Vendee 2020

[Knotical]

That’s terrible, especially this early in the race, but it’s also better to get it fixed while they are close to shore.

Escoffier has to fix a damaged valve which is causing a lot of water ingress.

[MicHughV]

well, Alex Thompson has been known to walk up a mast to the top of a mast before...in a suit no less.....so a problem at the masthead for him may be as simple as going for a short stroll....he he he

I see he is in 3rd place at the moment...if he can keep his boat together, I believe he will be a contender....I believe he is 46 at this moment....still got some oomph...Jean Le Cam is 60....another contender....no slowing these gents down...

[ahun]

He is second atm. 10 miles to the leader, 7 from the 3rd boat.

I think they just about can't see each other?

[Knotical]

Agreed, I saw the recent tracks and saw the ranking change, and the course is still expected to change in the coming days..interesting

[MicHughV]

yes, I see Alex has taken the # 2 spot....next few days will be telling..

[MicHughV]

Alex not wasting time today.....# 1 !!!

[ausnp84]

Jean Le Cam back in front and doing well... Alex isn’t far behind though!

N

[MicHughV]

I've been pondering the Hugo Boss boat...the pink color of the cockpit...ok...I get that...something I would do...y'know...be brash....be different...

But the cocpkit is fully enclosed, Alex has to climb in from the top. Ok, having watched countless Vendee video's, I get it....these boats are constantly drenched in spray....something that would drive me nuts...but all the lines must somehow be led inside there...it's a veritable jungle in there......

Alex appears to sleep in an " opening" in the bulkhead....I'm sure that being constrained is key to good rest...

Most of all, I wonder about the interior color...black...this is not a color I would have chosen....it's dark...it's dreary....to my eye, it's very claustrophobic....a few days in there, and I would go nuts...maybe it does induce " sleep" but I'm no expert on this matter, just curious to know the thinking behind it all......

[jmh2002]

i expect that the interior is unpainted, as paint is heavy. So it's not really an interior 'colour choice' like you are suggesting, more so just that black is the natural colour of carbon fibre.

Many of the top level race boats have been like this for years.

[MicHughV]

this is true, that boat is all composite, not an extra ounce anywhere...but seriously, a quart of paint should suffice to add some color in there...I've read that these racers cut the ends off their toothbrush to get rid of a few milligrams...they managed to get the color pink on the outside.....not that I'd want a pink interior, but it seems that some color options do exist....

[DDabs]

you don't need to worry about color when you've got tunnel vision from the SPEED

[MicHughV]

ya, all good points......I understand these boats also employ water ballast in addition to the foils and canting keels....

I have a fishing boat that enables me to cruise around 35 knots or so....it doesn't sound like much, but it is, especially bouncing over waves...I can handle a day's worth....but 90 days...fuggetaboutit...and sleeping somewhere...anywhere....in those conditions....nah, I don't think so....

I take my hat off to these entrants....seriously.......90 days or more with the hammer down...I dunno how they manage...it's all very impressive...these boats are now all equipped with various video's, so one gets a better feel for it all.

In the past, offshore racing, one could see the boats at the start, and again, at the finish...but nothing in the middle. The Vendee 2020 is a quantum leap forward to bring the event closer to home.

[ahun]

Looks like they have easy days coming, just have to ride the following winds. The first 10-20 boats can stick together, which will make it interesting to follow.

[Supercat568]

Tout accepter les cookies. Oui/No
Then i found the english button

The 96/97 race had 90kn winds, broke a boat. The skipper survived 5 days in pitch dark in his upside down boat. What a race, what a beast anyone who competes in it. They're mental strength is unmatched except probably Navy Seals.

[Quebramar]

Originally Posted by ahun

Looks like they have easy days coming, just have to ride the following winds. The first 10-20 boats can stick together, which will make it interesting to follow.

Interesting to see that #2 (and for long #1) LeCam has a non-foiler boat, will be hard for him to keep up when wind picks up. The upcoming tropical depression called Theta will likely spread the group