Route du Rhum

… as for previous ocean races, I suggest you to play at the Virtual Regatta, it is free of charge if you don't take the options (that are not necessary to have fun, anyway you have 800 points given for this race to buy some of them), it is a nice and informative way to follow the race as if you are in it. You can register in one of the 4 classes, at first you should do an easy test, it is like your qualifying race !
Virtual Regatta - The world's largest sailing community http://www.virtualregatta.com/

 

Breeze on: Pressure Drop - Breeze On Conditions Expected For Route du Rhum Start http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?8721-Breeze-On-Conditions-Expected-For-Route-du-Rhum-Start

 

Here we are...., BFMTV special edition on RdR is on going :
BFMTV en Direct: regarder la chaine info en live - BFMTV https://www.bfmtv.com/mediaplayer/live-video/

 

... it is said that for the smallest boats or the oldest ones of the Rhum class, it is recommended to make a stop in a Brittany sheltered harbour (Brest, Audiene, ...) during the passage of the big low Tuesday. As a remind, in RdR 2002, the winner M. Desjoyaux made 2 stops in Brest and in Madeira.

 

I'm getting perfect "no rights" video now on BFMTV- thanks to you Dolfiman!!

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Just now I'm getting a "504 Gateway timeout" when I try to access the Route du Rhum website. That means no tracker if it continues!

 

RDR is back up---here is the tracker: https://www.routedurhum.com/en/cartography

Apparently, they are having continuing trouble-its up, then down, on and off frequently....
Back to "504 Gateway time out"..
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Video is still great but with ads every few minutes-black screen for the duration of the ad, wish I understood French better.

 

I've probably got this wrong but it sort of sounds like a problem on Banque Pop?
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RDR tracker still down......

 

Dolfiman, do you know what position Gitana is in now? Just saw a shot of all three with Gitana to windward . All seem to be almost flying....

Macif is in the lead-Gitana is seeming slow with Banque Pop catching her.....

 

Gitana 1, Macif 2, Banque Pop 3 at the Frehel buoy after this beam reaching leg

 

Fantastic-thanks! Any idea how far apart they are?

 

All three very close to each other, Sodebo 4 and just after IDEC 5 . After the buoy, for the downwind leg, they put the great Gennak, in this manoeuver Macif went past Gitana.

In the Imoca class : PRB 1 , Charal 2 (at 3 boat lengths), then Malizia 3 and likely St Michel Ucar 4 at the buoy. H. Boss a bit behind, did not take a good start.

 

Thanks. I just checked the tracker and it's back up-Macif in 1st, Banque Pop 2nd Gitana 3rd. I'm very surprised-Gitana appears to be much slower than the other two!
Gabart will be tough to beat.
I saw two really memorable segments on the video coverage:
1-Just after the start Gabart got a gust and immediately flew-looked really good.
2- As Gitana passed Cap Frehel she began to fly fairly high and quick. The camera shot showed Gitana with what seemed like thousands of people looking on.

Cartography | Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe https://www.routedurhum.com/en/cartography

 

Gitana is now in 2nd 13 miles behind Macif but the real shake-up is that Banque Pop is now in 5th-13 miles or more behind Gitana! Something must be wrong?

 

Banque Pop tracking beacon is currently off.
Gitana and Banque Pop took the option to go between the "Sept-iles" (group of small islands) and the coast but they got a lot less wind there and their speed drop to 10 Knots while Macif offshore "Sep-Iles" was still at 30 knots. Result : in just 30 mn, they lost 10 NM on Macif !!!

 

Thanks for that info, Dolfiman!