staysail
Super Anarchist
- 2,159
- 365
Vendee Globe 2020
- Thread starter bigrpowr
- Start date
I think he's conflating TJV and Route du Rhum. FWIW - AT was pretty candid about what went wrong on the Route du Rhum - in many ways it was harder than VG because there was higher intensity and shorter amount of time & many skippers find it hard to make the transition from land to solo at sea in such a short time. The VG's most tiring moments is always during periods of transition - some skippers get sea sick, others need time to catch a routine - give it time it'll be fine. Once everyone gets into the warmer sunny skies before the southern ocean, everyone will have footage of themselves cleaning the boat, eating, having sea legs.
More immediately it looks like Apivia, PRB, LinkedOut sailed themselves into a windhole that's gonna get worse in the shadow of the islands. If the forecasts are correct - some boats have a chance to basically immediately slingshot behind the storm into the southern edge of the north atlantic gyre - melt some butter and smooth reaching sailing and hasta la vista everyone else.
More immediately it looks like Apivia, PRB, LinkedOut sailed themselves into a windhole that's gonna get worse in the shadow of the islands. If the forecasts are correct - some boats have a chance to basically immediately slingshot behind the storm into the southern edge of the north atlantic gyre - melt some butter and smooth reaching sailing and hasta la vista everyone else.
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stief
Super Anarchist
Do we ever usually see AT anything but manic, punched-up, delirious, etc?
Gracious in losing. I always thought he gives very good interviews at the dock - be great if he can talk about winning this time.
staysail
Super Anarchist
- 2,159
- 365
Maybe after he broke the foil during the last VG? Lower expectations after that happened, less pressure on him, and then he performed really well.
stief
Super Anarchist
Hmm. In contrast, gimme a mo--I'm thinking of his last interview approaching the finish, where he shocked Stu Hosford by conceding to ALC . .. . I think. Off to find the vid.
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Hitchhiker
Hoopy Frood
So true. many people are quick to blame deficient Polars. The truth is you have to understand the base software's algorithm for computing the polars and the grib. Classic example is Transpac where Exp will nearly always favour the shorter northern route, even though the southern route will often yield more pressure. Knowing when to gybe away is critical and the software will not always yield the right solution.
Haji
Super Anarchist
Who wants to bet that HB will toss in a jibe to get closer to JLC's line?
There is a short interview of Jeremy Beyou on the French side of the official web site, but I see no translation in English on the "other" side of the website, so here is my translation. Points in italic are my own addition/interpretation.
"First news from Jérémie Beyou (Charal) - joined in visio conference this morning...
There are worse things in the world when you look at everything happening around us. That being said, when you are a sportman, you live only through the lense of your objective. For the past 4 years, my goal has been to try to win the Vendée Globe. I am 100% in it. I do not see anything else outside this goal. When everything falls apart so abruptly, like this, it is very violent. That is why it took me so long to turn around. Most likely, I should have turned around right away, instead of going through the front with the boat in that state. Obviously, it created other collateral damages, but I could not believe it. The wake up call has been hard on me.
Earlier in the day, when the wind was not too strong, I tore apart from deck a pulley for my staysail sheet (I do not know if he is talking about the first pulley the sheet goes through from the clew of the jib, or one completely aft on deck, before it comes back to a winch.). It blew up the bulkhead for the traveler (once again, I do not know if he is talking about the main sheet traveler, or the track to adjust the pull angle on the jib sheet). It has torn apart the deck on the starboard side. While I was down below to inspect the damage, I hit something and the rudder was kicked up, halfway up. There is a hole in the leading edge of the rudder and the trailing edge is broken.
And stronger winds were coming in; so it was either I turn around right now, or I continue. We decided with the team that the rudder was going to hold on through the front and I put together a makeshift repair for the jib sheet. The front passed through. It went superfast. I went from 45 knots on one tack to 45 knots on the opposite tack. I jibed, and I trimed in the runner, but with all the carbon fiber shrapnel on deck, it cut through the runner and I lost the runner. I also broke my mast head wind indicator a few hours prior. The runner, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I had to bear off and turn around.
Right now, there are still heavy seas, but I am sailing downwind with about 15 knots of wind and the sea is from behind, so it is OK. On the other tack, port tack, the rudder starts to be seriously damaged, I cannot go very fast. I think my ETA is on the 14th, in the morning. After that I don't know... The rudder can be changed. The traveler and the bulkhead, I have to admit I don't know if we can fix it. Quite frankly, I am waking up from 4 years of trying to win the Vendée Globe, and it is over. My dad is in the hospital; he had a stroke one week before the start. And I completely shunted that aside. Obviously, right now, all of that is blowing up in my face.
I am bringing back the boat. We will see after that. I do not know, I do not know about restarting..."
"First news from Jérémie Beyou (Charal) - joined in visio conference this morning...
There are worse things in the world when you look at everything happening around us. That being said, when you are a sportman, you live only through the lense of your objective. For the past 4 years, my goal has been to try to win the Vendée Globe. I am 100% in it. I do not see anything else outside this goal. When everything falls apart so abruptly, like this, it is very violent. That is why it took me so long to turn around. Most likely, I should have turned around right away, instead of going through the front with the boat in that state. Obviously, it created other collateral damages, but I could not believe it. The wake up call has been hard on me.
