THE IMOCA thread, single/double handed & TOR

[popo]

With less work being done by the foils and more focus on the hull it could be argued that in the event of multiple foil breakages in the fleet, this boat could be one of the fastest, as well as the higher averages theory talked about in the article

It's a narrow boat, not that sure.

Reason for the very high foils pits is to not drag in the water in light conditions ... and also being able to have them out of the water in storms where you don't want to go faster.

There's an interesting bit to : they studdied the previous editions and determined that the boats where pushed to only 85% of their possibilities, so they tried to make a boat slower un peaks, but faster on average to be closest to 100% of the polars 

 

[JonRowe]

There's an interesting bit to : they studdied the previous editions and determined that the boats where pushed to only 85% of their possibilities, so they tried to make a boat slower un peaks, but faster on average to be closest to 100% of the polars 

Without numbers though, its a bit hard to say whats better, a flying boat might run at 70% of its polars, and a non flying boat might run at 90%, but if the flying boats polars are 130% of the non flying boats then that lower polar average is actually 1% faster overall...

 

[oioi]

the

 

[jb5]

50 minute video of the TJV in the article on the link below.  In French.  Some footage I''ve not seen before.

https://www.letelegramme.fr/voile/voile-documentaire-il-est-beau-mon-bateau-28-11-2019-12444296.php

 

[Sailbydate]

50 minute video of the TJV in the article on the link below.  In French.  Some footage I''ve not seen before.

https://www.letelegramme.fr/voile/voile-documentaire-il-est-beau-mon-bateau-28-11-2019-12444296.php

Some excellent historical coverage. Worth a look.

 

[jb5]

https://mailchi.mp/tipandshaft.com/tip-shaft-188-armel-le-clach-brest-atlantiques-trs-riche-denseignements-comment-cherbourg-a-dcroch-larrive-du-fastnet?e=9a497c6fa7

Interview with Armel Le Cléac'h.  Covers a number of topics including IMOCA. In French.  Some IMOCA parts below.

You played the role of "professor" with Clarisse Crémer, did you like it?
I did not really know how to take things, it was new to me and, with Clarisse, we did not know each other. I went directly to the handling of the boat on the Fastnet which started soon after.  She suffered a lot, in the sense that she was more a teammate who performed what I asked her to do. But as she took charge of the boat she sailed a little more solo and when we arrived at the departure of Jacques Vabre, I did not need to direct precisely what needed to be done. In the race, I took care of the strategy and the weather, because I wanted to have this role and that the objective was that she could finish the Transat with a complete understanding of the boat so that she could bring it back alone without any worries, which she is doing. So finally, it was a nice role and I enjoyed it.
 
No regrets not to be at the start of the Vendée Globe 2020? ?
No, no regrets. This race pleased me, but a Vendée Globe where we would go for the win, it's another story ... So the Vendée is a page that, for now, I put aside. We will see in the future, but today, I can not wait to get our Ultim arounf the time when first Vendée Globe arrive home.

What do you think about the new IMOCA L'Occitane  of Armel Tripon?
It's great to see different approaches, which was not the case on the last Vendée Globe. Today, Charal is a small step ahead of the competition, but Apivia is already in the game , Advens was also a good surprise on the Jacques Vabre. For Armel's boat, when we see what Ian Lipinski and Adrien Hardy did with Jacques Vabre with a boat that resembles the new IMOCA a little, we think that if, aesthetically, it does not have the beautiful lines of other Imoca, it can be powerful, which is the priority. I also look forward to seeing the boat of my friend Nicolas ( Troussel) who has the same hull as Arkéa-Paprec , but with some updates and different foils.
 
If you had to choose one, which one would you take?
In general, I like the boats that are quite versatile, so it would be a mix between  Charal , which is very comfortable in many conditions, and  Apivia for their cockpit.
 
What do you think of Hugo Boss and do you see Alex Thomson as a potential winner of the Vendée Globe?
I think it will be one of the great favorites of the Vendée. In the TJV  he was unlucky, but over short periods, we saw averages and peaks of speed . The boat has potential, it is quite similar to Charal , even if they were more extreme with the cockpit and foils, it has always been their trademark. And I think they have an ability to return quickly.  

 

[LeoV]

Nice to hear him as experienced imoca sailor saying HB is similar to Charal, and a few others with potential. Bring on the Vendee... could be a good one.

