Vendee Globe 2012

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by Doug Lord, Apr 6, 2012.

  1. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

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    The Hobie Trifoiler ,Rave, and most especially the Osprey use dual independent wands to control lift and righting moment-and they have virtually unlimited righting moment-limited only by the structural strength of the boat. I think the Osprey and maybe the Trifoiler have a chance to beat the Moth in very windy conditions.
    The Osprey might even make it close in moderate winds. One of our members(Randy Hough) did an analysis of my 60' Moth concept compared with a 60' Orma tri flying the main hull and using a single ama foil for lift(70% of total weight) with the 30% of total weight left supported by ama buoyancy and the sole control of the pitch of the boat-and my boat won though Randy questioned whether the 60' Moth could be built.
    I'm convinced that a large monofoiler can be built and be self righting but it would require movable ballast. I think a catamaran or especially a trimaran designed to foil 100% with just two lifting foils in the water could beat it or at least be equal .
     
  2. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Vendee-the nth degree of Sportsmanship!

    From the Vendee site: Moving exchange between Thomson and Dick:

    Alexander the Great is back on track

    At 1830 GMT, Team Hugo Boss sent this report from Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss)

    “Last night I saw some pretty strong winds, up to 30kts, so I am very glad I came down to stay close to JP. I know I would have been feeling very nervous indeed in these conditions with no keel!

    It seems that JP has got the boat into a very stable sailing mode and is very comfortable with how the boat handles in these conditions. The weather will get better today for us both with the winds falling and his forecast for heading to the Portuguese Coast looks good.

    Earlier today he called me on the phone to thank me for staying with him overnight and to also say he feels fully confident in his ability to now sail towards Portugal. With the good forecast and improving conditions, I am happy the big danger has passed and I have gybed and am heading back to Les Sables.”


    As global sports news is dominated by the shameless fall from grace by cyclist Lance Armstrong, just to the south east of the Azores in the little known sport of solo ocean racing Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) is emanating the spirit of sportsmanship and integrity after shadowing his fellow classmate, Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3).

    In an exchange of emails that tugs at the heart strings, both these sporting heroes have conducted themselves with humility and dignity as they progress forward, slowly, waiting for the weather to unfold so to discover where their destiny lies.

    Yesterday, Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) of his own volition decided to change his course and stay close to Jean-Pierre Dick. The Hugo Boss skipper proves once again that there is a great solidarity among competitors in the open sea.

    This is demonstrated by the emails exchanged yesterday between the two skippers:

    (nb: This is a translation and not the original English version sent by Alex Thomson)

    Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) writes;

    "Hello Jean-Pierre,

    The sea is increasingly big today.

    I'm not letting you navigate alone only when the wind will strengthen in a few hours. I'll come and join you gybe, navigate at your side until the weather conditions (wind and waves) become more moderate in the Azores.

    I know you did not ask for assistance, but it will not make a big difference to my race and anyway, I have not see any other boats for a few months, I feel alone!

    I hope everything goes well for you,

    Alex "
    Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) writes;

    "Thank you Alex. It touches me deeply.

    I will study the weather to see if I can continue to safely navigate to the Sables d'Olonne. I sent a photo with a message for you, "Alex, take this 3rd position with care" (take care of the third place). It is important to me!

    Do not hesitate to call me.

    JP "


    Today, on the English version of Vendée Globe LIVE Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) explained his position.

    “I came to the decision to stay close to Jean-Pierre Dick: there were strong winds forecast overnight and this morning, I was 90 miles away from JP and because it was going to get bigger and bigger, I knew I wouldn't have been able to help if something had happened. That felt uncomfortable leaving him in those conditions on a boat with no keel.

    To me, it’s no big deal, really. We're all part of the IMOCA class, and I believe this is part of the values of the class. But I’ve been rescued before by Mike Golding, it's just a completely normal thing to do when i decided to do it at 4 o'clock. I will accompany JP until he feels 100% confident with his boat and he has made a decision regarding his plans. I'll shadow him until he feels 100% comfortable.”


    And on the French version of Vendée Globe LIVE Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) explained his position.

    “The wind is much stronger now, 25-30 knots, with an agitated sea and 3-4-metre waves. The boat is doing ok in the waves, it’s actually a good surprise. My ballasts are full and I’m sailing at an average speed of 12 knots, which is encouraging for the future. The weather should get a little rougher in the afternoon and then calm down.

