Brest Atlantiques 2019 - Ultims

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by Dolfiman, Oct 31, 2019.

  1. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    I open this thread dedicated on the coming Ultims race in Atlantic Ocean, a 14000NM non stop loop Brest - Rio -Capetown - Brest :
    Accueil https://www.brestatlantiques.com/

    The start planned Sunday 3 Nov. was just delayed due to too bad weather forecasted in the Biscay Bay, another date could be Tuesday 5 Nov. but not yet confirmed.

    Only 4 Ultims but all already tested and with impressive sailors on board :
    Macif / Francois Gabart & Gwenole Gahinet
    Edmond de Rothschild / Franck Cammas & Charles Caudrelier
    Sodebo 3 / Thomas Coville & Jean-Luc Nelias
    Actual Leader / Yves Le Blevec & Alex Pella

    Where is Idec / Francis Joyon ? : currently in a tentative solo record on La Mauricienne, from Port-Louis (France) to Port-Louis (Maurice Island) , presently in South Atlantic adding days at more than 26 Knots in average, business as usual for the 63 years old man.
    Francis Joyon - Trimaran IDEC https://m.facebook.com/FrancisJoyon.IDEC/posts/

    How about the new Banque Pop ? In construction for a launch at the end of 2020 or beginning 2021. And Armel Le Cleac'h is currently racing on Imoca within the Jacques Vabre 2019.

    A just released video of Macif, flying on a moderate sea state, how small appears the man when manoeuvring on the fore deck while the boat is at 35-40 Knots !
     
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  2. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    ... and to be fair the other 3 also just released a video, probably that it is part of their mandatory duties as regard their media production. A media man will be on board each boat to report on the race, mastering the drone technology, should give spectacular videos.
    Actual leader :

    Edmond de Rothschild :

    Sodebo 3 :
     
  3. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

  4. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    Well the start tomorrow morning at 11 h (french hour) has been confirmed after the last briefing with the crews, despite weather conditions still hard : wind 25 to 28 with gusts up to 40, sea state 5-6 m, according to Ventusky, during all the way from Brest to South of Portugal :
    Weather Forecast Maps https://www.ventusky.com/?p=36.3;-12.3;4&l=wave&t=20191105/1200
    Skippers feelings after the briefing, in résumé : ... the job at first is to be cautious, to reach south of Portugal without damage, to check that the boat is able to resist to these conditions at the beginning when we are still close to an eventual shelter, then to think to the race...
    The stake is important for the Ultim Class, to show that they are structurally reliable, after the various misfortunes of the last Route du Rhum.
    To follow the start :
    Comment suivre le départ de Brest Atlantiques https://www.brestatlantiques.com/actualites/comment-suivre-le-depart-de-brest-atlantiques
     
  5. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

  6. Dolfiman
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Location: France

    Dolfiman Senior Member

  7. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

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  8. Corley
    Joined: Oct 2009
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    Corley epoxy coated

    Certainly a rough start, amazing performance and impressive video. All the fastest Ultimes are past Cape Finisterre now.
     
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  9. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

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  10. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    News this morning, as translated from the race web site (I see no English version of this site ?) :
    "Calm sea, trade winds from the north-east oscillating between 15 and 20 knots, average speeds between 25 and 30 knots, sometimes 40 under the sqalls (Actual Leader flashed at 44 knots
    by the media man Ronan Gladu
    !), The descent of the Atlantic South continues in good conditions for the eight sailors and four media men, even if the wind is very unstable in strength and direction, which requires them to maneuver and adjust. One of the issues of their second night at sea was to choose the right moment, once passed under the Azores anticyclone, to gybe and head south, and it is Edmond de Rothschild (Franck Cammas / Charles Caudrelier) who did it first, around 2:30 am, which allowed them, being positioned closer to the direct route, to lead in the ranking.
    Aboard the previous leader, Macif, François Gabart and Gwénolé Gahinet pushed their tack further west and waited for the early morning, Thursday, to, in turn, perform this maneuver and head south. 200 miles apart laterally separate the two boats on Thursday morning. Behind, Sodebo (Thomas Coville / Jean-Luc Nélias) is still so fast, 69 miles behind the leader, while Actor Leader (Yves Le Blevec / Alex Pella), 170 miles, has also not conceded field to leaders in the night."
    Tracking : Cartographie et classement https://www.brestatlantiques.com/cartographie-et-classement
    Actual Leader , up to 44 knots under a black cloud :
     
  11. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    Video of Gitana 17 by the mediaman using his drone :
     
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  12. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Dolfiman, thanks for your updates on this fantastic race!
     
  13. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    In the trade winds between Canaries and Cap Verde, Gitana 17 has a slight lead of about 20 NM on Macif, Sodebo at 150 NM and Actual Leader at 340 NM, a logical ranking taken into account what we know of each Ultim speed potential. The race should be an exciting mano a mano between Gitana and Macif, with Sodebo behind which can wait for a strategic mistake of the two leaders.
    Tracking, on which you can also click on the video icons :
    Accueil https://www.brestatlantiques.com/
     
  14. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    Still at an average 31 to 33 Knots, the four Ultims are already south-west of Cape Verde and soon in approach of the Doldrums zone. Unchanged ranking and offset, Gitana 17 leading with ~50 NM / Macif now align in its wake, 160 NM / Sodebo 3 and 360 NM / Actual leader, meaning the 4 Ultims were more or less at the same speed during the last 24 h.
    Tracking, on which you can click on one boat and then, in the trace route of the boat (downzoom a bit the map), on one of the video icons made by the media men :
    Cartographie et classement https://www.brestatlantiques.com/cartographie-et-classement
     
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  15. Dolfiman
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    Dolfiman Senior Member

    Breaking of the central rudder on board Macif : no other damage (no hull flooding), that presently does not prevent it to sail at high speed (presently 35 knots) , but Francois Gabard, in relation with his ground-based technical team, envisage the various solution of repair inc. an eventual pit stop in Brazil near the first mark of the race.
    Casse du safran central sur le trimaran MACIF https://www.brestatlantiques.com/actualites/casse-du-safran-central-sur-le-trimaran-macif
    Among the videos posted, this one from Sodebo, a sailing by night under the moon, quite romantical :
     
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