Earlier in the day, when the wind was not too strong, I tore apart from deck a pulley for my staysail sheet (I do not know if he is talking about the first pulley the sheet goes through from the clew of the jib, or one completely aft on deck, before it comes back to a winch.). It blew up the bulkhead for the traveler (once again, I do not know if he is talking about the main sheet traveler, or the track to adjust the pull angle on the jib sheet). It has torn apart the deck on the starboard side. While I was down below to inspect the damage, I hit something and the rudder was kicked up, halfway up. There is a hole in the leading edge of the rudder and the trailing edge is broken.
And stronger winds were coming in; so it was either I turn around right now, or I continue. We decided with the team that the rudder was going to hold on through the front and I put together a makeshift repair for the jib sheet. The front passed through. It went superfast. I went from 45 knots on one tack to 45 knots on the opposite tack. I jibed, and I trimed in the runner, but with all the carbon fiber shrapnel on deck, it cut through the runner and I lost the runner. I also broke my mast head wind indicator a few hours prior. The runner, it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I had to bear off and turn around.
Right now, there are still heavy seas, but I am sailing downwind with about 15 knots of wind and the sea is from behind, so it is OK. On the other tack, port tack, the rudder starts to be seriously damaged, I cannot go very fast. I think my ETA is on the 14th, in the morning. After that I don't know... The rudder can be changed. The traveler and the bulkhead, I have to admit I don't know if we can fix it. Quite frankly, I am waking up from 4 years of trying to win the Vendée Globe, and it is over. My dad is in the hospital; he had a stroke one week before the start. And I completely shunted that aside. Obviously, right now, all of that is blowing up in my face.
I am bringing back the boat. We will see after that. I do not know, I do not know about restarting..."
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European Bloke
Super Anarchist
- 3,407
- 829
Interesting how he says,' it's windy now, that's easy. It was light, that's bloody hard work.'
solosailor
Super Anarchist
Heartbreaking
Schakel
Dayboat sailor
Me!
Apivia, Linked Out and PRB are in prefably position for the slingshot approach towards cyclone Theta.
Nerve wrecking but very exciting. He, AT, will stay on course.
Time for world records and disasters.
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TheDragon
Super Anarchist
I'm with Shakel, AT is where he wants to be, for once not taking a flyer but sticking to the middle of the fleet.
While I'm here, just asking folks who quote things from videos to post the video so we don't have to hunt for it.
And so, here's Sam with her delightful smile, enjoy!
While I'm here, just asking folks who quote things from videos to post the video so we don't have to hunt for it.
And so, here's Sam with her delightful smile, enjoy!
sunol
Member
- 152
- 75
Yeah. I was wondering the same. Were ATs maneuvers a short term gain and a (slightly) longer term mistake? On the other hand, Le Cam seems to be happy with his position and is not shooting west. Next tracker update should be interesting.
Really disappointing, reading that last part, i would be surprised if he goes back out.
Haji
Super Anarchist
I'll bet that the Three Musketeers (Apivia, Linked Out and PRB) have already jibed since the 1630 positions...to miss the island if nothing else...;-) But more seriously because of the lift and to get more wind. Perhaps a bit later than them (however by now is likely) HB will take a hitch to port as well, also due to the lift and to get into more wind. Obviously not too far though, only far enough to get enough wind to put the pedals down.
But only guessing.
Some news from Miranda.
"A busy race so far, and it looks set to continue with the complicated weather ahead. This time yesterday, there were 30 - 40 knots with the approaching cold front, pretty rough in the pitch black night, three reefs and the storm jib (this is the first time it's been used in anger since we acquired this boat). The front went through at dawn, and the wind shifted from south to northwest. Tacking an immediate priority to go in the right direction. Empty the ballast and put the keel in the middle. Tack successful. Furl the storm jib and unfurl staysail and shake 3rd reef. Be careful not to fall back in to the front which is clearly visible to leeward. Start moving the gear uphill - it's ALL on the wrong side of the boat as there was no time before the tack. Shake 2nd reef, furl staysail, unfurl genoa etc. All of this in the left over sloppy sea-state. Inspect the boat thoroughly for damage after the bashing it has taken. Mark a minute of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Silent most of the day. Hoist a reaching sail, drop the storm jib, go nowhere for a while since there is now no wind. It's got dark again in the meantime... gybe the boat for the new wind direction, rearrange the entire interior again... Next up - work out how to avoid being clobbered by tropical low Theta!"
"A busy race so far, and it looks set to continue with the complicated weather ahead. This time yesterday, there were 30 - 40 knots with the approaching cold front, pretty rough in the pitch black night, three reefs and the storm jib (this is the first time it's been used in anger since we acquired this boat). The front went through at dawn, and the wind shifted from south to northwest. Tacking an immediate priority to go in the right direction. Empty the ballast and put the keel in the middle. Tack successful. Furl the storm jib and unfurl staysail and shake 3rd reef. Be careful not to fall back in to the front which is clearly visible to leeward. Start moving the gear uphill - it's ALL on the wrong side of the boat as there was no time before the tack. Shake 2nd reef, furl staysail, unfurl genoa etc. All of this in the left over sloppy sea-state. Inspect the boat thoroughly for damage after the bashing it has taken. Mark a minute of silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Silent most of the day. Hoist a reaching sail, drop the storm jib, go nowhere for a while since there is now no wind. It's got dark again in the meantime... gybe the boat for the new wind direction, rearrange the entire interior again... Next up - work out how to avoid being clobbered by tropical low Theta!"
Sailbydate
Super Anarchist
Indeed they are, Miffy. Which is precisely why these super heroes set out to tame them. Fewer than 100 have succeeded.The ocean and the VG is a merciless heartless beast.
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I think the strategy is to go as close as you dare to the West side of Theta, as you say for breeze & left shift?
