3834 replies to this topic

[MR.CLEAN]

Press release:





Record attendance for the first week !

Wednesday 31 October 2012, 11h29
The first week of the Race Village opening drew a record number of spectators. Since October 20, no less than 230,000 people (including 10,000 school children)walked around the aisles and the pontoons where the twenty boats participating in the next non-stop single-handed round-the-world race without assistance are moored. An obvious success!

[Presuming Ed]

great video http://www.thedailys...ide-tour-part-1

Yup. All four (so far) are great stuff. 40 (again, so far) mins of Alex T and Mike G walking the docks and talking about the boats. More than enough to justify my subscription for a year.

How much does that cost?

I think Oscar Wilde had something to say about people who know the price of everything but the value of nothing?

TDS is £30/year. Less than my subscription to Seahorse (£56/year). Less than my subscription to Classic Boat (£39/year). Slightly more than my subscriptions to Watercraft (£24/year for 6 issues) and WoodenBoat ($45 (£27) / year for six issues). I'm happy with paying those amounts, because each one gives me something different.

"If you're not paying for it, you're not the customer, you're the product." Adblock is my friend.

[Presuming Ed]

There was a step-by-step video of (in fench) Loick Peyron doing this in his 60 a while back. Anyone have the link? I can't find it.

This one?
http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

[MR.CLEAN]

TDS is £30/year. Less than my subscription to Seahorse (£56/year). Less than my subscription to Classic Boat (£39/year). Slightly more than my subscriptions to Watercraft (£24/year for 6 issues) and WoodenBoat ($45 (£27) / year for six issues). I'm happy with paying those amounts, because each one gives me something different.

Holy crap! That's like 30 kilos of paper. Do you use it as kindling for your wood burning stove and steam powered car?

[MR.CLEAN]

"If you're not paying for it, you're not the customer, you're the product."

That is exactly how my good friend always justifies his prostitute habit. Coincidence?

[Presuming Ed]

What is this "car" of which you speak? My convayences are the phaeton, the landau, the barouche and occasionally the velocipede.

[MR.CLEAN]

Polish skipper Zbigniew "Gutek" Gutkowski and team had to do some last minute work on Energy to get her compliant to the IMOCA class rule. After failing a diesel engine propulsion test, ENERGA had to be taken to the boat yard, hauled out, and have a new prop swapped on. Ronnie and I rode along with Gutek and the boys and then he made a little video. Enjoy.

[MR.CLEAN]

Fucking hail making this media center sound like a popcorn popper. Blowing 50 plus and looking like the end of the world! Not even preparateurs are on the boats...day off!

Tomorrow more wind forecast - up to 50 knots. With a swing into the proper West instead of this NW, the seas should get huge. We'll go shoot the lighthouse tomorrow.

[Rail Meat]

Fucking hail making this media center sound like a popcorn popper. Blowing 50 plus and looking like the end of the world! Not even preparateurs are on the boats...day off!

Tomorrow more wind forecast - up to 50 knots. With a swing into the proper West instead of this NW, the seas should get huge. We'll go shoot the lighthouse tomorrow.

Sounds like a nice fall day on the Bay. These guys are getting soft - they should be out doing a prologue!

[MR.CLEAN]

My convayences are the phaeton, the landau, the barouche and occasionally the velocipede.

"Smithers!"

[ronnie_simpson]

The Vendee docks and race village, and also Team Energa hauling to change their prop after failing a diesel engine propulsion test. 3-minute video of Energa team prop change here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=87NG5DHlM38&feature=share&list=UUozwNgBEyaQKO5Aiie6wzdA

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•  crowd on dock from PR.jpg   180.22K   21 downloads
•  crowd in front of council general.jpg   151.81K   28 downloads
•  Energa cahnging prop.jpg   334.21K   45 downloads
•  Energa team changing prop.jpg   203.21K   45 downloads

[ronnie_simpson]

Gamesa hydrogenerator, Groupe Bel's bowsprit , Groupe Bel and a random guy up a rig.

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•  gamesa hydrogenerator.jpg   194.53K   118 downloads
•  groupe bel bowsprit tip.jpg   68.97K   139 downloads
•  gruope bel.jpg   244.44K   112 downloads
•  guy up rig.jpg   160.19K   78 downloads

[ronnie_simpson]

sick Karver carbon fiber ferrule on a running backstay, a line of IMOCA 60's, Francois Gabart's new VPLP-designed "Macif" and a great photo from the grocery store. Don't you wish you could buy Vendee Globe mags with 70-page VG specials while standing in line at the grocery store???

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•  karver carbon ferrule.jpg   93.06K   113 downloads
•  line of transoms.jpg   155.96K   162 downloads
•  macif fron front.jpg   187.92K   176 downloads
•  magazines in store Les Sables.jpg   116.61K   128 downloads

[ronnie_simpson]

The furlers and shrouds are off of Marc Guillermot's Safran

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•  on dock with crowd.jpg   142.36K   97 downloads
•  safran furlers.jpg   120.63K   198 downloads
•  safran shrouds.jpg   280.58K   235 downloads
•  sun set bow of banque pop and open 60s.jpg   142.27K   165 downloads
•  vendee dock at night.jpg   136.04K   100 downloads
•  Vendee dock from west.jpg   176.72K   79 downloads
•  vendee flag.jpg   91.11K   54 downloads

[mad]

Fucking hail making this media center sound like a popcorn popper. Blowing 50 plus and looking like the end of the world! Not even preparateurs are on the boats...day off!

Tomorrow more wind forecast - up to 50 knots. With a swing into the proper West instead of this NW, the seas should get huge. We'll go shoot the lighthouse tomorrow.

Sounds like a nice fall day on the Bay. These guys are getting soft - they should be out doing a prologue!

There's guaranteed to be carnage in the first week, let 'em have a day off

[nkb]

Here's a really good animation of what has to go on below decks when tacking or jibing and IMOCA....

no link!?

Here's a really good animation of what has to go on below decks when tacking or jibing and IMOCA....

no link!?

i mean i cant see it

I'm not clever enough to insert it properly. Instead, Google 'barcelona world race swing keel animation' That will bring it up, its neat.

[LeoV]

Macif, tumblehome in a new fashion, and what a spread between the daggerboards.. thanks for the pics.

