The Ocean Race 2023 leg 3: Capetown to Itajaí, Brazil

[timotheysski]

I doubt that adding more speed is the answer to the concerns about boats constantly crashing into waves. Yes you are faster but that only means that the crash is even harder. So far nobody got injured. So far nobody got injured too badly.

I think the foilers need more control. T-rudders are the usual answer but Malizia shows that there is still a lot of mileage left in the hull design.

The next set of rules -AFAIK voted on after the finish of the next VG- will be interesting. Do we see t-rudders? Or perhaps the return of additional appendages, say some form of trim tab?
Then there is the potential elephant in the room. Two new boats in the next VG are without foils. If their gamble plays out things will change again.

I think no T rudders for a couple of editions, because as I said, the performance gap would be too large with all the other boats.
Also, imagine rocketing down a wave, foil's out, T foil lifts you up fully out the water, all the sudden you're going 40 knots into a wall of water ahead. Even with a Malizia hull shape, that's a pretty brutal hit. T foils work wonders in flat waters, remain to be proven in any sizeable waves.

 

[timotheysski]

I doubt it's a gamble. Seems like a cost cutting measure. Noone can seriously think boats without foils are competative after the last round.

I seriously think boats without foils can be competitive, especially after the last round. We had brand new big-foil boats like Apivia come in less than 9 hours ahead of a guy like Jean le Cam racing on a 2007 daggerboard boat. I think currently, the sailor is enough to offset the machine on a race like the Vendée (provided of course that you don't have a 2002 soft-chined boat and so on).
No foils does help save costs, but Le Cam, who's building the boat, repeatedly said before he doesn't want a foiling boat and thinks they're dumb for the Vendée. I'm not placing any bets, but I'm super excited about those 2 new daggerboard boats and I think in the hands of a guy like Le Cam they will absolutely have a good chance.

 

[timotheysski]

They should set a headroom rule. Those boats without enough headroom for the crew look horrible. Malitizia looks luxurious and safer.

Imagine slamming without the ability to straighten up.

Agreed, some of those designs are ludicrous. Have you seen the new Charal? The cockpit just kind of pinches down into a slit to meet the deck. Looks super claustrophobic from the inside.

 

[Swanno]

They should set a headroom rule. Those boats without enough headroom for the crew look horrible. Malitizia looks luxurious and safer.

Imagine slamming without the ability to straighten up.

Fully agree.

Being hunched over for a month and a bit will certainly be detrimental to your body.
Malizia is a hotel compared to the other three.

 

[timotheysski]

Back to the race.
Malizia still sending it +19 knots which is reassuring to see. Looking like Biotherm and 11th Hour will not make it through the light patch before it engulfs them. That'll be the cause for more than a few frowns for sure.
On a side note, 11th Hour does NOT look like a fun boat to be on right now. The no-1st-reef thing must be intensely frustrating as is nursing the boat home constantly stressing about daggerboard and mainsail. IIRC haven't seen too many cockpit videos from them recently.

 

[timotheysski]

Fully agree.

Being hunched over for a month and a bit will certainly be detrimental to your body.
Malizia is a hotel compared to the other three.

The rear cabin area feels also super cozy to me for some reason. It's like an actual separate room in the boat. Also probably feels nice to just literally step back than to crawl towards the pointy end of the missile to go sleep/cook/relax.

 

[dg_sailingfan]

If you believe Marine Traffic MALIZIA has executed their gybe towards Cape Horn into a more northeastlerly direction.

 

[Swanno]

If the weather forecast is correct, they will have a south easterly wind as they go past the horn. I wonder if the sun will be up in time?

 

[dg_sailingfan]

If the weather forecast is correct, they will have a south easterly wind as they go past the horn. I wonder if the sun will be up in time?

They still have 180 nm to go to get there assuming I've measured it correctly.

 

[Chasm]

They should set a headroom rule. Those boats without enough headroom for the crew look horrible. Malitizia looks luxurious and safer.

Imagine slamming without the ability to straighten up.

IMOCA as an organisation of solo skippers does not care too much about crew head height. The skipper made that decision and has to live with it. It is also much easier to find space to stretch for a single person.

For the ocean race rules on headroom could be a thing. Maybe also a rule on obstacles in the crew area and flooring, the current maze of carbon fiber ribs certainly has drawbacks. Seems like fall prevention is a major problem on the boats. Sam had several falls from her bunk
But for that there has to be another ocean race in the first place. So far looking as good as it gets from the outside. Certainly better than a few months ago.

I think no T rudders for a couple of editions, because as I said, the performance gap would be too large with all the other boats.
Also, imagine rocketing down a wave, foil's out, T foil lifts you up fully out the water, all the sudden you're going 40 knots into a wall of water ahead. Even with a Malizia hull shape, that's a pretty brutal hit. T foils work wonders in flat waters, remain to be proven in any sizeable waves.

After this VG there should be ~28 used foilers in the fleet so old boats are no longer that much of a problem.
That said I also doubt that full T rudders will make an appearance. Maybe a bit extra to kick the butt of the boat up.
I think that keeping the max speed under control is an issue. Add a few more knots in big waves like they see now and there is a real risk that turns into broken bones.

 

[Fiji Bitter]

Imagine slamming without the ability to straighten up.

Imagine slamming without you holding the little children's hand.

 

[Goodvibes]

Fully agree.

Being hunched over for a month and a bit will certainly be detrimental to your body.
Malizia is a hotel compared to the other three.

So have you seen the Biotherm video of the water running through the cabin? What a nightmare.

 

[Goodvibes]

I think that keeping the max speed under control is an issue.

They need some draggy regen units to throw over the side to slow them down.

 

[Goodvibes]

Video will start at the right time to see how water is running through the cabin of Biotherm.

Compare and contrast to TM.

 

[erdb]

Video will start at the right time to see how water is running through the cabin of Biotherm.

Compare and contrast to TM.

That's the cockpit not the cabin.

 

[Fiji Bitter]

Goodvibes said:

Video will start at the right time to see how water is running through the cabin of Biotherm.


And if you would listen to Sam, instead of commenting on everything, you would know why.

 

[Goodvibes]

That's the cockpit not the cabin.

Compare and contrast to TM.

 

[Broadside]

TM not having such an easy time as it may seem - disappointed to hear about the injury to Rosalin after a wipe out. Sounds as if she'll be OK but shows that they are also have to treat those seas with care.

 

[Goodvibes]

Concussions are nasty time bombs.

Look what happened to @Fiji Bitter

 

[Fiji Bitter]

Concussions are nasty time bombs.

Look what happened to @Fiji Bitter

My bomb belt is set to go off when the forum closes for maintenance.
So, will have to keep all the virgins for myself.