Vendee 2020

[fxykty]

Several posters seem to have no idea as to the history of the VG, with all their FUD regarding foiling boats and the withdrawal rates. This race has been no worse, and in fact better so far, than previous editions.

The racing this year is closer than ever, with less than a thousand miles between 1st and 13th and all of those pretty much in the same system.

In the last VG 2016/17, 18 finished of 29 starters. Of the retirees, 5 had collisions (one sank), 4 dismasted, 2 had other damage (one with foils and one with keel ram).

Foilers showed their superiority (7 foilers started, 4 finished, and the top 3 were all foilers) and have been further developed for the current race. This time, half of the starting fleet have foils: 8 new generation and 10 first generation or foil retrofits.

Check out this article for a great explanation of the designs: https://yachtracing.life/vendee-glob...yan-breymaier/.

[barnakiel]

Foils do not make the risk (of hitting an ofni) higher. Boats with foils have no boards, hence the number of appendages remains fixed.


Foiled boats ride smoother, so other damage (G-damage) is limited.


Also if you look at le Roi's boat is not any non-foiler. It is the best non-foiler out there. And JLC is one of the best sailors out there too.


Great boat + great skills = result.


I think that also a boat with 8 foils would not make the risk from ofni any higher. It is actually a random thing and any boat has about the same chance of making a story. Look at Samantha's damage - she took it on the keel blade, and all of them have keels. So ...


I am very impressed by a number of sailors there. Look at Isabelle Joschke's result and performance. Look at Damien Seguin's performance. Look at where Giancarlo Pedote is now - and how well he eats!!!



Hell of a race. Best boats. Best sailors. Best fun.


PS We will also see Imocas in next VOR.



barnakiel

[MicHughV]

let's not forget, Jean Le Cam has some time owed to him....when he picked Kevin up and also again when he dropped him off....not sure how this will work out, but by my reckoning, it should put him in the top 3....if not top 2.....maybe even top 1....he is around 321 nm behind the leader.....say at 24 knots...that's 13 hours.....even at 12 knots....that's 26 hours....I think Le Cam easily had 24 hours or more in that rescue....plus stopping to drop him off...
they've got 2/3 of the race to go.....and lots of southern ocean yet to cover...

these guys are all awesome sailors, no question.....but Le Cam....I think he is in a league of his own...

[ullar]

Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest - Art et Fenetres) is heading for Cape Town and is apparently abandoning the race because of computer problems. Makes one think.

[DomPerignon]

This year’s race is 6 days slower than the last one. The foilers can’t use those foils . Well, they could but the risk of a major breakdown is too high. They all saw what happened to Alex Thompson and Kevin Escoffier.

[MicHughV]

no question, that these newer boats are skating along the edge of disaster....but that is the name of the game....to have a winning edge these days you have to incorporate (what you think) is the best possible scenario....

Le Cam is in 4th place right now...only 224 nm behind the leader....on an older boat.....no foils.....taking into account his time handicap, he would likely be leading....he may win this thing yet....got the Pacific to deal with next.....

Whether your boat has foils or no foils, being in the right place at the right time is also important....your ability to deduce weather prognosis is an equally valuable tool...

it strikes me that having a top of the line autopilot here is the unsung hero of the day...you can't win this race without one....foils or no foils.....

[ullar]

What strikes me is that it is useless to continue racing if your board computer (and the backup one) fail

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by ullar

What strikes me is that it is useless to continue racing if your board computer (and the backup one) fail

It's simple. Not having up-to-date weather info on board so as to plan your weather routing is terminal as far as racing is concerned. The VG is mostly about getting yourself in the best position with respect to the weather systems. You can't do that anything like well enough by scanning the sky. Also he doubtless has an array of sensors on board by which he keeps the stresses on his boat in check. He's without those too.
He could continue sailing without any navigational aids and with a reduced rig, (does he even have a compass? Or independent gps? Is the autopilot independent of the computer?) but he certainly won't be competitive. So he's chosen to abandon the race.
Sam Davies is planning to continue after her boat is repaired, but she won't be in the race.

[ullar]

Originally Posted by Yellowtulip

It's simple. Not having up-to-date weather info on board so as to plan your weather routing is terminal as far as racing is concerned. The VG is mostly about getting yourself in the best position with respect to the weather systems. You can't do that anything like well enough by scanning the sky. Also he doubtless has an array of sensors on board by which he keeps the stresses on his boat in check. He's without those too.
He could continue sailing without any navigational aids and with a reduced rig, (does he even have a compass? Or independent gps? Is the autopilot independent of the computer?) but he certainly won't be competitive. So he's chosen to abandon the race.

I can imagine most of that if I try hard enough. It's still difficult to swallow that it pays to try and start 9 days after the fleet (Charal) or repair seriously structurally damaged boat (Hugo Boss) but you automatically don't stand a chance in this race if you lose your computer. Well, modern times.

[Yellowtulip]

Originally Posted by ullar

I can imagine most of that if I try hard enough. It's still difficult to swallow that it pays to try and start 9 days after the fleet (Charal) or repair seriously structurally damaged boat (Hugo Boss) but you automatically don't stand a chance in this race if you lose your computer. Well, modern times.

Charal has no chance of winning. He's going for the record (and to please his sponsors, no doubt) and of course he has all his gear in top order.
Hugo Boss was only 600 miles or so behind the leaders when the repairs were finished, so a win was still very definitely possible. Alex caught up 800 miles in the last race and Michel Desjoyeaux caught up a couple of light years in an earlier race.
But today without the computer it isn't possible to maintain a competitive speed so staying in the race is pointless. I don't know what electronics Jean le Cam has, but no doubt others down the fleet have less sophisticated set-ups. And they will most likely not win.

[MicHughV]

this VG brings this race right into your living room.....sat tv....cartography...daily video
.....etc..etc.....as spectators we can see as much what is going on as the competitors are.....
each individual skipper's own experience and sailing ability is what separates this fleet....and let's not forget....they are all solo...

and besides all that, sleep management is crucial....

many components at work here.....

[psk125]

Looks like the front end is compressing quite a bit. Should be some interesting position-shuffling!

[bil56]

off topic Vendée, but Sodebo gives up ...

[ullar]

Originally Posted by bil56

off topic Vendée, but Sodebo gives up ...

Yes, starboard rudder gave up. Sorry for the guys.

[Voilerie Horizon]

The foilers damage in this Vendée Globe makes the big racers reflect. Twice Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux suggests to use rudder elevators. Hydroptere and AC72 use this equipement at the bottom of the rudder. Rudder elevator allows to raise and lower the boat and therefore better control the foil, Desjoyeaux says.