[ET1]

To Clean and Ronnie:
Did you realize that you´ve got an INTERNATIONAL audience?
Can you imagine that there are people looking at this site who´s native language is NOT ENGLISH?
If that is so:
PLEASE... when you talk to other people either competitors our us listeners, speak SLOWLY so EVERYBODY can understand what you´re talking about without listening four times to the same video.
There will be no pricegiving for the fastest speaking guy around but for the one you can understand best.
Hoping for the future!!!!!!

[Left Hook]

There was a step-by-step video of (in fench) Loick Peyron doing this in his 60 a while back. Anyone have the link? I can't find it.

This one?
http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

That is not the video I was thinking of but that's damn impressive as well. Everything about it shows the kind of strength, mental and physical, these guys must have to race around the world. I'm additionally struck by how taxing a bad gybe can be on energy, how intelligent layout of systems can mean huge payoffs in maneuvers, how valuable time and practice in the boat is and how important it is to keep a cool head if things go wrong. Very very impressive.

Edit: Rail meat, I think you were the one who first posted the Peyron Gitana 80 tacking video. Do you still have that mike?

Edit 2: After an exercise with my newly acquired french skills I've found the link I was looking for: http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

[ET1]

There was a step-by-step video of (in fench) Loick Peyron doing this in his 60 a while back. Anyone have the link? I can't find it.

This one?
http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

That is not the video I was thinking of but that's damn impressive as well. Everything about it shows the kind of strength, mental and physical, these guys must have to race around the world. I'm additionally struck by how taxing a bad gybe can be on energy, how intelligent layout of systems can mean huge payoffs in maneuvers, how valuable time and practice in the boat is and how important it is to keep a cool head if things go wrong. Very very impressive.

Edit: Rail meat, I think you were the one who first posted the Peyron Gitana 80 tacking video. Do you still have that mike?

Edit 2: After an exercise with my newly acquired french skills I've found the link I was looking for: http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

Great!! Anyone there who can translate a little?

[ET1]

The furlers and shrouds are off of Marc Guillermot's Safran

If these are the furlers, where is the fixed forestay? Or does that mean "fixed"?

[steinbrenner]

There was a step-by-step video of (in fench) Loick Peyron doing this in his 60 a while back. Anyone have the link? I can't find it.

This one?
http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

That is not the video I was thinking of but that's damn impressive as well. Everything about it shows the kind of strength, mental and physical, these guys must have to race around the world. I'm additionally struck by how taxing a bad gybe can be on energy, how intelligent layout of systems can mean huge payoffs in maneuvers, how valuable time and practice in the boat is and how important it is to keep a cool head if things go wrong. Very very impressive.

Edit: Rail meat, I think you were the one who first posted the Peyron Gitana 80 tacking video. Do you still have that mike?

Edit 2: After an exercise with my newly acquired french skills I've found the link I was looking for: http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

Great!! Anyone there who can translate a little?

at least to translate the subtitles if no loick's explanations

one probably stupid question as i know little of imoca class boats, only canting keel is controled with button, sails trimming and hoisting as well as rudders/daggerboards lowering/lifting is done only with manual force and winches?

[MR.CLEAN]

one probably stupid question as i know little of imoca class boats, only canting keel is controled with button, sails trimming and hoisting as well as rudders/daggerboards lowering/lifting is done only with manual force and winches?

Yep, but there is also a hydraulic pump activated by the pedestal to control the outhaul, forestay, and a couple other rams.

[MR.CLEAN]

Macif, tumblehome in a new fashion, and what a spread between the daggerboards.. thanks for the pics.

Macif is sexy, Gabard is excellent, stiff boat (sistership to Banq Pop) but issues. BP had a huge crack in her hull and topsides a few months ago...that ain't good. Other issues with structures too. But damn they are fast.

Ronnie and I will each put out our own form guides based on what we learn by crawling through every boat, interviewing every skipper, getting drunk with every preparateur, and smoking cigs with every staffer.

[MR.CLEAN]

Macif, tumblehome in a new fashion, and what a spread between the daggerboards.. thanks for the pics.

Macif is sexy, Gabard is excellent, stiff boat (sistership to Banq Pop) but issues. Macif had a huge crack in her hull and topsides a few months ago...that ain't good. Other issues with structures too. But damn they are fast.

Ronnie and I are doing our best to learn everything we can so we can put forth the best possible form guide...we're going to do our own and then compare who's was better...

To Clean and Ronnie:
Did you realize that you´ve got an INTERNATIONAL audience?
Can you imagine that there are people looking at this site who´s native language is NOT ENGLISH?
If that is so:
PLEASE... when you talk to other people either competitors our us listeners, speak SLOWLY so EVERYBODY can understand what you´re talking about without listening four times to the same video.
There will be no pricegiving for the fastest speaking guy around but for the one you can understand best.
Hoping for the future!!!!!!

Thanks ET1. Are we both talking too fast?

[onimod]

I think this will be the first time I've heard an American accused of talking too fast.

[Haji]

Talk too fast? I think so far you guys are doing better than I did....I heard that complaint a lot in regards to the pre-race talks and the radio interviews during the race.

The thing is that one tends to get all wound up with minimal sleep and start to babble. In the vid below, forward to 3:40 if you're short on time for some good speed footage.

[MSafiri]

Ronnie and I will each put out our own form guides based on what we learn by crawling through every boat, interviewing every skipper, getting drunk with every preparateur, and smoking cigs with every staffer.

When Clean, When??? Seems I will keep my job, as you guys are already drunk over there, and forgot to upload the daily dose...

[nkb]

There was a step-by-step video of (in fench) Loick Peyron doing this in his 60 a while back. Anyone have the link? I can't find it.

This one?
http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

That is not the video I was thinking of but that's damn impressive as well. Everything about it shows the kind of strength, mental and physical, these guys must have to race around the world. I'm additionally struck by how taxing a bad gybe can be on energy, how intelligent layout of systems can mean huge payoffs in maneuvers, how valuable time and practice in the boat is and how important it is to keep a cool head if things go wrong. Very very impressive.

Edit: Rail meat, I think you were the one who first posted the Peyron Gitana 80 tacking video. Do you still have that mike?

Edit 2: After an exercise with my newly acquired french skills I've found the link I was looking for: http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

Great!! Anyone there who can translate a little?

at least to translate the subtitles if no loick's explanations

one probably stupid question as i know little of imoca class boats, only canting keel is controled with button, sails trimming and hoisting as well as rudders/daggerboards lowering/lifting is done only with manual force and winches?