 

[jb5]

https://www.scanvoile.com/2019/12/imoca-saison-2019-classement-skipper-2020-vendee-globe.html#.XeO8GV7Yqow

Rough translation

The IMOCA World Championship standings are still led by Paul Meilhat with 3 solo races to come in 2020 : The Transat, the New York-Vendée and the Vendée Globe.

Never before has the Transat Jacques Vabre had so many IMOCA participants with 29 pairs leaving from Le Havre and 27 finishing in Salvador de Bahia. Sportingly, it was a superb edition, says Antoine Mermod, President of the IMOCA class. The race was hotly contested at all levels of the fleet, for the top five as well as for the last three. All the pairs had a lot of fun racing against each other. It's very promising for next season. If the next three races are also played out like this, it will be a great show.

Of the 27 boats that arrived in Brazil, about 20 are sailing home with many sailors solo. The 2020 season is focused exclusively on solo events and the sailors need to regain their  skills in this mode. It's life-sized training before attacking the new year. In addition, the winter yards will be very focused on adapting boats to solo sailing. This return navigation from Brazil will allow them to refine the last details and possible improvements, explains Antoine Mermod.

Seventh in the Transat Jacques Vabre with Sam Davies, Paul Meilhat retains the lead of the World Championship "Imoca Globe Series". Apart from the Bermuda 1000 Race, the skipper has completed in all of the events on the circuit, winning last years the Route du Rhum and the Monaco Globe Series (with Gwénolé Gahinet).

He is followed by Yann Eliès, winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 and 2nd of the Route du Rhum 2018. German Boris Herrmann completes the podium, ahead of Fabrice Amedeo (who has finished all the races) and Vincent Riou.

The ranking of Imoca Globe Series rewards a certain consistency. Those sailors who have done all the races or almost, who have often finished well placed or even won. There will be a lot of things to be done in 2020. That's where everything will be played,  Antoine Mermod notes.

Next year, three events will count towards the Globe Series: The Transat (coefficient 4), New York / Vendée (coefficient 4) and of course the Vendée Globe (coefficient 10).

The Top 10 Globes Series:
1. Paul Meilhat: 206 points
2. Yann Eliès: 192 points
3. Boris Herrmann: 180 points
4. Fabrice Amedeo: 169 points
5. Vincent Riou: 157 points
6. Damien Seguin: 143 points
7. Sam Davies: 140 points
8 Jérémie Beyou: 132 points
9. Kevin Escoffier: 131 points
10. Nicolas Lunvent: 131 points

Source: Sea and Media

 

[huey 2]

 

[Raptorsailor]

View attachment 333589

 

[Chimp too]

View attachment 334342

That is rough as fuck! Look at the creases in the line tunnel laminate! 

 

[huey 2]

After 8500 miles . , she is back....   what mods will they do over winter

 

[jb5]

https://www.scanvoile.com/2019/12/imoca-alexia-barrier-paul-meilhat-developpement-au-nautic-de-paris.html#.XeqPTXnYqow

Extract.

Paris Boat Show

Throughout the fair, several sailors will come to present their committed actions for of the ocean and for sustainable development. Phil Sharp, Alexia Barrier, Louis Burton, Fabrice Amedeo, Paul Meilhat, Benjamin Dutreux and Stéphane Le Diraison have already confirmed their attendance. On Wednesday, December 11, a conference will be held where the IMOCA class will present its commitments to the ocean. In the wake will be signed a partnership between IMOCA and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, under the coordination of the JCOMMOPS center.

Maybe we'll see a push towards fuel cells in the near future in IMOCA.

Related on Phil Sharp's fuel cell work. (nowhere to post Class40 items here it seems)

https://www.sail-world.com/news/224600/Phil-Sharp-sets-world-speed-record

https://oceanslab.world/

 

[jb5]

https://mailchi.mp/tipandshaft/tip-shaft-54-brest-atlantiques-on-first-analysis-sam-manuard-i-am-super-happy-to-run-a-project-like-loccitane?e=[UNIQID]

Sam Manuard interview on L'Ocotane.  In English.

 

[jb5]

https://www.scanvoile.com/2019/12/the-transat-brest-2020-ultime-imoca-multi50-class40.html#.Xez3bnnYqow

The Transat CIC.  Should be a great race even though it now bears almost no resemblance to what this race was.  Great to see a fleet of classes similar to the RDR. Charal said that they do not plan to race it, preferring to focus on tuning up their winter changes/foils.  HB didn't do it last time, wonder if they will this time.  The NY-Vendee IMOCA race (solo)  starts shortly after.

