Vendee 2020

[DomPerignon]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Le Cam’s boat was cutting edge back in 2007 and won the race 2008-2009.

Now, it is several generations behind in design and presumably has had lots of major work to make it reliable and competitive. That doesn’t make it a better boat for the race, but a reasonable one that with luck (weather routing) and very hard work Jean Le Cam can drive to a podium.

Racing with a boat that is 10% slower than the top competitors is not the easiest way to win the Vendee Globe.

The top competitors have faster but more fragile boats. They can’t keep the pedal to the metal all the time . It’s a different game.

[MicHughV]

I'm thinking back about some of the sailing races I've been in....where some or other sailing guru, against all odds, would come in first. Le Cam certainly falls into this category.
I would not count him out until the bitter end.

In the Vendee, you have to finish in order to place...that's the goal here, finish the race in one piece. A steady, but probably conservative approach, may be the winning ticket.

I won't be until the final run up the Atlantic that a prospective winner will first be evident.

[Jim Cate]

I won't be until the final run up the Atlantic that a prospective winner will first be evident.

This is quite true, but by then some for sure losers will have been identified: those whose boats have failed them.

To me this aspect of the Vendee is most interesting... the balance between speed and reliability, coupled with the abilities of the skippers to make on-site repairs. I'm so very impressed with Alex's composure and competence to do such exacting work whilst bouncing about in a sailboat under way. Superhero is a term that comes to mind... I wonder if he has a blue cape hidden under his PFD?

Jim

[psk125]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

.. I wonder if he has a blue cape hidden under his PFD?

Jim

I thought he wears a suit & tie, no?

[Jamme]

Originally Posted by psk125

I thought he wears a suit & tie, no?

Only when he does the mast walk [emoji1]

[Franziska]

Exactly!

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

This is quite true, but by then some for sure losers will have been identified: those whose boats have failed them.

To me this aspect of the Vendee is most interesting... the balance between speed and reliability, coupled with the abilities of the skippers to make on-site repairs. I'm so very impressed with Alex's composure and competence to do such exacting work whilst bouncing about in a sailboat under way. Superhero is a term that comes to mind... I wonder if he has a blue cape hidden under his PFD?

Jim

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by DomPerignon

The top competitors have faster but more fragile boats. They can’t keep the pedal to the metal all the time . It’s a different game.

Exactly! I can’t find the interview now, but a winning VG skipper made the comment maintaining the vessel and understanding the strengths / weaknesses of the boat throughout the race is more important than pure sailing / racing itself.

N

Edit: The skipper was François Gabart just after he won the 2012 VG, and I believe the article was in Yachting World.

[MicHughV]

It would be so cool for Alex to arrive back in Les Sable D'Olonne in 1st place....wearing his trademark black suit. You couldn't ask for a better promotional gimmick.

[B23iL23]

A video update from Alex of the damage to the bow. Some serious failing here - vertical stringer failed in 3/4 places. Good news is that he has lots of repair materials on board.

However, if it's failed in this part of the race, what are the chance of it failing in the long, hard slog across the southern ocean.

https://youtu.be/EJfhOBJAMeU

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by ausnp84

...a winning VG skipper made the comment maintaining the vessel and understanding the strengths / weaknesses of the boat throughout the race is more important than pure sailing / racing itself...

That truism can be applied to any ocean passage on any type of boat; you can learn the sailing bit in a long weekend, it's all the rest...

[Knotical]

Originally Posted by B23iL23

A video update from Alex of the damage to the bow. Some serious failing here - vertical stringer failed in 3/4 places. Good news is that he has lots of repair materials on board.

However, if it's failed in this part of the race, what are the chance of it failing in the long, hard slog across the southern ocean.

https://youtu.be/EJfhOBJAMeU

As he says in the video let’s just hope the repairs are stronger than original. What a guy, telling others not to feel sad.

[DomPerignon]

Originally Posted by B23iL23

A video update from Alex of the damage to the bow. Some serious failing here - vertical stringer failed in 3/4 places. Good news is that he has lots of repair materials on board.

However, if it's failed in this part of the race, what are the chance of it failing in the long, hard slog across the southern ocean.

https://youtu.be/EJfhOBJAMeU

Thanks for the video link.
Unfortunately the damage is extensive. There's several cracks in those beams that need fixing. Even if the repairs are strong what's gone keep new cracks from forming 6 inches away. He still has the roughest part of the journey ahead.
I am not an engineer , I hope I am wrong.

[Jamme]

Here’s the latest - AT showing how the repairs are going on his boat. I wish him the best; what a great sportsman.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vpLduy3p7fg

[MicHughV]

ya, Alex is da man, he is a smart dude, doing a very methodical repair job....I know he'll do a very good repair job...but it's interesting to see the video of the cracks in the various structural pieces of the boat. As a retired structural marine engineer, patching or replacing the problem area is one thing, but these problem area also need to be " additionally" reinforced, just replacing like with like is not going to provide a satisfactory answer, as these areas will just break again, these areas need to be braced or otherwise reinforced....ie, they need to be twice as strong as before...hopefully his design team has recognized this...as I'm sure they will have....I'm still rooting for him..... !!!

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

That truism can be applied to any ocean passage on any type of boat; you can learn the sailing bit in a long weekend, it's all the rest...

That is true, but wafting along at 5kts and fixing the odd snapped sheet or bent shackle with no real worry about schedules is one thing, barrelling along at 25+ kts and balancing trying to win a long distance race with not breaking your boat is a completely different realm.

My hat goes off to AT, still cracking on while also undertaking repairs.

N