Here you go for the translation of the sub-titles :

1) Stack a total of 400 kilos of sails in the bow.

2) Transfer the water in the forward ballasts.

3) transfer of the satelite. This is a turning platform unique to this boat which they use stack everything that is not sails (spares, food etc). The nav station is also incorporated, its at the centre of the axe and you can see it turning in the video at 3.45ish. I saw this system on the boat when it was being prepared as Estrella Damm during the TJV 2009. The 'satellite' is mounted on circular track and has little rollers. There is a purchase system to transfer from one side to the other.

4) Prepare the leeward backstay.

5) Prepare the lazy jib sheet.

6) Prepare the main sail traveller.

7) Put the windward rudder down.

8) Put the windward daggerboard down.

9) Push the button to release the keel. (what they don't say on this video is that at this stage the keep is sent to center. Once the tack is done the button is pushed again to lift the keel to the other side).

10) set the autopilot to tack

11) Release the jib sheet

12) Bring on the new jib sheet

13) Ease the backstay

Shame. The lazy sheet got caught on the rig.

14) Trim the jib

15) Trim the main traveller

16) Grind up the windward dagger board

17) Filling up the middle ballasts

Snorkel - system that allows seawater to be sucked up into the ballasts.

3 minutes to fill the middle ballast.

The tack is finished but...

(they discuss that the wind had decreased so they have to unroll the solent).

35 mins effort for a tack.

[MR.CLEAN]

Ronnie and I will each put out our own form guides based on what we learn by crawling through every boat, interviewing every skipper, getting drunk with every preparateur, and smoking cigs with every staffer.

When Clean, When??? Seems I will keep my job, as you guys are already drunk over there, and forgot to upload the daily dose...

Well MS - we are doing all that, but it takes research and time!

Today we have three boat tours to upload as soon as we get to media centre, so there's that.

Tonight should have three interviews uploaded, maybe tomorrow.

Form guides will be for Friday

[MR.CLEAN]

Very interested for our chat with Alex tomorrow. Pretty wild to see one skipper so confident that he picks a different sailmaker from all the others. If you have any burning questions for AT, let me know. I am thinking he is a real podium contender.

Some PR from Christophe Launay for ATR/HB love, more here. Bizarro words from Fred Eagle:

As the impressive fleet of 20 IMOCAs and their skippers have now assembled in Les Sables d'Olonne for the imminent start of the Vendee Globe, Alex Thomson and his silver dance partner, the Hugo Boss Farr-designed Open 60 share a special spotlight. There are perhaps several reasons for this, the boat itself sports an impeccable paint and branding motif in classic Hugo Boss fashion, the shore team is always well choreographed and on point, and Alex himself is quite a unique character, intense and focused while maintaining a jovial personable aura and an irresistable smile. One of three British skippers in this years edition, Alex is no stranger to the open ocean and is considered a favorite of the fleet despite some formidable competition. The 38 year-old skipper is well rehearsed for this solo around the world performance having recently broken the Transatlantic monohull record by more than 24 hours. And as you can see from this onboard photo series, Alex is both an instructor and a dancer, a man of many moods and styles, included but not limited to: The Waltz, The Swing, The Grind, The Ballad, The Bird, The Monkey, The Swim and The Wetusi. With fierce moves like this, the team of Hugo Boss will inevitably tear up the global oceanic dance floor. Put on your dancing boots...

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•  ATRHBBIVG020B.jpg   457.78K   47 downloads
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•  ATRHBBIVG301.jpg   440.78K   51 downloads
•  ATRHBBIVG303.jpg   393.07K   53 downloads
•  DOYLE-01.png   30.87K   39 downloads

[MSafiri]

Ronnie and I will each put out our own form guides based on what we learn by crawling through every boat, interviewing every skipper, getting drunk with every preparateur, and smoking cigs with every staffer.

When Clean, When??? Seems I will keep my job, as you guys are already drunk over there, and forgot to upload the daily dose...

Well MS - we are doing all that, but it takes research and time........

You need research about how to get drunk? and smoke ciggs? Ok, tomorrow is okay, Mother-in-law is with us, now, I have an excuse

[MR.CLEAN]

Sail the Vendee yourself - over 45,000 people already registered.

http://www.virtualregatta.com

[mr_ryano]

Vendee App is now up and free in the Apple App store. Looks slick so far. Alex Thompson also has his own app for Hugo Boss Racing

[steinbrenner]

nkb, thanks a lot for translation!

[KU-3]

Loving the pics of the hardware, the parts of the boats you don't usually see on your local J24, the cool bits. I can't help feeling like they are pictures of the "before" and after the carnage we will see the "after" pics and inevitably compare and decide what failed. It's what SA does.

[mad]

Loving the pics of the hardware, the parts of the boats you don't usually see on your local J24, the cool bits. I can't help feeling like they are pictures of the "before" and after the carnage we will see the "after" pics and inevitably compare and decide what failed. It's what SA does.

Its what the whole fleet does

[MR.CLEAN]

Boat tours uploading now.

two hours before the big Cheminees party and I am trying to get some interviews edited!

[MR.CLEAN]

The 2008-9 winner (then called Foncia) and 2nd place Barcelona World Race ride - Master of Cock!

[ronnie_simpson]

pic 1. Finally have the big screen up and running. I keep losing concentration as there's images of Mich Desj hauling ass, clearly viewable from the media center.....

pic 2- view from the media center yesterday when the whole village was closed. It was haling and puffing 50.

pic 3- clean interviewing Maitre Coq skipper Jeremie Beyou

pic 4- clean interviewing Acciona skipper Javier "Bubi" Sanso. Watch for Bubi to contribute to SA during his solo circumnavigation

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•  big screen vendee village.jpg   135.57K   30 downloads
•  boats on dock gale blowing.jpg   106.58K   43 downloads
•  clean interview beyou.jpg   118.94K   38 downloads
•  clean interview bubi.jpg   89.72K   28 downloads
•  conseil general flags.jpg   119.26K   21 downloads
•  crowd and flags.jpg   433.26K   12 downloads

[ronnie_simpson]

pretty wild to see 70,000 people in the village today, with rain off and on. it is currently after dark, cold and pissing down rain and there are several thousand on the dock. completely slam packed like a rock concert. Gotta love the passion they have for solo sailing here in France!!!!

