Vendee Globe - the Real Race

[DeepFrz]

545.3 nautical miles is the distance covered by Fraçois Gabart in 24 hours

Francois broke the record twice in the last few days and it was only set on Dec. 1.

Armel and Francois are about 8 miles apart. Amazing stuff.

[barnakiel]

545.3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOA!

I am most impressed.
b.

[DeepFrz]

Interesting video of Bernard Stamm doing dental surgery on himself while his boat is blasting through the Indian Ocean.

Day 32 highlights - Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - Vidéo Dailymotion

[DeepFrz]

Francois Gabard on Macif set two new records today.

First was from Les Sables d'Olonne, France and Cape Leeuwin, Australia of 34 days 10 hours and 23 minutes. That beats the old record by more than 2 days, even though the race to this point has been longer because of the ice gate positions.

Second was between the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin of 11 days 6 hours and 40 minutes. Basically crossing the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic to the Pacific in just over 11 days.

[barnakiel]

Meanwhile JPD fell into a hole and it looks like the two kids are making good gains. There is also that huge gap between them and the two northerly boats (Stamm and Boss) - makes one wonder if these two could catch up.

I think the two leaders are both VLPL/Verdier boats, right?

b.

[DeepFrz]

Yes that is correct. They are basically twin boats, however, Michel Desjoyeaux thinks that Macif has an improved Blast Reacher and that is why he is so fast on certain points of sail. He is often exceeding his polars.

My observation is that on other points of sail Le Cleach is faster, possibly due to experience.

[DeepFrz]

The two northerly boats made a decision to go north and it has hurt them a lot, although they may not have been able to keep ahead of the high pressure trough that JP is trying to stay ahead of, although he is right on the edge. I don't think they will be able to catch up unless something drastic happens to the two leaders. Or, if they should get becalmed in a large high pressure system for 3 or 4 days. They had done a nice job of keeping close to the leaders for a long time until the weather held them back.

[barnakiel]

Yep. That is my feeling too. I think the two leaders are very well tuned for this stretch from RSA to Horn.

I hope they will break nothing as breaking things there is always such a huge risk and I hate it when things happen because the boats are so far away from immediate shore support.

But if these two break nothing then only a major wx event can stop their lucky escape.

b.

[DeepFrz]

The last VG Derek Hatfield lost a spreader south of NZ and had to make his way up to one of the major cities. I don't remember which one. If I recollect correctly he had to sell his boat to recoup some of his expenses. And then of course one of the guys broke his leg west of Cape Horn and it took a while for the NZ navy to rescue him. I believe it was Desjoyeaux who stood by him. Come to think of it that may have been the 04/05 race. Time blurs...

[Calypso52]

Can someone please explain how the gates work? Seems like Thompson and Stamm are sailing right by the Australia West gate. Thanks

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Calypso52

Can someone please explain how the gates work? Seems like Thompson and Stamm are sailing right by the Australia West gate. Thanks

Sail to the N of one or else cut across, between the virtual buoys N to S or S to N. S to N and back is also fine.

They are ice gates. Idea to keep the boats from following the shortest route (which would take them into the iceberg country).

b.

[DeepFrz]

Calypso52; see post #135.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

545.3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOA!

I am most impressed.
b.

Indeed! If my boat could do that I'd be heading to Bermuda for a long weekend on occassion!

[DeepFrz]

The day that record was set the 50X mile record was broken 10 times by 5 different boats.

[DeepFrz]

Here is quote from Jean Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec 3:

“I had been waiting for favourable weather conditions to climb up the mast for several days. It is a risky type of operation but I had no choice. You’re by yourself, there’s strong wind and a rough sea and, to top it all, it’s cold and you’re in the screaming fifties. Needless to say, you ask yourself a lot of questions before climbing up there.
“I waited until the conditions were calmer and I set Virbac-Paprec 3 running downwind to slow her down to 10 knots. Climbing up the mast and going down was quite perilous, you’re shaken right and left, I wasn’t very confident. I managed to replace the damaged part.

“I’m very happy I did it because in this part of the world, you don’t get that many opportunities to go and become an aerial acrobat. Virbac-Paprec 3’s potential is back to what it used to be, which is great news for the rest of the race.”

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