short
Two-handed non-stop round-the-world race on board IMOCA 60 foot monohulls.
Start at Barcelona on 31 December at 13:00
Second BWR event organized by the FNOB (Fundació per la Navegació Oceànica Barcelona)
Course: 25,000 miles (46,300 kilometers) passing between the two islands of New-Zealand
15 duos registered: 30 sailors, 8 nationalities, 3 women
Official website: www.barcelonaworldrace.org
Challenging warm-up
Towards 16:30 on Thursday, the smile on the faces of the men as they approached the pontoon said it all. “We’re here!”. A definite relief, but most of all good training. Sixteen hours of sailing in a 50 knot wind during the night, easing off during the day were enough to confirm the last changes made at the yard and to enjoy good sensations at the helm, “We left on Wednesday at 23:00, and you needed to be motivated to do so! There was a lot of wind, it was cold and we had organized a small party with the whole team, without which we would surely never have been in Barcelona today. We had up to 55 knots during the night. First we were only under ORC, then as we passed the Pyrenees, as the wind was easing off, we were at last able to run up the mainsail, which we were unable to do in Port Camargue for a week, because of the wind! This enabled us to test a few sails and to confirm a few choices. I am really happy to be here. We have been in really good company these last few days”, explained Kito when they arrived.
For the technical team, it was a question of polishing up the last details, so that the two sailors would need nothing, absolutely nothing, during their tour round the world. In the main, it was a question of confirming the sails, particularly when taking her out on Monday (20/12), if conditions would permit" said Hervé Giorsetti, technical manager. It is a considerable task to forget nothing and plan everything!
Cleaner and lighter sailing!
A sailor, he is above all the creator of the hydrogenerator which Kito and Seb are taking with them for the race. Cleaner and lighter sailing round the world is good for the earth and for the yacht’s performance! So, it was natural to turn to Yannick Bestaven, who received the Blue Boat Prize at the Paris boat show for his fine invention. Working on the principle of a bicycle, a propeller is installed at the end of an arm, submerged in the water, supplying the boat with electricity, thanks to its speed, until it reaches full autonomy. On Groupe Bel, the hydrogenerator will be coupled with a wind turbine and solar panels which will enable the crew to load and consume half as much fuel! “Everything went well, despite the cold! The hydrogenerator works well, since we delivered her without having to recharge the engine. It’s starting to be really up to scratch. For us, this is a very good test bench, since out of the 15 boats competing, 10 are equipped with it. We will draw our conclusions in three months’ time, at the finish”, Yannick Bestaven indicated, visibly happy with these few hours on board Groupe Bel.
An international event that is a match for Groupe Bel
Rarely has the Catalan capital been so popular. The same question was heard again and again at the Paris Boat show in the last few days. “Are you going down to Barcelona?” It must be said that it is unquestionably the most important international sailing event at the end of the year. With 30 sailors and 8 nationalities, Spain has boldly turned itself to sailing; and in style. It is virtually a custom event for the Bel Group which unites 11,500 workers in thirty countries. What better symbol than this 60 foot yacht flying the Group’s colors for three months, during which it will sail more than 25,000 miles, or 46,300 km across the oceans. What better way of federating the work teams around their yacht and skippers to begin this New Year? Remember that more than 8,000 employees fixed their thumbprints on the Groupe Bel mast. We can already imagine the excitement that will be felt during this “Barcelona”!
Everyone in Barcelona!
Groupe Bel will obviously be present in the racing village to welcome the public expected in droves on the quays of Barcelona, as well as the Spanish and French employees from the Group, who, we have no doubt, will support their favorite crew fittingly. For the rest, entertainment, games, competitions and maps for following the race have been sent out to the four corners of the world, so that this New Year's Eve will have a little flavor of Churros and Vache qui rit®, etc. Why not?
The Barcelona World Race in short
Two-handed non-stop round-the-world race on board IMOCA 60 foot monohulls.
Start at Barcelona on 31 December at 13:00
Second BWR event organized by the FNOB (Fundació per la Navegació Oceànica Barcelona)
Course: 25,000 miles (46,300 kilometers) passing between the two islands of New-Zealand
15 duos registered: 30 sailors, 8 nationalities, 3 women
Official website: www.barcelonaworldrace.org
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