winchfodder
Super Anarchist
Biotherm has a crack on longitudinal element inside the hull (girder?). Looks to me as if it's below the cockpit.
Maybe two cracks? On deck? 🙂
The Ocean Race 2023 leg 3: Capetown to ItajaÃ, Brazil
- Thread starter Herman
- Start date
Maybe two cracks? On deck? 🙂
Qtrfoil
Member
That's four days ago. I don't think we've heard about it since, though I remain a little concerned that the flexing would not allow for a good repair.
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Do you know what Point Nemo is? Located in the South Pacific, it is the place in the ocean that is furthest from land! We give you the lowdown on this curiosity.
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TheDragon
Super Anarchist
Holcim can sure soak down better than the rest in light stuff, but wind will fill in soon again and then Malizia should shine again.
winchfodder
Super Anarchist
Great that after two weeks of heavy banging and crashing, hanging on for your life, the teams are getting some gentle flat water sailing for a few more days. Time to relax a bit, dry out, eat in comfort and check over the boat and the gear before the next thrash before the Horn. But racing still full on and unbelievably close.
dg_sailingfan
Super Anarchist
Malizia needed a big lead around Cape Horn. Feels like their chances winning the Leg are slipping away a bit given that there is still a long about 2,000 Nautical Mile slog between the Horn and Itajai.
Qtrfoil
Member
I've been thinking the same. She's optimized for heavier air, off the wind. Nico's got his work cut out for him. Having said that, her foils might help her do some things her hull is not otherwise cut for, so we'll see.
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D Wayne G
Member
Looks like she’s doing pretty well in lightish winds to me.
terrafirma
Super Anarchist
He can certainly fly that drone..! That's another great video by them and to get Biotherm in the video was pretty special. Southern Ocean at it's most docile there.!
Herman
Super Anarchist
- Thread starter
- #1,271
Weather routing Guyot's delivery
In other news, Guyot's delivery is under way as you know. They first got some latitude north in order to circumvent LP alley below Gough Island with the westerly headwinds.
Another 13 days sailing, +/- 2.900 nm in calm weather with (very) light winds (GFS). Projected ETA April 1st 00:30Z. Crossing the St Helena HP. So they will have +/- 3 weeks up to Sunday 23rd to get the boat and crew in very good racing order for the leg 4 start.
In other news, Guyot's delivery is under way as you know. They first got some latitude north in order to circumvent LP alley below Gough Island with the westerly headwinds.
Another 13 days sailing, +/- 2.900 nm in calm weather with (very) light winds (GFS). Projected ETA April 1st 00:30Z. Crossing the St Helena HP. So they will have +/- 3 weeks up to Sunday 23rd to get the boat and crew in very good racing order for the leg 4 start.
littlechay
Super Anarchist
I've done that run a few times. Basic navigation is; leave capetown, turn right to approx a NWly course (whatever feels right) and keep it until you can wear a t-shirt on deck at night, then turn left to make your westing...
Herman
Super Anarchist
- Thread starter
- #1,273
Weather routing March 19th
The Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone got updated again I noted in the tracker, still nothing published for the public.
Pic 1 AIEZ moved south
Currently the fleet is enjoying excellent weather, and also for the coming days. Up to Point Nemo around March 22nd 08Z everything OK.
See pic 2 with SAT IR color 11Z and ECMWEF wind and pressure
See pic 3 with SAT IR color 11Z and GFS wind and pressure
Both models do seem to align with the sat pic. So for the short time OK.
Screaming 50s alert
But when weather routing to Kaap Hoorn the GFS projections again see serious problems arising around March 25th 00Z up to March 28th. With various storms and LP zones projected. Sea state turning very bad to a no-go area imho with significant waves up to 5 meters (WW3) in some parts. Winds (steady) 35 up to 45 kts. So gusts even higher. The coast of Chile turns into a very dangerous lee shore, to be avoided at any cost or risk loosing the boat and lives.
So current GFS weather projections are blocking any sane skipper or navigator to be there in these days. If the projections don't show an improvement, I would not be surprised that the fleet has to drop speed and stall for a considerable time (days) until this very bad stuff has gone and it is safe to start heading south and later do the actual passage past CH.
So what about ECMWF you ask? The 2 wind models do disagree when and where the no-go areas will be. But ECMWF has also the March 26th 04Z as a big no-go area for anything sailing west of CH up to 49 degrees south latitude. Sig waves up to 6 meters (WAM) the 27th projected. ECMWF projects that it will be OK to start heading for CH around March 28th in the afternoon.
As pics tell more than a 1.000 words see below for the GFS screenshots the get the idea for various days and times, see top left corners for timestamps.
The Antarctic Ice Exclusion Zone got updated again I noted in the tracker, still nothing published for the public.
Pic 1 AIEZ moved south
Currently the fleet is enjoying excellent weather, and also for the coming days. Up to Point Nemo around March 22nd 08Z everything OK.
See pic 2 with SAT IR color 11Z and ECMWEF wind and pressure
See pic 3 with SAT IR color 11Z and GFS wind and pressure
Both models do seem to align with the sat pic. So for the short time OK.
Screaming 50s alert
But when weather routing to Kaap Hoorn the GFS projections again see serious problems arising around March 25th 00Z up to March 28th. With various storms and LP zones projected. Sea state turning very bad to a no-go area imho with significant waves up to 5 meters (WW3) in some parts. Winds (steady) 35 up to 45 kts. So gusts even higher. The coast of Chile turns into a very dangerous lee shore, to be avoided at any cost or risk loosing the boat and lives.
So current GFS weather projections are blocking any sane skipper or navigator to be there in these days. If the projections don't show an improvement, I would not be surprised that the fleet has to drop speed and stall for a considerable time (days) until this very bad stuff has gone and it is safe to start heading south and later do the actual passage past CH.
So what about ECMWF you ask? The 2 wind models do disagree when and where the no-go areas will be. But ECMWF has also the March 26th 04Z as a big no-go area for anything sailing west of CH up to 49 degrees south latitude. Sig waves up to 6 meters (WAM) the 27th projected. ECMWF projects that it will be OK to start heading for CH around March 28th in the afternoon.
As pics tell more than a 1.000 words see below for the GFS screenshots the get the idea for various days and times, see top left corners for timestamps.
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Fabricensis
Member
- 92
- 107
Whole field within 1 nm DTL after 21 days, crazy
Qtrfoil
Member
You're right about that. I think I was mostly thinking about her rocker and whether she can go as high to windward. But that makes me wonder how good her foils are. Replaying last 24-ish she does pretty well. I hope all the boats are fast and we get a finish as good as the last Volvo.
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shebeen
Super Anarchist
Loving the team woolly jumpers too
littlechay
Super Anarchist
In my experience GFS always errs on the high side for anything over 2 or 3 days out, in that area. So if we watch those projections over the next few days they will probably reduce in intensity somewhat.
Qtrfoil
Member
I made it to a minute and five seconds.
See, this is why a sextant test and, oh, 18,000 miles of use should be mandatory before you're qualified to call yourself an ocean racer. All this GPS use is making some people stupid.
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