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•  crowd on dock- sprinkling.jpg   422.26K   29 downloads
•  energa bow-hauled.jpg   102.21K   32 downloads

[ronnie_simpson]

Team Energa adding a carbon hydrogenerator bracket onto their transom. Pretty wild, as they had to cant the keel all the way to port to pull the starboard side transom out of the water.

pic 2 energa transom while hauled out

pic 3 kinda blurry but energa full throttle while completing diesel propulsion test

pic 4 the light house at the channel entrance this morning

pic 5 sodebo flag. clean and i are living off sodebo sandwiches and pizza in the media center. props sodebo!

Attached Files

•  energa hydrogenerator bracket.jpg   97.51K   98 downloads
•  energa rear transom port.jpg   319.07K   111 downloads
•  energa throttling in slip.jpg   254.26K   97 downloads
•  light house at channel entrance.jpg   93.48K   76 downloads
•  sodebo flag.jpg   99.7K   44 downloads

[steinbrenner]

The 2008-9 winner (then called Foncia) and 2nd place Barcelona World Race ride - Master of Cock!

great videos, specially that one from gutek's boat when talking about energy, so what's the point in acciona 100% eco powered if gutek as well aint gonna spend a single drop of fossil fuel?

ronnie and clean, you're doing a great job there, just keep on!!!

[ronnie_simpson]

Full interviewee with Javier Sanso and boat tour soon

[Keith]

This is great too see and hear all the interviews, great to see how some of the systems are set up on-board, well done, and thank you!

[Tunnel Rat]

There was a step-by-step video of (in fench) Loick Peyron doing this in his 60 a while back. Anyone have the link? I can't find it.

This one?
http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

That is not the video I was thinking of but that's damn impressive as well. Everything about it shows the kind of strength, mental and physical, these guys must have to race around the world. I'm additionally struck by how taxing a bad gybe can be on energy, how intelligent layout of systems can mean huge payoffs in maneuvers, how valuable time and practice in the boat is and how important it is to keep a cool head if things go wrong. Very very impressive.

Edit: Rail meat, I think you were the one who first posted the Peyron Gitana 80 tacking video. Do you still have that mike?

Edit 2: After an exercise with my newly acquired french skills I've found the link I was looking for: http://www.voilesetv...-60-pieds-open/

Here you go for the translation of the sub-titles :

1) Stack a total of 400 kilos of sails in the bow.

2) Transfer the water in the forward ballasts.

3) transfer of the satelite. This is a turning platform unique to this boat which they use stack everything that is not sails (spares, food etc). The nav station is also incorporated, its at the centre of the axe and you can see it turning in the video at 3.45ish. I saw this system on the boat when it was being prepared as Estrella Damm during the TJV 2009. The 'satellite' is mounted on circular track and has little rollers. There is a purchase system to transfer from one side to the other.

4) Prepare the leeward backstay.

5) Prepare the lazy jib sheet.

6) Prepare the main sail traveller.

7) Put the windward rudder down.

8) Put the windward daggerboard down.

9) Push the button to release the keel. (what they don't say on this video is that at this stage the keep is sent to center. Once the tack is done the button is pushed again to lift the keel to the other side).

10) set the autopilot to tack

11) Release the jib sheet

12) Bring on the new jib sheet

13) Ease the backstay

Shame. The lazy sheet got caught on the rig.

14) Trim the jib

15) Trim the main traveller

16) Grind up the windward dagger board

17) Filling up the middle ballasts

Snorkel - system that allows seawater to be sucked up into the ballasts.

3 minutes to fill the middle ballast.

The tack is finished but...

(they discuss that the wind had decreased so they have to unroll the solent).

35 mins effort for a tack.

Brilliant - thanks very much for posting and also for the translation. Slightly different from a tack in an etchells or something similar!

If they are changing spinnakers would they do a bareheaded change or do a peel? Or would it depend on the conditions at the time?

[ronnie_simpson]

Tunnel Rat, they set the boats up to do peels, but many times they do bareheaded changes as well. Most of the boats i've toured have a couple of furling sails (gennaker, code 0, etc) and then a couple of running spinnakers. So they hoist up the spinnaker, furl the gennaker and then un-sock the kite. Instead of doing port and starboard halyards for a peel, they use a masthead halyard and upper masthead halyard which is a foot higher. or frac halyard and upper frac halyard, to facilitate peels. watch the energa boat tour and magic explains this a bit. another big thing to keep in mind is that all 5 boats i've been on here are completely different and all the skippers claim to sail them with their own techniques. every single boat/skipper is unique here.

[MR.CLEAN]

A good time to share a little sponsor love - as I sit here rendering hours of video -

Alex has some of this stuff on Hugo Boss - it's Doyle's just-released RFH - the heavier-duty version of Doyle Stratis, on Rafa Trujillo's Finn.

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•  DOYLE-01.png   30.87K   22 downloads
•  PREPARATIVOS TRUJILLO ERASMO (68).jpg   171.94K   32 downloads

[MR.CLEAN]

Thinking of getting into Open racing? Minis? Class 40? Need help managing a project, finding a boat, selling a boat, or having one of those insurance "accidents"? (kidding...)

Call these guys. They know of what they speak!

http://www.whitecapl...nding-page.aspx

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•  whitecap-WHITEBGRD-01.png   10.93K   2 downloads

[Potter]

Steinbrenner - Gutek has to take diesel. There are minimum motoring requirements in the race rules. So I assume he is implying taking as little as possible. Whereas Bubi has an electric motor that had past all the thrust tests and therefore can compete with no fossil fuels on board.
Tunnel Rat - Very few of them will carry more than one spinnaker, that aside nearly all sail changes are done bare headed. When solo the consequence of an issue dropping the old sail is just to great. In fact the majority of gybes are done bare headed as well.
It if more a case of of reducing risk, one bad change or gybe could take hours to sort out. That said, it depends upon the skipper. Dee would gybe with the kite flying if the wind was below 20 knots,and she used the same sailing coach as Sam, so maybe Sam does the same. However Mike always put the kite in its sock for a gybe, and he is not one to back off.

[ronnie_simpson]

yes, Potter, interesting about diesel, almost no one will tell me how much they are taking....

Energa and Acciona both taking two kites

[MSafiri]

Clean & Ronnie,

Thanks guys! I found your coverage as a nice add-on to the already cool French coverage, keep it coming.

