Vendee Globe 2020

[ant1]

bow crack

Impressive resolve, but... he's a real masochist... About halfway after 65 days... its going to be very very tight to finish the race, the time limit is 163 days to finish the race. He already finished a VG, so he doesn't really have anything "new" to accomplish now... but he does seem to be enjoying it in a way...

 

[stief]

He’s got to retire & head to NZ. Surely?

Pretty sure the organisers would breathe a huge sigh of relief if he does...!

He made it sound like he would continue, but yes, I'd join the relief party.

Taking advantage of the fact that Merci is sailing close to New Zealand, I made contact with Angelo Lavranos, the architect of the boat. After checking his files, Angelo is categorical, the bowsprit is not structural to the bow of the boat. There is therefore no risk of dismasting and Merci can navigate normally with her J2. That's a good news.  The less good is that Merci will probably not be able to use any of its gennakers without a serious repair to the bowsprit. Angelo studies the photos of the problem  to refine his diagnosis. 

 

[WLIS Jibing]

In the latest position report Yannick is losing his lead.

He makes less speed ad well.
Charlie 12,8 kN and 8,9 kn for Yannick.
Rest of the fleet catching on him as well.
The miracle navigator made a mistake for once to chose the westward route close to the brazilian shore.
View attachment 420372

^^^ This is almost exactly how CD and TR caught up to, and eventually passed, AT heading the opposite direction.  AT went too close to the Brazilian coast..  Amazing.  It will be interesting to see whether YB can hold off his pursuers.  

 

[heymatey]

In the latest position report Yannick is losing his lead.

He makes less speed ad well.
Charlie 12,8 kN and 8,9 kn for Yannick.
Rest of the fleet catching on him as well.
The miracle navigator made a mistake for once to chose the westward route close to the brazilian shore.
 

I don't know if it was a mistake as much as a favorable weather system allowing the others to catch up. In any case, poor guy is in trouble!

 

[stief]

Darn! She doesn't give Ellen MacArthur's time. But-- looks like Pip is going to make that 66 day (?hrs) benchmark shortly ("fingers crossed")

 

[stief]

Impressive resolve, but... he's a real masochist... About halfway after 65 days... its going to be very tight to finish the race, the time limit is 163 days to finish the race.

Thanks--had missed that in the NOR



[SIZE=12pt]3.3 Time limit[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]The time limit of the race is 163 days (Jean-François Coste's race time, the last competitor to finish in the first edition of the Vendée Globe).[/SIZE]

 

[Schakel]

I don't know if it was a mistake as much as a favorable weather system allowing the others to catch up. In any case, poor guy is in trouble!

I have seen Yannick doing things close to cape horn that looked like he was going the wrong way, turned out brilliantly in his advance.
Perhaps he has another trick up his sleeve. There is a wind hole in the area, perhaps Yannick is avoiding that.


 

 

[tDot]

With the amount of rust in that photo and the way the rust stains are concentrated at the crack, I'd hazard a guess that there has been a problem in that location for sometime.

 

[stief]

Conrad H and Joff Brown on Pip's rudder, and on keel ram problems.

 

[tDot]

bow crack


https://twitter.com/VendeeGlobeENG/status/1348576750171803648?s=20

Didn't quote this properly in my previous post.

 

[stief]

Didn't quote this properly in the previous post.

No problem. (IMHO, I like to trim the OP to save thread inches)

 

[Steve Clark]

The best plan  for Isabelle would be to get some line around the keel fin and then out to the outrigger on either side and get some tension to stop the flopping around.

This will be tough to do.   In the normal way of things it would be a matter of slowing the boat and doing a modified "flossing" in to get a line around the keel in both directions. With the hydrofoils this is very hard to do.  Maybe if she came head the wind and did it backwards.... 

On Red Herring the top of the keel goes all the way to the deck, so there is about 5 feet of lever arm to pull against if I had a total failure of the hydraulics.  But the IMOCA 60 is 10 times the problem.   Good Luck Isabelle!

SHC

 

[jackolantern]

And am I correct in assuming she doesn't have any way to just burn the keel off and sail into port on water ballast and foils alone a-la JP Dick in 2012(?)

 

[heymatey]

Conrad H and Joff Brown on Pip's rudder, and on keel ram problems.

Conrad being so easy on the eyes as well as knowledgeable sure makes these updates compelling.

 

[troll99]

12nm to the leader

Armel melts distance down to 750nm at the moment. 

The new foilers are killing their competitors. The ability to point at 60 degrees is impressive.

 

[stief]

Conrad being so easy on the eyes as well as knowledgeable sure makes these updates compelling.

Ears, yes. 

And as for ears, lots of really good info in today's Live with my favourite Conrad --> Colman. Sure hope he's right about being back on the start in  2024

Re comms:"satellite communication costs have come down so much in the last 4 years"that even the small teams have a 24/7 connection"
And money: "I had 5% of the budget of Armel Le Cléac'h"

Christian  Dumard: "If the start would have been a week earlier or later . . " Andi: "could have been a record pace?" "Yes."

Huh. First I've heard of the race providing "roadbooks" for the fleet. Sounds like a VG specific pilot chart.

Dumard gives an update on Isabelle's situation: wind down, sea state 5m still bad, decide tomorrow finding a downwind route to Brazil or less likely, Capetown.

 

[SeanPurdy]

Four years ago, when Armel le Cleach was in roughly the same spot as Yannick Bestaven is now, six boats had passed Cape Horn.

This year the 17th is about to pass that landmark and there are six boats within 200 miles of the leader.

This is a truly captivating race!

 

[cortosam]

bow crack


https://twitter.com/VendeeGlobeENG/status/1348576750171803648?s=20

The hobbot of the Vendée Globe

 

[Left Shift]

bow crack


https://twitter.com/VendeeGlobeENG/status/1348576750171803648?s=20

He just discovered that crack today?  Seems like the definition of "not paying attention".   That looks like a month's worth of rust staining.  

 

[3to1]

did Bestaven lose his rig?

he didn't bleed miles, he exploded them.