    I’ve thought hard about what to do next. I have decided not to stop in the Azores, that’s for sure. But I’m still not sure I’ll go all the way to Les Sables d’Olonne. I’ll get closer to the Portuguese coast and then I’ll see what I can do, depending on what I see there in terms of conditions. On the 28th or 2th of January, I’ll decide if I can round Cape Finisterre safely.

    I’m not obsessed with speed, I just can’t use larger sails, it is much more reasonable now that my keel is gone. And I owe it to the shore crew and the people who have worked with me, I just can’t take too much risk. My next challenge is Cape Finisterre, where the sea is going to be rough.

    What Alex Thomson is doing is so nice and brave. The third place is very important, I want him to take very good care of it. What he’s doing is a nice gesture, a true sailor’s gesture. He’s not close enough for me to talk to him on the VHF so we send each other emails even though we’re both is energy-saving mode. I have his phone number, I’ll call him after this interview. I thought I had seen his lights last night but it must have been a star.”


    In this instance, the spirit of the Open 60 class, the sport of solo sailing and the Vendée Globe have been tried, tested and found to be remarkable. Today, we meet a gallant, noble, humble Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) and a pragmatic, considered and grateful Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3). Sometimes, winning isn’t everything instead support, sportsmanship and solidarity conquers over all. In this sport and in this race that is always the case.
     
  3. philSweet
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    philSweet Senior Member

    Can anyone point to a live feed of the finish in the US? I can't find anything.
     
  4. tomas
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    tomas Senior Member

    http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/

    Watching it live right now.

    It's on the home page.
    Make sure that your Flash plug-in is working.
     

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    Last edited: Jan 27, 2013
    1 person likes this.
  5. tomas
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    tomas Senior Member

    FRANÇOIS GABART "MACIF" just finished.
     

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  6. tomas
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    tomas Senior Member

    (For anyone having problems seeing the race progress)

    For tracking the remaining competitors do the following:
    At the top, click the British flag for English, then hover your mouse over the "The Race" tab and select TRACKING to see the 'live' global map.
     
  7. capt vimes
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    capt vimes Senior Member

    congratulation!
     
  8. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Vendee

    --------------------
    Thanks for the link!!Congratulations to Francois Gabart and the Macif Team!
    First time I noticed how massive the mast was. Great to see Francois welcomed by his wife-very touching! And what a crowd....
     
  9. tomas
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    tomas Senior Member

  10. capt vimes
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    capt vimes Senior Member

    alex thomson came in this morning round 8ish in 3rd place.
    setting a new british record and bettering mike goldings by more than 8 days...
    congratulations
    virbac paprec is still going and now at the cape finisterre only 420 miles away from the finish...
    at his current progress dick could be in les sables in about 2 days... if weather and sea condition permits crossing the biscay sea with a keel-less boat...
    go JP!
     
  11. EvanStufflebeam
    Joined: Dec 2012
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    EvanStufflebeam Junior Member

    Great 3rd for Alex, had been rooting for him since last January. Interesting he said he wanted to go again in 2016, he seems to have one of the most stable sponsors in sailing. I hope JP gets back soon and safe. Great race so far, excited for the rest if the finishers.
     
  12. capt vimes
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    capt vimes Senior Member

    an interesting quote from bubi sanso on boar acciona:
    from: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/newswire/11779/captain-s-log-j-sanso-congratulations-to-alex.html

    i heard rumors and even owen clark design have one in their portfolio:
    http://www.owenclarkedesign.com/IMOCA_Monotype_One_Design

    does any body here know more about any upcoming rulechanges?
     
  13. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Open 60's

    Yes, I may have posted something about it earlier. Certain elements in the class think it would be better to eliminate the Development from "Development Class" which the Open 60 has been an extraordinary example of since its inception. It would be a tragedy to make the boat a "one design class" like, unfortunately, is happening to the Volvo boats.
     
  14. Corley
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    Corley epoxy coated

    A more sensible approach might be to make a one design keel since thats what seems to be failing frequently. Just focus on the parts of the boats that are unreliable and leave the rest as a development opportunity. There are a few articles on yachtracing.biz in regards to whether the class would go one design from my understanding they were going to review it after this edition of the race.
     

  15. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Open 60's

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    I don't think development should be "one design" at any point. One of my main reasons for saying that about Open 60's is that they have relatively recently approved the use of DSS in the class which could result in a boat with a fixed keel and much narrower. This is the last class that allows experiments and it would be a damn shame to see that go away.
     
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