MSafiri

[ronnie_simpson]

Here is an example of a typical IMOCA 60 sail inventory. This is from Energa team. Magic the preparateur was very open about this info and there is nothing secretive. It is not a sail selection chart and has nothing in reference to boat speed or change over points.

Scratch the J1, it is staying on the dock as that would make 11 sails total.

So, inventory for Gutek is:

Main,
J2,
J3,
J4
Jib Top
Code 0- Furling sail, 2:! tack line, masthead
Code 3- Furling sail, 2:1 tack line, masthead
Code 5- Furling sail, 2:! tack line, fractional
A1- Masthead sail, 1:! tack line, sock
A2- Masthead sail, 1:1 tack line, sock

Attached Files

•  energa sail inventory.tiff   239.3K   73 downloads

[ET1]

Just looked at the videos. Really good stuff!
What is PBO?
Up until now best coverage of a sailboat race I´ve ever seen.

[MR.CLEAN]

From the front page:

SHOW US YOUR BUBI



Javier “Bubi” Senso has a good chance of doing something no one in history has done – his Open 60 “Acciona 100% Ecopowered” has no engine, no genset, and no hydrocarbon fuel of any kind. If Bubi finishes the 2012 Vendee Globe, he’ll be the first person ever to sail around the world without using a drop of diesel, gas, kerosene, propane, or anything else made from dead dinosaurs. It’s an impressive goal – something others have tried to do and failed – and Bubi and his sponsors will be real winners if they can just get ‘round.

Clean grabbed Bubi to talk all about his systems, his goals, and his dog. It’s a nice chat from one of the nicest guys in the sport.

BREAKING NEWS: Clean told us today that he’s officially confirmed as the ‘guest commentator’ for the event’s English-language, 5-hour live streaming video broadcast of the start of the Vendee Globe. Along with social media maven and former Mike Golding staffer Clare McNaughton, Clean will hopefully hold your interest during next Saturday morning’s start. We’ll have it all right here on the front page of SA.

[MR.CLEAN]

How awesome is Jesus Renedo? More gorgeous work from the Spanish Anarchist. http://www.sailingstock.com

Attached Files

•  lsd_HDR.jpg   106.88K   48 downloads

[MSafiri]

Guys,

Where are the solars on Acciona's deck? and how they are protected? What Javier is going to use to cook? I guess he will use the traditional gas cooker for heating up food.

A thought: I guess we came a long way in solar panel engineering as we have some flexible panels already out. I imagine it would be possible to fix stripes of this flexible panel up on the main. Reefing can be calculated so panels might get out with not much damage. Cables can be taken though the batten pockets, through the sliders, down inside the mast....There is a huge space up there which can be used more than power the boat ahead...what do you think? sorry if this is done already


Cheers,

MSafiri

[MR.CLEAN]

[Presuming Ed]

What is PBO?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zylon Used by some for standing rigging. Doesn't like UV.

(Also this which, when first sold had the strapline "Guaranteed free of racing results". But I guess that's not what you're after.)

[mr_ryano]

Guys,

Where are the solars on Acciona's deck? and how they are protected? What Javier is going to use to cook? I guess he will use the traditional gas cooker for heating up food.

A thought: I guess we came a long way in solar panel engineering as we have some flexible panels already out. I imagine it would be possible to fix stripes of this flexible panel up on the main. Reefing can be calculated so panels might get out with not much damage. Cables can be taken though the batten pockets, through the sliders, down inside the mast....There is a huge space up there which can be used more than power the boat ahead...what do you think? sorry if this is done already


Cheers,

MSafiri

Solars can be seen here. Will be interesting to see how the power output compares near the end of the race vs the beginning. Weight and flexibility of PV membranes not quite there for use on a sail, but it has been looked at.

More pics http://www.accionasa...m/?page_id=7359

Attached Files

•  JREN4000.jpg   250.72K   45 downloads

[MR.CLEAN]

From the event media:


The Vendée Globe’s historic success continues to grow in Les Sables d’Olonne. In two weeks, no less than 575,000 visitors attended the Race Village and pontoons to see the twenty boats competing in the forthcoming non-stop round-the-world solo race without assistance. This is a fantastic accomplishment, especially considering the unexpected closure of the race village on November 1st due to gale force winds.



Comments 0 © Olivier Blanchet / DPPI

The Vendée Globe Village is definitely alive and kicking. Two weeks after the official opening by Vendée General Council President Bruno Retailleau, 575,000 visitors explored the Race Village and accessed the pontoons to look in awe at the twenty boats of the 2012-2013 edition. An incredible 230,000 visitors attended the opening week, despite the difficult decision that was made to close the race village for an entire day due to extreme weather (gale force winds). In light of the French half-term school holidays, there is no doubt the final week before the race start – on Saturday, November 10th at 1.02PM – will be exceptional…
The popularity of this 7th edition is obvious on the internet, too. The audience of the Vendée Globe official website (vendeeglobe.org) quadrupled between September and October, with over 302,000 single visitors and 2,191,000 pages viewed. The race’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/VendeeGlobe) now has more than 20,000 fans while 4,000 people are following the official Twitter account. As for the virtual race, two weeks after registration opened, 44,500 players have already signed in on virtualregatta.com.
Last but not least, the app for smartphones and tablets, which has been available for 48 hours only, has become the most downloaded sports app (free apps) on the Apple Store.

[MR.CLEAN]

Team Spirit:

Attached Files

•  Screen Shot 2012-11-04 at 11.07.16 AM.png   512.63K   48 downloads

[MR.CLEAN]

[mosailn]

Nice job boys..looking forward to seeing the innerview with Alex.

[Rail Meat]

Awesome work guys. It is almost as good as being there.

[ronnie_simpson]

Nice job boys..looking forward to seeing the innerview with Alex.

alex thomson is epic. one of the coolest guys here. super down to earth and very personable. did an interview and boat tour yesterday, hopefully have it up soon

[MR.CLEAN]

Alex in the can, after Mike whose is almost done. It's become a fun challenge to get all these skippers and boat tours before the start; if you imagine that each interview takes 15 minutes, plus 15 minutes in scheduling and other comms, plus 30 minutes in research, plus 45 minutes of editing, plus 30 minutes of rendering, plus 30 minutes of upload time...we're at almost 3 hours per person x 20 skippers = 60 hours (that's if nothing goes wrong with the process). Ronnie's boat tours take even longer to do...

