Ultims in Transat Jacques Vabre

We are just at mid race, still far from the finish which should be more windy and favorable for foiling. Wait and see, doldrums crossing will be crucial for sure.

 

Quoted from the race site :
"Slamming on the brakes : A mini-Doldrums tomorrow before the real thing looks like causing a headache for the two giant trimarans at the front as they pass the half-way mark and approach the latitude of the Cape Verde islands. As forecast, the stationary depression in the southern part of the Canaries is disrupting the trade winds."

Other news in english, in particular the sailors saved after the capsize :
News - Two sailors safe and sound after rescue from capsize in the Atlantic - Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 https://www.transatjacquesvabre.org/en/news/news/296/sailors-safe-and-sound-after-rescue-from-capsize-in-the-atlantic

 

Dolfiman, are these guys allowed to use weather routers that can communicate by radio?

 

Dear Doug, weather routers are authorised for the Multis (Ultim and Multi 50) but not for the Monohulls (Imoca & Class 40) . Why : for the Multi who are fast with the permanent risk of capsize, organisers don't want the skippers waste time on meteo files analysis but stay concentrate on the boat steering/manoeuvring. For the monohulls, they all received same standard meteo files and do themselves the analysis and routage options with the help of on-board softwares. It is the same rule as for the Vendée Globe.

To note that Jean-Luc Nelias, co-skipper of Sodebo, was himself the router of Thomas Coville for his 49days round the world last year.

For Macif current tentative, the router is J-Y Bernot, a master in these matters since 30 years, author of "Meteo and Strategy"

Reference (not translate in English) :
https://www.transatjacquesvabre.org/fr/actualites/sillages/250/ciel-mon-ordi

J-Y Bernot :Jean-Yves Bernot — Wikipédia https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Yves_Bernot
His book : Météo et stratégie - Fédération Française de Voile - Voiles Gallimard - GALLIMARD LOISIRS - Site Gallimard http://www.gallimard.fr/Catalogue/GALLIMARD-LOISIRS/Voiles-Gallimard/Federation-Francaise-de-Voile/Meteo-et-strategie

 

Thanks!

 

Looks to me like Gitana is in bad shape-hardly any change since last night?

UPDATE-1:29pm Eastern Gitana is doing 27.9 knots vs Sodebo at 20.6. Gitana still 22 miles back.

 

On board Sodebo offshore Capo Verde :

 

I guess after 30 years of refinement you get a real cool machine, the speed of these big sailing boats always astounds me.

 

Also this beautiful aesthetic video of Gitana 17, posted 03 Nov. before the start of the race :

 

Gitana skippers today comments on their race :
Homing in on the doldrums - Gitana : Offshore racing stable created by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild http://www.gitana-team.com/en/a-1272/homing-in-on-the-doldrums

 

=======================
Spectacular video of Gitana-I'll post it for the record in the Gitana thread-superb-thanks!
Without a doubt the best video of the boat yet!

 

Dear Doug and Waynemarlow, perhaps you don't know this site dedicated to multihulls, seems only french without translation, a compilation of all maxi multilhulls since 1983, their story, palmares, various names, owners/skippers, photos, main features, etc .. interesting to see the design evolution.
Maxis Multicoques https://voile-multicoques.org/maxis-multicoques/

 

Thanks for that.......

 

Gitana is doing 22.1 knots to Sodebo's 15.4. Gitana is just 17.6 miles back now.

 

Just 5 NM back this morning, comments on the last night from the race site :
"Since the beginning of the night the tempo of the race for Sodebo Ultim 'and Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is numerous sails changes : High mainsail, large gennaker at the bow ready to use, J2 in reserve, the crews juggle between the sails not to stop the boat. "You have to react rapidly when each gust of wind. We are very good when wind is light, so you have to be very careful. For the moment, we never stopped. We begin to feel the little choppy waves from South, there is no big storm, it feels the exit. By noon, according to Thomas Coville, navigation in the new south-east wind could begin. The gap is stabilized with the duo Sébastien Josse-Thomas Rouxel. It remains 1,300 miles of reaching to decide between the two trimarans!