Potter

Any company that sponsors sailing with the plan to get their name mentioned, or their brand seen is going to be upset with their returns. Some will use it for internal messaging and team building, some will use it for networking (especially the likes of PRB, Newrest, Akena, Foncia, all in the building industry near each other). Those spending millions will plan on having their ROI, or ROO, before this race even starts. Those that come in late, are spending less than 7 figures, but are still getting lots of internal messaging. The Skippers, aside from their media commitments, will also be calling into sponsors conferences and meetings. Dee was giving speeches and interviews with Aviva back in 2008, and the comms are significantly better and easier now.

You can't put guests on Moths. That is what the cats were all about.

I would have thought they are too heavy, and too beamy, to benefit from foils. There is a VO70 (Trifork?) that has foils, and doesn't seem to be setting the world alight.

I know this was a method that Pete Goss used, but he was significantly younger, and the eqpt less available...

There are currently 2 Classe 40 events set to take place. The Globe 40 and The Race Around. I would assume that because there are 2 events that they will essentially kill each other off. The previous incarnation managed a couple (3?) races before dying sue to lack of funding. The Great Cape Race needs big money players to be successful, and that could happen post Covid. There are certainly people with funds who are thinking 'sod it, why not' and will spend their own money as they cannot be seen to sponsor through their companies. TOR is tied into the commercial route for sponsors. To be honest, I just don't know how that will play out; but there is one team folded, 11th Hour playing, and a bunch who are interested but without the money. Best hopes are probably Boris(GER/MCO), Xavi (ESP), Joca (BRA) not sure I can see any other well funded teams coming out to play. I still think the best racing in the next TOR will be the youth teams on the VO65s. TOR has shot themselves in the foot by taking the overall trophy away from them. Imagine a bunch of youngsters racing around the word in the days of social media...this could actually be a lot of fun to follow and the behind the scenes stuff will hark back (in a much tamer way) to the original Whitbread days...

Gotta agree with that sentiment. That said, there are plenty of people that want to step outside their comfort zone, but either don't know how or don't want to step too far. There is as much chance of that getting off the ground as there is of 10 IMOCAS in the The ocean Race!

Less than 2 miles at sea level in flat water, according to tests.

It was actually DCNS, built at the same time as the HB Finot, for the 2008 VG. The film company chartered it during the 2012 start and followed the fleet out of the channel to get the crowd start scenes.

Yeah, but she crossed the line 3rd, which is what @staysail said. Marc Guillemot (finished 4th) was given redress for standing by Yann Elies when he broke his leg.

They always used to be, but getting the fuse 'just right' proved to be near impossible. Too many times the rudder would kick up, causing the boat to completely spin out, whilst at pace, causing more damage than if the rudder had taken a hit.

Yeah, I think it is a case of me thinking 'almost totally' is not 4ft sticking out. I guess it is relative to the other foils.

Recovery would have been relatively simple (he said from his nice dry, stationary desk!). Drill a hole through the outboard part, pass a line through and tie a stopper knot (they carry a spare sheet at the very least), cut, slow, recover the ditched section. Disappointing if they did not do this.

I had heard they were added prior to the start, but maybe I am thinking of someone else.

Surely that is not the case for Boss, they have fences on their foils, so how would they retract?

Whilst I agree with a lot of what you wrote, there is no way he should be described as the Underdog... This is 18 years of sponsorship, 7 (?) boats, 4 previous Vendee Globes, not to mention 5 Oceans and BWR. No other skipper has spent the amount of time and money on this race. In fact, even longer sponsors are reusing boats (PRB). Alex should still be counted as a favourite to win, there is a long way to go, and every boat out there is going to have issues. I hope he can win it... But if there is one thing he is not, it is the underdog.