Glad we got here two weeks early, and it is still going to be a struggle to get it done, while planning for the live Cocktail Hour we're doing. Oh yeah, and prep for the live commentating that I am doing in exchange for a VG sweater for Mer

[forss]

Could you lighten us about the different mast types.
Why skippers choose wing mast, deckspreaders, deckstepped, keel stepped (acciona), etc.

[MR.CLEAN]

KITO!

[MR.CLEAN]

[MSafiri]

KITO!

is a cool guy. Been in Port Camargue last summer when Bel was in the shed being worked on. When asked him whether we can get in to see the boat, he almost apologized for not being able to get on board due to the work in the cockpit...Hope he will have a good result this time around.

[Marvin]

Good work guys... the interview with Javier was very informative.

[Tunnel Rat]

Tunnel Rat, they set the boats up to do peels, but many times they do bareheaded changes as well. Most of the boats i've toured have a couple of furling sails (gennaker, code 0, etc) and then a couple of running spinnakers. So they hoist up the spinnaker, furl the gennaker and then un-sock the kite. Instead of doing port and starboard halyards for a peel, they use a masthead halyard and upper masthead halyard which is a foot higher. or frac halyard and upper frac halyard, to facilitate peels. watch the energa boat tour and magic explains this a bit. another big thing to keep in mind is that all 5 boats i've been on here are completely different and all the skippers claim to sail them with their own techniques. every single boat/skipper is unique here.

Steinbrenner - Gutek has to take diesel. There are minimum motoring requirements in the race rules. So I assume he is implying taking as little as possible. Whereas Bubi has an electric motor that had past all the thrust tests and therefore can compete with no fossil fuels on board.
Tunnel Rat - Very few of them will carry more than one spinnaker, that aside nearly all sail changes are done bare headed. When solo the consequence of an issue dropping the old sail is just to great. In fact the majority of gybes are done bare headed as well.
It if more a case of of reducing risk, one bad change or gybe could take hours to sort out. That said, it depends upon the skipper. Dee would gybe with the kite flying if the wind was below 20 knots,and she used the same sailing coach as Sam, so maybe Sam does the same. However Mike always put the kite in its sock for a gybe, and he is not one to back off.

Thanks for the info Gents. I am trying to find the time to go through all the videos and struggling - which is a great problem to have.

[MR.CLEAN]

This is now the fifth day of wind well over 20 knots at times...pissing rain and occasional sunlight...thank christ I brought my Musto MPX for the long, wet walk from HQ to Chez Anarchy...

Get your Musto kit at LINE HONORS - Yacht Racing Outfitters. I swear by my Musto MPX Offshore Smock; I've worn literally every brand and this one is the toughest and dryest of them all!

Tell Bobby that Anarchy sent you and who knows? He might make you a deal.

Attached Files

•  LineHonorsLogo.png   22.31K   0 downloads

[MR.CLEAN]

Thanks for the info Gents. I am trying to find the time to go through all the videos and struggling - which is a great problem to have.

Good thing you've got a few months!

[MR.CLEAN]

ALEX:

[MR.CLEAN]

Ronnie's Hugo Boss boat tour

[MR.CLEAN]

Mike Golding:

[seagoon]

Polish skipper Zbigniew "Gutek" Gutkowski and team had to do some last minute work on Energy to get her compliant to the IMOCA class rule. After failing a diesel engine propulsion test, ENERGA had to be taken to the boat yard, hauled out, and have a new prop swapped on. Ronnie and I rode along with Gutek and the boys and then he made a little video. Enjoy.

"Newton Metres"! Bollocks, just plain Newtons, similar to those Pound things that everybody realized was a bad dream. Sigh.

[ET1]

Again to Clean.
just listened to the videos with Jeremie Beyou and kito and again: You speak too fast. Listening to your own videos you´ll find out that these french guys try hard to understand you but fail to do so in some moments. So many of the answers are just statements and not anwers to your questions. The reason is they didn´t understand the question. Í´m not referring to your hint about what "cock" means but just to the normal talking. So again: Speak slowly. Imagine the other way round: These french guys answer in french, their native lnguage. How much would you understand if they would speak at their normal velocity?
This is what I meant above.

[ET1]

Good Interview with JPD on the Vendee site in English. I Think he´s the top favourite.

[jrenedo]

Guys,

Where are the solars on Acciona's deck? and how they are protected? What Javier is going to use to cook? I guess he will use the traditional gas cooker for heating up food.

A thought: I guess we came a long way in solar panel engineering as we have some flexible panels already out. I imagine it would be possible to fix stripes of this flexible panel up on the main. Reefing can be calculated so panels might get out with not much damage. Cables can be taken though the batten pockets, through the sliders, down inside the mast....There is a huge space up there which can be used more than power the boat ahead...what do you think? sorry if this is done already


Cheers,

MSafiri

Solars can be seen here. Will be interesting to see how the power output compares near the end of the race vs the beginning. Weight and flexibility of PV membranes not quite there for use on a sail, but it has been looked at.

More pics http://www.accionasa...m/?page_id=7359

Hi there , I am just joinning the forum , as some of you might know I work for acciona , photo and video.I will try to answer Qs , and give as much info as I can.

regarding the solar panels, they need protection both sides, up for scratches , foot etc.. and under because the carbon fiber is very conductive , so its been a key point for the sparks, finding leaks and repairing. Those panels are very special, being manufacture by a german guy, who works in the satellite industry , and have same specs , very light and very effective.

chck out the vid for more info :

[MSafiri]

Guys,

Where are the solars on Acciona's deck? and how they are protected? What Javier is going to use to cook? I guess he will use the traditional gas cooker for heating up food.

A thought: I guess we came a long way in solar panel engineering as we have some flexible panels already out. I imagine it would be possible to fix stripes of this flexible panel up on the main. Reefing can be calculated so panels might get out with not much damage. Cables can be taken though the batten pockets, through the sliders, down inside the mast....There is a huge space up there which can be used more than power the boat ahead...what do you think? sorry if this is done already


Cheers,

MSafiri

Solars can be seen here. Will be interesting to see how the power output compares near the end of the race vs the beginning. Weight and flexibility of PV membranes not quite there for use on a sail, but it has been looked at.

More pics http://www.accionasa...m/?page_id=7359

Hi there , I am just joinning the forum , as some of you might know I work for acciona , photo and video.I will try to answer Qs , and give as much info as I can.......

