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Vendee Globe

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Keelboat classes
Forum Name: Keelboat news and development
Forum Discription: All the latest developments for yachts
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12624
Printed Date: 28 Mar 24 at 7:04pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Vendee Globe
Posted By: ifoxwell
Subject: Vendee Globe
Date Posted: 16 Jan 17 at 12:26pm
This is shaping up to a real close finish to what has to have been one of the most interesting yacht races ever.... or is that just me!

It staggers me that they can be at sea, alone, for 70+ days sailing thousands of miles, flat out with all that the elements can throw at them and yet they are now just 70 miles apart... and with Thompson closing.

Its just a shame that the trackers dont update more regularly.




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RS300



Replies:
Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 16 Jan 17 at 2:44pm
I have been following all the way through, but for the damage to his foils I think Alex would have been clear favorite and home already. He has done really well to catch back up with a lot of help from the weather fronts.
To think the French had dismissed him as a possible threat despite him doing so well last time in an out of date boat.
Lets hope for lots of Starboard to the finish.
Go on Alex catch and pounce on the jackal.
great sponsorship from Boss.


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Gordon
Lossc


Posted By: Roger
Date Posted: 16 Jan 17 at 4:23pm
Have to admit this is the first time I have followed the race so closely, quite gripping now in a way only sailors could understand, the weather from Tuesday to the finish will be interesting to say the least and I doubt either will sleep at all.
And..... 22.4 Knts average for a 24 hour period is something quite special, I know the technology drives a lot on these boats, but the skipper has to make the big calls regarding sails and heading, whatever the final outcome I hope Alex Thomson and all his sponsors get some serious coverage in the UK and due credit.
Of course the French will be mad if a broken British boat can beat them all!!


Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 16 Jan 17 at 6:42pm
Been following since the start, and it's been exciting all the way. Hoping for a really close finish, whichever way it goes.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686


Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 17 Jan 17 at 1:31pm
Looks like they are starting to turn to the east now, heading to the finish... I doubt they are gong to be sleeping much now until the end

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RS300


Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 1:40pm
So there are just 300 miles to go and Alex is just 35 miles behind 

All they have to do is make there final tack to home... who is going to blink first!



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RS300


Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 2:18pm
I haven't paid that much attention, but would Alex have his one remaining foil in action now? If so presumably he'll lose relative boatspeed when they tack.


Posted By: Roger
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 2:18pm
Crazy close considering the distance they have gone, live broadcasts tomorrow and hourly updates to the tracker as they get nearer to the finish.



Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 2:47pm
Originally posted by JimC

I haven't paid that much attention, but would Alex have his one remaining foil in action now? If so presumably he'll lose relative boatspeed when they tack.

Yup he is on his favoured tack at the moment so will probably loose height/speed once they change direction


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RS300


Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 2:57pm
So unless he can find something in the weather he probably needs to get ahead before the tack?


Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 3:27pm
Yup he doesn't really have much he can use to attack with. If he goes early, on the off chance he can find something in the weather then he is technically at a disadvantage and Armel can just tack and cover and if he goes late, well he is just following Armel :-(

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RS300


Posted By: EddyP
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 3:38pm
Where can I follow the coverage?


Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 3:53pm
best means of tracking is via windy tv

https://gis.ee/vg/

https://gis.ee/vg/" rel="nofollow - https://gis.ee/vg/


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RS300


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 4:15pm
Originally posted by ifoxwell

Yup he doesn't really have much he can use to attack with. If he goes early, on the off chance he can find something in the weather then he is technically at a disadvantage and Armel can just tack and cover and if he goes late, well he is just following Armel :-(

We can hope, he's sailing a bit faster and has the gap down to 28nm. WindyTV has him projected to fall back again though (not French are they?Angry)


Posted By: Roger
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 4:44pm
The way it's panning out it's going to be a reach down the south Brittany coast and Alex has admitted his chances are now very very slim. He lost his masthead instruments a few days ago and the deck mounted anemometer has now failed so he has reported he hasn't slept for 2 days and without the instruments his autopilot will steer to a heading but not to the wind, so it's been very tricky.


Posted By: Roger
Date Posted: 18 Jan 17 at 4:46pm
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/" rel="nofollow - http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/
Is where the live coverage will come from.


Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 5:15pm
Congrats to Armel LeCleach

Something that struck me, I remember when boats that finished round the world races were rust streaked wrecks, or looked that way... Now we see photos of a boat that superficially looks good to just keep on going. OK its been out there a fraction of the time, but its also hit the waves a lot harder.Thought it was an interesting illustration of what modern materials have done for us in reducing maintenance...



Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 5:33pm
Well, they don't go rusty for starters..... And no paint to flake off (as such, they seem to have a fair few logos etc). Structurally an old steel boat would be unlikely to break though.

Congrats to both Armel LeCleach and Alex Thomson. Shame Alex broke that foil, it would have been even more of a race....


Posted By: jaydub
Date Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 6:35pm
... it would have been a completely different race.

I think Alex had sufficient speed advantage to have sailed away from Armel, but we will never know now.


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 9:18pm
That's the way it goes in this silly game we all play. Maybe next time, and 2nd is not too shabby (I don't subscribe to the 2nd is the first loser nonsense) :)


Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 19 Jan 17 at 9:21pm
Pretty sure he will be happier with 2nd than Armel would have been had he been caught at the end.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686


Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 9:05am
Congratulations to both Arnel and Alex. Unlike some events anybody who finishes that race is a winner.
I am sure Alex would have been in front but for the foild damage. I think they might have been giving the boat a quick scrub for the sponsors before they bought he into dock. But the boats look in really good nick in comparison with early Whitbread boats.

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Gordon
Lossc


Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 1:28pm
Originally posted by Sam.Spoons

Well, they don't go rusty for starters..... And no paint to flake off (as such, they seem to have a fair few logos etc). Structurally an old steel boat would be unlikely to break though.

Congrats to both Armel LeCleach and Alex Thomson. Shame Alex broke that foil, it would have been even more of a race....


There are quite a lot of rust stains on the inside of Armels cockpit, loads of fluffy ropes and some of the stay protection has worn away too. But as people have said, not bad for a full trip around the planet!


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Needs to sail more...


Posted By: tgruitt
Date Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 1:34pm


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Needs to sail more...


Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 20 Jan 17 at 2:19pm
Ouch! Think that's the pic a lot of folk wanted to see... Presumably its been pulled in until the stump was flush. Fairly boggling to think how much strength there must be in the surrounding structure when you consider what sort of a mess the typical dinghy daggerboard case would be in after an impact capable of causing that sort of damage to the foil...



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