Vendee Globe 2012

Vendee

Macif's young skipper at max speed! To see translation click on "cc". If you want the "big picture" click on the url above the youtube window, then click on the youtube expand icon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6wCWK86_Qw&feature=player_embedded

 

here is Michel Desjoyeaux (last winner of the vendee) on macifs record:

the whole interview on:
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/article/6595/mich-on-gabart-s-secret-weapon.html

 

Vendee

Heres some info on Alex Thomsons power problems onboard Hugo Boss and a Christmas message from the man himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5Ciic3kxO98#
(big picture click on url above and then on you tube "expand" icon )

 

thinking of the problems others have with their hydros, especially stamm (who is know heading for new zealand to repair his) and thomson with only one (starboard side i think) still operational:

i must say, i am really amazed at how good the solar panels are working on acciona...
bubi mentioned more than once, that he hasn' t used his hydros at all since he crossed the equator... the power supply from the panels is sufficient enough to fully recharge his batteries every day.
and if you keep in mind how much power they all need what with the auto running and all of their communication- and navigational means on all the time, it is really amazing...
sure enough the summer in the southern hemisphere is helping a lot with only ~6 hours of darkness a day (depending on the latitude of course)...
still - fantastic effort.
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/...drogenerators-in-the-southern-hemisphere.html

does anybody know the square meters of panels he has on his boat?

oh - and merry christmas to all!

 

Merry Christmas, Capt. Vimes!

 

Solar capacity ...1,150w

http://www.accionasailing.com/?page_id=8073&lang=en

Hydro ..a single hydogenerator output is 150w at 8 knots and 500w at 12knots.

No additional gain is achieved above 12 knots.

The boat carries a hydrogen fuel cell as standby power if the solar or hydro fails . If its lithium batteries run out, the hydrogen cell can provide up to 4 days emergency power.

 

thank's for the link micheal!
interesting stuff...

good article on vendeelobe.org - reckoning that this year the 80 days barrier for a full circumnavigation might got broken...

full article here: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/article/7877/80-days-under-threat.html

 

bernard stamm disqualified...
in auckland island, where he tried to repair his hydros, he moored to a russian scientific vessel and received assistance which is in both cases against the rules...
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/article/8629/cheminees-poujoulat-disqualified.html

 

Oh man that sucks. It seems you have to be a jerk and kick people off your boat despite a possible safety issue.

Did the guy with the anchor fix the hydro? No
Did Bernard intentionally moore to the ship? No
Was the guy with the anchor trying to protect the safety of the boats? Yes

It seems to me the race officials are disregarding too many obvious facts in this case. I hope he successfully lodges a protest to overturn this stupid decision.

 

I think Mike Plant was disqualified many years back with a similar event - went in to fix boat - anchor drug and he accepted some sort of help to keep the boat from hitting the rocks - sorry can't remember any more - so there is precedence for what happened

 

========================
Too bad-seems like-maybe- too strict an interpretation of the rule. However, mooring to the Russian ship is something he should have known was a no-no.

 

yo - bernarnd should have known that mooring is an no-no...
disregardless of what happened with the guy on his ship...

would have any other responsible skipper have acted differently?
i guess not - but the vendee is a race...

 

here is a comment from mike golding regarding bernard:

i do think, it says it all...
from: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/article/8703/stamm-wants-to-fight-on.html

 

Why is everyone blaming the jury rather than the rule makers? Its the rule that is way in excess of what's appropriate, not the jury decision which follows the rule precisely.

 

Vendee

From Scuttlebutt Europe:

The Sailors' reactions are not with the jury...

Dominique Wavre:
I sent an email to Bernard to express my solidarity and my friendship. It really is a great misfortune that falls on him. Well of course I know Bernard, he is a good friend and we've lived very intense moments together. I do not doubt for a second that he acted as a sailor, and did what he needed to secure his boat. I do not want to make another comment, judge the jury or anything else. I just want to say that I am with Bernard.

Alex Thomson
Finally, I wanted to mention what a shame it was to hear of Bernard's disqualification this morning. While I understand the reasons taken into account by the jury I do feel it was quit harsh Given the huge amount of work he had done to get the Hydro working so he could continue in the race, and taking into account what happened to him in 2008 where he lost his boat it sounds as though he did what was necessary for the safety of himself and his boat. I really feel for the guy."

Mike Golding
I think I can see the thinking behind the decision. The rules are the rules and all that. But I think when you know all the story about Bernard and you know the situation he is in now, facing a good chunk of South Pacific to sail across and then icebergs at Cape Horn and the problems he still has, I think it just doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like the right thing. But as I say, the rules are clear and unfortunately, based on the information I've got, it sounds like the rules were inadvertently, and I think I make that point, inadvertently breached. I am not sure about it at all, it doesn't feel right to me and I really …… I am very, very sad for Bernard and I hope he can get an appeal together and stay in the race.

Jean-Pierre Dick
I just woke up and I heard about Bernard Stamm's disqualification. I find it outrageous; I am shocked by this announcement. The jury's decision seems totally disproportionate to me.

Bernard Stamm has committed an infraction of the rules. I can understand he can be penalized for it, but not like that. Disqualification is really strong. It's unbelievable! It was case of force majeure, Bernard acted as a good sailor to secure his boat.

Our projects require significant involvement, hard work from the sailor, the teams and the sponsors. Bernard is fighting every day against the elements. I think it will be fairer if he remains in the race with a penalty. I want the jury to reconsider its decision.

Jean Le Cam:
I'm wound up like a clock. For me, Bernard acted as a good sailor, he did everything to save his boat and he is penalizes!

It is as if a man finds himself at the edge of the cliff, he may fall, there is someone who extends his hand and he should answer him: "Well, no, because it's the rules, so please don't help me" and he falls off the cliff!

I'm desperate. If what happened to Bernard is not a case of force majeure so I do not know what it is. I sent an email to the jury this morning because we cannot make such a decisions.

It is important to realize that in the future we can no longer provide assistance in cases of immediate danger, fearing the disqualification. Should we let our boat be wrecked?