Orange II soon in the starting blocks for Jules Verne
by Bénédicte Etienne 6 Feb 2004 18:36 GMT
The maxi-catamaran Orange II during testing © Gilles Martin-Raget /
www.martin-raget.com
The second Orange maxi-catamaran will be re-launched this week end in Lorient, in order to carry on with the training program aiming at the 2004 Jules Verne Trophy.
Bruno Peyron's giant reached Lorient last Friday, and was taken out off the water right away on the former Défi Français base. A big check list had been set up, and a few modifications were scheduled prior to the start. "Everything that could be checked has been examined, and only in 4 days of work", says Orange's skipper, unable to hide his impatience to defend his title around the world.
Bruno Peyron: "The shore team and the Multiplast crew have done a remarkable job in a very short time. All the appendages have been revised, in order to correct a few original flaws: daggerboard sliding (up & down), optimisation of the aft profile, work on the rudder blades, rig adjustments, finalisation of the electrical system's installation, computers, image transmission devices... As far as sails are concerned, everything is OK".
Orange II will be re-launched Saturday in front of the Défi Français base, where the last preparations will be carried on, including supplies. She will go back to sailing next Monday for two days of training, before heading back towards La Trinité, where she will be christened on Wednesday February 11th at 11h00.
"As planned, our goal still is to be ready to be in stand-by as soon as February 15th", declared Bruno Peyron, who might have to chase after Cheyenne (Steve Fossett) and Geronimo (Olivier de Kersauson) who may well leave this week-end. "We would have liked to leave at the same time, it would have been a nice battle. They chose not to wait for us, in order to take advantage of this weather window. The choice was theirs, the future will tell us if they were right or not".
Concerning the crew, Orange II will be handled by 14 men divided in 3 watches (4 persons each), the skipper and the navigator remaining out of this system. The crew will be revealed and presented on Wednesday February 11th at 11h00 in La Trinité sur Mer.
Don't miss the appointment next Wednesday, on the Loïc Caradec dock, in La Trinité!