Excerpts-

For the 2020 edition of The Transat, the organizer offers a brand new course starting in Brest and arriving in Charleston. Altogether, 3,100 nautical miles during the North Atlantic spring into the prevailing currents and winds. The start is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 2020.

Class40, IMOCA, Multi50 and Ultimate
At the end of November, the notice of race was unveiled, thus officially opening registrations. Class40, IMOCA, Multi50 and Ultimes are invited to participate. The craze is already strong since it will be one of the last opportunities for participants in the Vendée Globe to be alone with the elements with their boats. PRB, Arkea Paprec, Initiatives Coeur, Banque Populaire and Maître Coq are the first pre-registered.
 

 

[Sailbydate]

https://mailchi.mp/tipandshaft/tip-shaft-54-brest-atlantiques-on-first-analysis-sam-manuard-i-am-super-happy-to-run-a-project-like-loccitane?e=[UNIQID]

Sam Manuard interview on L'Ocotane.  In English.

Interesting comments about collision avoidance system development, JB. Although 6 seconds is a very short space for reaction time!!! Enough time to scream, 'fuuuuuck', but not much more. ;-)

 

[jb5]

https://www.letelegramme.fr/voile/transat-jacques-vabre/transat-jacques-vabre-le-film-de-la-transat-jacques-vabre-2019-11-12-2019-12455868.php

or here

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7p0r7n

Summary video of the recent TJV on the link above.  Commentary in French.

 

[Ahstom]

IMOCA class published, on 27/11/2019, Class rule 2021 that includes specific rules for a crewed IMOCA measurement certificate.

https://www.imoca.org/en/imoca/official-documents

Specific rules for CMC (crewed measurement certificate) aim mainly security equipment (liferaft, lifeline, desal sizing, etc...). One funny fact, a toilet become mandatory !

Interestingly, a minimum weight for the keel bulb is now specified (2450 kg). I suppose that rule imposes a minimum static righting moment in case of a foil breakage.

There is also a whole appendix concerning material limitation, construction method and finishing products specific to CMC but I can't tell if there are major differences with the solo version.

 

[jb5]

Speaks for itself. English subtitles as well. 

 

[jb5]

https://mailchi.mp/tipandshaft.com/tip-shaft-190-kvin-escoffier-si-je-finis-le-vende-je-serai-dans-les-5-golden-globe-race-comment-mcintyre-a-transform-lessai?e=9a497c6fa7

Interview with Kevin Escoffier on the link, in French. Some parts below.

On getting the PRB ride - thank you to Vincent Riou.

I did a lot of multihulls, but also two Volvo monohulls, a race that, to learn how to make a boat run fast on the water, is in my opinion the best - but also a technical experience that fit well with the PRB project, knowing that it is not part of the big stables in the budget and that the boat is quite complicated.

Concerning the loss of Banque Populaire IX  ?
For me and the team, it was hard to live. Team Banque Populaire takes little risk with safety, we have always made structural choices oriented more on that than on the mass gain, we were the only team to do a double structural check of the boats , so lose it totally was a very hard blow.

The PRB project did not include building a new boat, did it make you hesitate?
No, because I think it was the project that perfectly matched my background. Having never made solitary, I could hardly claim to have a project directly with a new boat . By cons, like PRB is a very technical boat, coming from someone very talented in the field, Vincent, who pushes things to the end

Do the foils work well?
Yes, these are foils that will rather seek the delicacy than the surface max, it is not those who will push the most, but they will drag less under certain conditions, it smooths a little performance. The winners of the Vendée Globe are not necessarily the fastest all the time, but they are never the slowest.
 
If you look at the fleet of new boats, which ones inspire you?
Today, in terms of pure speed, Charal has a little advance, they have worked a lot for a year and a half, but he also has weaknesses in small airs on which Jérémie will work this winter. 

What is your goal for the Vendée?
I think with this boat, looking for these small performance gaps and more, if I'm on the finish line, I'll be in five .

Brest Atlantiques ?
There were a lot of breaks and stops, which proves once again that these boats are long to be reliable, but it finally gave rise to a nice twists and turns to follow. When I return from the Vendée Globe, I hope to be able to participate in the round-the-world crew race in late 2021 .