Vendée-Artic Imoca race

Résumé of the last 24 h in english :
One mark and they’re off again https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/one-mark-and-they-re-off-again
Presently the 6 top boats within 5 NM !! and Samantha is 3rd (actually, because she is sligtly east than the previous leaders) :
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

The photo .... of Sam at the exit of the icelandic sauna :
Sam et le sauna islandais https://www.imoca.org/fr/news/news/sam-et-le-sauna-islandais
... and presently she is 2nd at just 0,5 NM from Apivia , great to be there after 5 days of race !
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

The first 6 still within 10 NM , here is the meteo issue for the coming days , with a promising reaching sequence in a Low (te so-called L4) after crossing a ridge of light winds (in French, but the 2 maps are explicit I think) :
Météo : journée remue-méninges ! https://www.imoca.org/fr/news/news/meteo-journee-remue-meninges-
Tracking : Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

The last news in english :
Wipe the slate clean and start over? https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/wipe-the-slate-clean-and-start-over-
Tracking :
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

Boom broken on board MACSF (views at the end of the short video), Isabelle very disappointed but did not give up and still hopes to finish the race :
Bôme cassée à bord de MACSF : la réaction d'Isabelle Joschke en vidéo https://www.imoca.org/fr/news/news/bome-cassee-a-bord-de-macsf-la-reaction-d-isabelle-joschke-en-video
Something broken (a rail) at the top of the mainsail on board Sea Explorer, Boris explanation :
Boris Herrmann gives us details about what happened onboard SeaExplorer - YC Monaco https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/boris-herrmann-gives-us-details-about-what-happened-onboard-seaexplorer-yc-monaco
Charal again leader, presently at nearly 24 knots :
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

It looks like Boris has had to run his main halyard down to the third reef cringle and use it as the hoist. The top part of the sail is dowsed due to broken headboard car. Presumably, he can work on repairing the headboard in this configuration.

Also, mainsail hook problems have been endemic throughout the fleet since the new rig came out. They need to fix this.

 

Crazy race. Eight days into the race, Apiva's Charlie Dalin moves from 5th place into first overnight by outsailing everyone through a high pressure ridge. He averaged about 20 percent faster than Charal on the same track. He must have been milking every little puff all night.

The lead three are to windward and have a better angle on the mark. Currently there is another high pressure ridge parked right over the mark with the wind bending right around the mark. They may have to tack into the mark, turn about 70 degrees, and tack away from the mark. Mother nature is a *****.

 

The last news and comments in english. The sailors are on higher rythm of sailing than usually during a Vendée Globe, on the other hand the sea state conditions are rather lenient (except the 2-3 days at the beginning).
Still the battle rages for line honours in the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/still-the-battle-rages-for-line-honours-in-the-vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne-1
The tracking :
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

Apivia / Charlie Dalin the first at the Gallimart waypoint, with 2nd Charal and 3rd Linked Out not far (within 3 NM). Still 550 NM to Les Sables, the race continue, the first 5 (with PRB and Initiatives Coeur/Samantha Davies) still can win :
Dalin is first at the Gallimard Waypoint as the last lap begins https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/dalin-is-first-at-the-gallimard-waypoint-as-the-last-lap-begins

 

The last 12 hours is shaping up to be an awesome broad-reaching drag race with wind generally stronger towards the back and weaker in the front. The first five boats should be be within a couple miles of each other at the finish.

 

Reaching at high speed (average 22+ Knots) on flat sea, the final hours are the reward. Still a suspens for who will win, Charal has presently a short lead of 7 NM.
Tracking : Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

Tracking now updated every 5 mn. 8NM to go for Charal for the win. Linked Out and Apivia side to side for the second place, Apivia seems better positioned. Initiatives Coeur / Samantha brilliant 4th place with a 10 years old boat but new foils.
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne https://www.imoca.org/fr/courses/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

 

Charal / Jérémie Beyou winner :
https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/...ever-vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne-race
A "sailing world on the water" special Imoca, half on Hugo Boss (by his builder Jason Carrington) and half on the Vendée Artic and future Vendée Globe :

 

Initial reactions from Jérémie Beyou on his arrival https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/initial-reactions-from-jeremie-beyou-on-his-arrival

Initial reactions from Charlie Dalin (Apivia), Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut), Sam Davies (Initiatives Coeur), Kevin Escoffier (PRB) https://www.imoca.org/en/news/news/initial-reactions-from-charlie-dalin-apivia-thomas-ruyant-linkedout-sam-davies-initiatives-coeur-kevin-escoffier-prb-

 

A fantastic race and it shows that none of the boats has a huge advantage in speed.This should make the Vendee Globe very interesting as it won't be a procession.I am a little disappointed that Hugo Boss wasn't out there for comparison and to prove durability.