You are the photo guy who is doing those awsome shots? lucky you. Thanks for the info, I will check it out once out of the office....
One question left: what Acciona is using to heat up food? is Javier using a traditional gas coocker or that was also removed to be totally 'green' powered?

Thanks alot for your effort,

MSafiri

[jrenedo]

Guys,

Where are the solars on Acciona's deck? and how they are protected? What Javier is going to use to cook? I guess he will use the traditional gas cooker for heating up food.

A thought: I guess we came a long way in solar panel engineering as we have some flexible panels already out. I imagine it would be possible to fix stripes of this flexible panel up on the main. Reefing can be calculated so panels might get out with not much damage. Cables can be taken though the batten pockets, through the sliders, down inside the mast....There is a huge space up there which can be used more than power the boat ahead...what do you think? sorry if this is done already


Cheers,

MSafiri

Solars can be seen here. Will be interesting to see how the power output compares near the end of the race vs the beginning. Weight and flexibility of PV membranes not quite there for use on a sail, but it has been looked at.

More pics http://www.accionasa...m/?page_id=7359

Hi there , I am just joinning the forum , as some of you might know I work for acciona , photo and video.I will try to answer Qs , and give as much info as I can.......

You are the photo guy who is doing those awsome shots? lucky you. Thanks for the info, I will check it out once out of the office....
One question left: what Acciona is using to heat up food? is Javier using a traditional gas coocker or that was also removed to be totally 'green' powered?

Thanks alot for your effort,

MSafiri

Yes, I am very lucky, I could have never imagine things would work out that way.Being here is amazing..

regarding your query , He is using what we call a camping gas tank ( several ones) to cook, and I don't have a straight answer to that. Obviously there are components , like carbon fiber, resines,the sails.. that have been made from" non green" stuff , but thats is a starting point , and he wants to be competitive , just trying without and engine to charge batts is a big step. And thats why its ecoPOWERED , not ECO only.

[steinbrenner]

as far as i know, gas is, if not totally 'green', far more 'green' than any other fossil fuel, if i'm not right somebody to correct me, but as i understood from Potter's answer to my question, gutek as well (and probably several other skippers) might not spend a single drop of diesel fuel if everything goes well for him!? he takes diesel only for propulsion if needed, not for generating electricity

does somobody know which else boats use green sources for electricity like energa?

[ILYA_Fan]

Thank you SA for your coverage of this event. The walkthrough of the tent was outstanding! Would love to see more things like that. Everything you're doing is fantastic.

[ronnie_simpson]

does somobody know which else boats use green sources for electricity like energa?

every boat in the fleet has 2 hydro generators, one to use on each board.

many of the boats, probably half, have solar power as well, in varying capacities. Acciona obviously has the most, but Gamesa has a decent array as well.

Safran has a wind generator as well, but Energa and Acciona are the only two I know of that have hydro, solar and wind power.

[MSafiri]

Jrenedo & Steinbrenner
,
Thanks for the insight, seems I wrongly formulated the original question, when asked about 'green'. I guess unless the skippers are using kinda army style food, where the heat is created by chemical reaction, they will have to use gas for a while to heat up their food.

Cheers,

MSafiri

[MR.CLEAN]

There are electric solutions but they all draw serious amps, though I'd imagine the 12v ones could work with Bubi's setup given how much juice he can make and store. I am frankly somewhat disappointed that Acciona hasn't sorted out a solution for making freeze-dried and coffee that doesn't use camping gas, whether an alcohol stove, electric element, or some kind of chemical reaction, because it makes the title "first around alone, non-stop, without fossil fuels" untrue. However relatively eco-friendly the isobutane/propane mix is, it's still Liquid Petroleum, and it certainly comes from dinosaur dicks.

[Speng]

I think Bubi's boat is cool. Is he cooking with electricity as well? Although cooking is stretch I reckon the "cooking pot" is a kettle...

One question though: didn't Joyon do his trimaran record without fuel? Or maybe he carried some propane for cooking? AFAIK those guy take the engines off the boat but maybe I'm smoking weed.

Since I'm a nerd, I'll point out that Ronnie was messing up the units and terminology on the test on Gutek's boat (it is technically called a "bollard pull test") and the units must have been Newtons and it's a force (not Newton meters and torque like he said). Not really sure what the test is for as bollard pull is important for tug boats and other similar vessels that have to tow things at low speed. I suppose the IMOCA rules require a minimum engine power (?). If so I guess the test is really to make sure they have a big enuff prop. A more useful test would be to have them be required to tow something of known resistance at a given speed (CAT 0 requires hull speed) to simulate motoring into a head sea and head wind.

So... nobody has pointed out that "Maitre Coq" is pretty humorous in English *giggle*

[mr_ryano]

There are electric solutions but they all draw serious amps, though I'd imagine the 12v ones could work with Bubi's setup given how much juice he can make and store. I am frankly somewhat disappointed that Acciona hasn't sorted out a solution for making freeze-dried and coffee that doesn't use camping gas, whether an alcohol stove, electric element, or some kind of chemical reaction, because it makes the title "first around alone, non-stop, without fossil fuels" untrue. However relatively eco-friendly the isobutane/propane mix is, it's still Liquid Petroleum, and it certainly comes from dinosaur dicks.

The JetBoil heats water really fast, and uses a small amount of energy per heat. To boil water on a 24VDC system would take forever

[steinbrenner]

speng i think you're right about joyon

i wouldnt blame acciona for having gas to cook, i think she still deserves to be called eco-powered (maybe 99.9 % tough:) because obviously the point is to have eco source of energy for navigation/communication systems and propulsion if needed, i mean the boat is eco-powered, the skipper isn't

but that's only my humble opinion

the question is will she be able to motor 1000 miles if for example dismasted somewhere 1000 miles off australia or new zealand? maybe if sunny and windy but otherwise? really, what are sun panels and wind generators capable of in terms of providing power for two electrical motors each rating maybe 10 or 20 kW?

of course, same question stands for other boats with diesel engine as they're taking only 100-150 litres of diesel for generating electricity
how did loick last time reach australia, jury rig or being towed or...?

[cifri]

This is amazing coverage, almost better than being there. I am really enjoying this videos, they are not only interesting but also very funny. Thank you guys.

does somobody know which else boats use green sources for electricity like energa?

every boat in the fleet has 2 hydro generators, one to use on each board.

many of the boats, probably half, have solar power as well, in varying capacities. Acciona obviously has the most, but Gamesa has a decent array as well.

