Norauto GC32 sets sail for Portugal
by Norauto Press 28 Jun 2018 16:05 BST
Norauto GC32 © Maxime Horlaville
It is in the famous seaport of Lagos (in Algarve), with the Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop, that the second series of the GC32 Racing Tour will take place.
After kickstarting the season in Lake Garda one month ago, the Norauto team, leading the overall ranking following the first event, returns with seven other elite teams from the 27th of June to the 1st of July for the GC32 Lagos Cup. They will battle it out on an optimal playing field for the foilers, with weather conditions consisting of thermal winds and flat-water sailing.
After having competed in the GC32 World Championship, Franck Cammas has returned to the water for training in recent weeks, having just won the New Caledonia Groupama Race in the TP52. The targets between the two events: multiply training sessions and maintain a high level of performance, notably for the GC32 racing tour. For the GC32 tour, the French skipper is aiming for a strong performance with his sponsor Norauto.
For the GC32 LAGOS CUP, the GC32 French team, currently sitting at the top of the provisional overall rankings, will have to take special care because of a new rival joining the tour. This is none other than Sir Ben Ainslie with the INEOS UK TEAM, one of the world's best skippers.
"We are very pleased to see INEOS join the tour, as this will bring some additional quality to the fleet and promises to deliver some spectacular and entertaining battles on the water. Racing in Lagos is a first for us, and we are delighted to see that we will benefit from some strong and sustained wind", emphasised the skipper, Franck Cammas.
After a day spent glued to the screens to follow the final of the Volvo Ocean Race, the GC32 Norauto team reached the Algarve coast and has devoted the beginning of the week to training exercises.
"On Sunday we witnessed a watershed moment in the history of sailing. Norauto joins me in congratulating the entire Dongfeng Race Team and Charles Caudrelier, who was my teammate in 2012 when we won the Volvo Ocean Race together. He is only the third Frenchman in history to leave such an important mark on this legendary race. French sailors are involved in these big moments in sailing, and I hope that they will also one day be able to shine in the America's Cup! In the meantime, we will try to win the GC32 Lagos Cup this week in Portugal", concluded the skipper.