Vendee Globe - the Real Race

[Trilogy77]

I was wondering, do the racers know each others position at all times?
For example, if Gabart and Le Cleach aren't in visual sight of each other
Would Gabart know that Le Cleach has made his move east already?
Do they have the same App I have? Lol

[DeepFrz]

I think they get the positions at the same time they are posted on the web site, 4 or 5 times a day. Unless they are within AIS range of each other.

It looks like the path south is opening up for Le Cleach.

Does anyone know if you can go straight south through the gate or do you have to approach it from the south? I know you have to reach the position of the line between the posts but I'm not sure if you can just go straight through it or not.

[DeepFrz]

Duhhhh, I have my answer. I just looked a little farther down the lay line.

[sinbad7]

Virbac Paprec is catching up fast doing 20.4 kn,following the qtVlm prediction exactly. The main Vendée URL page shows the air distance of 154 nm from the lead boat and not in relations to the Gate 2 which is 51 nm.

Virbac Paprec is sailing in an area where the qtVlm predicted wind coincides EXACTLY with the wind shown on the Vendée URL.

Tore

[DeepFrz]

What a race. The first nine boats are within 300 nm of each other. There may be a line up to get through the gate...

[sinbad7]

Virbac Paprec is closest to the next ´gate´ which all boats must pass through.

Why is Banque Populaire still listed as the leader? He seems to be heading AWAY from the ´gate´alltogether.

Tore

[DeepFrz]

Banque Populaire is heading directly for the gate which is about 1,000 nm east of Gough Island. That is the western way point of the gate.

The leader is selected as the one with the least miles to go to the end.

[sinbad7]

Boa dia!

I thought there was a gate near Gough Island as well? At least the course line on the Vendée URL indicates so? If there is no´gate´ what are the rules as to the approach and proximation to Gough Island?

I was indicating that the distance shown between the boats does not necessarily show their ranking in terms of distance to the next ´gate´.

Tore

[barnakiel]

There is no gate at Gough. There is a wpt and this has to be left top stbd.

Ice gates have been moved up as all noticed the Atlantic and the Kerguelen's one. The Atlantic one got a new name too.

Distance count one big riddle definitelly gates play a role as well as (my wild guess) distance from the official course track. (many doubts here)

b.

[barnakiel]

JPD 502 in 24.

Whoa that's some smokin' pace!

Just 4 miles short of double-handed record.

BTW His cruising design JP54 doing very fine in the ARC. They were third this morning.

b.

[DeepFrz]

The only rule on Gough Island is that it has to be left to starboard. There is no rule about how far to starboard.

Records falling faster than they can post them.

If you haven't seen the short video of Tanguy de Lamotte climbing his mast it is a worthwhile look. Unfortunately it is only a very short clip at the end of Day 22 highlights. Incredible balls on these guys.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

The only rule on Gough Island is that it has to be left to starboard. There is no rule about how far to starboard.

Records falling faster than they can post them.

If you haven't seen the short video of Tanguy de Lamotte climbing his mast it is a worthwhile look. Unfortunately it is only a very short clip at the end of Day 22 highlights. Incredible balls on these guys.

I go get the clip right now!

It is a pity VG does not post documentals like those of latest VOR.

b.

[DeepFrz]

It seems to me that there was better posting last race. Maybe that was because there were two women in the race.(?) Certainly there were more english language interviews. The interpretation of many of the posts are also very bad. Maybe they are using google interpretation.

Jean le Cam had to take a dive to cut away an old fish net. Took him 1/2 an hour.

[kjames]

The tools on the race tracking page are great. Shows wind direction / speed, night / day, forecast. Does anyone know if it is available on some other website when the race is not occurring?

[DeepFrz]

I just finally realized that the boats don't need to cross through the gate, they just have to pass to the North of at least one point in the gate. The two main reasons for the gates are to keep the crews from taking the shorter great circle route around the Antarctic and to keep them away from ice, as far as is possible.