Safran has a wind generator as well, but Energa and Acciona are the only two I know of that have hydro, solar and wind power.

I liked the system in PRB, they have only one hydrogenerator that can be rotated fron side to side.

[Left Hook]

Clean, I'm usually fairly critical of your coverage either for technical reasons or for ideological ones but this has been, so far, your mona lisa. Technical work is good, you're asking good questions, you're showing the human side of these competitors and that's a big big big deal. I find myself anxiously awaiting each new update and waiting to see what you can come up with next.

Though I won't forget that you still owe me the footage of the camera going in the drink from Decision in the BDA race!!!!

[mr_ryano]

Clean, I'm usually fairly critical of your coverage either for technical reasons or for ideological ones but this has been, so far, your mona lisa. Technical work is good, you're asking good questions, you're showing the human side of these competitors and that's a big big big deal. I find myself anxiously awaiting each new update and waiting to see what you can come up with next.

Though I won't forget that you still owe me the footage of the camera going in the drink from Decision in the BDA race!!!!

+1. Real good work so far, except for that half nude Clean pic on Facebook the other day. Keep the VG sweater for your hairy chest!

[MR.CLEAN]

Clean, I'm usually fairly critical of your coverage either for technical reasons or for ideological ones but this has been, so far, your mona lisa. Technical work is good, you're asking good questions, you're showing the human side of these competitors and that's a big big big deal. I find myself anxiously awaiting each new update and waiting to see what you can come up with next.

Though I won't forget that you still owe me the footage of the camera going in the drink from Decision in the BDA race!!!!

+1. Real good work so far, except for that half nude Clean pic on Facebook the other day. Keep the VG sweater for your hairy chest!

That pic was thankfully removed. fucking Facebook and fucking Nicola...not my best side...

Thanks for the words folks - seriously. As usual, being the guy who is allergic to the typical underpromise/overdeliver mantra, I planned a very, very ambitious coverage for the Vendee - essentially our every boat/every skipper plan means 60+ hours of work for both of us not including any other part of the week; research, other interviews, catching up with old friends, eating food, checking out classics, biz meetings...nothing.

On a positive note, I just found out that I can stop saying "English Language" when describing our plan, as apparently no one - not France 3, not Canal +, not Ouest-France, not Voiles & Voiliers, not Course au Large, has ever done video of every boat in the VG fleet, nor interviews with every skipper. This despite those pubs having 6-12 people on the ground each.

And Jean Le Cam gave us a 15 minute interview in broken english today; i had to fight with him for a bit but finally he acquiesced. The last time he did an English interview? 4 years ago, via e-mail. The last time he did a video/TV interview in English? 2004.

But Ronnie and I are going for it, and your appreciation reminds us why. So thanks again.

[MR.CLEAN]

There are electric solutions but they all draw serious amps, though I'd imagine the 12v ones could work with Bubi's setup given how much juice he can make and store. I am frankly somewhat disappointed that Acciona hasn't sorted out a solution for making freeze-dried and coffee that doesn't use camping gas, whether an alcohol stove, electric element, or some kind of chemical reaction, because it makes the title "first around alone, non-stop, without fossil fuels" untrue. However relatively eco-friendly the isobutane/propane mix is, it's still Liquid Petroleum, and it certainly comes from dinosaur dicks.

The JetBoil heats water really fast, and uses a small amount of energy per heat. To boil water on a 24VDC system would take forever

Ran into Bubi at dinner tonight, he is taking us to the trailer tomorrow to show us his chemical heating system. he is bringing gas but expects not to have to use it for cooking, but we'll see how good this military heating chemical system is. Alcohol would've been simpler...

[mr_ryano]

There are electric solutions but they all draw serious amps, though I'd imagine the 12v ones could work with Bubi's setup given how much juice he can make and store. I am frankly somewhat disappointed that Acciona hasn't sorted out a solution for making freeze-dried and coffee that doesn't use camping gas, whether an alcohol stove, electric element, or some kind of chemical reaction, because it makes the title "first around alone, non-stop, without fossil fuels" untrue. However relatively eco-friendly the isobutane/propane mix is, it's still Liquid Petroleum, and it certainly comes from dinosaur dicks.

The JetBoil heats water really fast, and uses a small amount of energy per heat. To boil water on a 24VDC system would take forever

Ran into Bubi at dinner tonight, he is taking us to the trailer tomorrow to show us his chemical heating system. he is bringing gas but expects not to have to use it for cooking, but we'll see how good this military heating chemical system is. Alcohol would've been simpler...

You're going to shoot it, right? When are we going to see Ms. Davies? Make sure to ask her if she has any interest in the SCA VOR campaign when you see her

[MR.CLEAN]

There are electric solutions but they all draw serious amps, though I'd imagine the 12v ones could work with Bubi's setup given how much juice he can make and store. I am frankly somewhat disappointed that Acciona hasn't sorted out a solution for making freeze-dried and coffee that doesn't use camping gas, whether an alcohol stove, electric element, or some kind of chemical reaction, because it makes the title "first around alone, non-stop, without fossil fuels" untrue. However relatively eco-friendly the isobutane/propane mix is, it's still Liquid Petroleum, and it certainly comes from dinosaur dicks.

The JetBoil heats water really fast, and uses a small amount of energy per heat. To boil water on a 24VDC system would take forever

Ran into Bubi at dinner tonight, he is taking us to the trailer tomorrow to show us his chemical heating system. he is bringing gas but expects not to have to use it for cooking, but we'll see how good this military heating chemical system is. Alcohol would've been simpler...

You're going to shoot it, right? When are we going to see Ms. Davies? Make sure to ask her if she has any interest in the SCA VOR campaign when you see her

Sam is tomorrow evening, Ronnie is going to shoot the chemical water heating thing. I guess Sam will be up by Thursday at the latest. I have a feeling I am going to miss a couple of boats...either way will still be editing on the Emirates flight to Dubai on Sunday...

[Marvin]

And Jean Le Cam gave us a 15 minute interview in broken english today; i had to fight with him for a bit but finally he acquiesced. The last time he did an English interview? 4 years ago, via e-mail. The last time he did a video/TV interview in English? 2004.

But Ronnie and I are going for it, and your appreciation reminds us why. So thanks again.

That is great news Alan... As ET1 pointed out earlier, make it easy for the French skippers... the word will get around and they'll be looking forward to the interviews...

I wish I was there to help with language issues... Keep up the great work!