Vendee Globe 2016

[Doug Lord]

Vendee

Alex is now only 34(!) miles from Le Cleach!! and going 3.5 times as fast. Go Alex!

 

[Doug Lord]

Tracker:

-- http://tracking2016.vendeeglobe.org/hp5ip0/


-- http://tracking2016.vendeeglobe.org/gv5ip0/


--https://gis.ee/vg/?boat=3

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee

All of a sudden this morning Alex is 130 miles behind Le Cleach!-He was down to something like 28 miles yesterday!

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee-- On Board Hugo Boss

Alex in light air upwind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HClcAkm8dTY

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee--Another Dismasting!

Enda loses his rig just south of NZ: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/...dismasted-180-miles-south-east-of-new-zealand

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee-- On Board Hugo Boss

Alex hanging in there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFxryHMHomc

 

[JosephT]

As they prepare to enter the doldrums it is often a game of Russian roulette on who can catch the fastest wind and for how long. Alex will need a lucky break, but it's definitely possible for him to get a lucky break. When there is no wind in the doldrums one must know the currents in the area, as subtle as they may be, to slip away and come out on top. Even a .5kt current can bring you out on top...IF YOU CAN FIND IT!

It appears Alex is shooting east now with the hope of catching the south equatorial current first. If he can catch the main part of that he could very well ride it with any wind he gets and come out on top.

Very interesting tactics indeed.

 

[JosephT]

Here's a live wind map that may help predict if their position & current strategies will work out or not. I see more wind energy to the east so catching a beam reach when he can and then tacking a bit east may help him catch up.

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=-30.58,-12.10,661

There is definitely stronger wind just to the east.

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee-- On Board Hugo Boss

Furler pin lets go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GePgjlb4bA0

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee

Alan Roura fixes his rudder after collision with UFO-what an amazing story:
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/17727/alan-roura-has-replaced-his-damaged-rudder

 

[JosephT]

Changed a rudder in the Southern Ocean single handed with "40-45 knots with a 6m swell". That will be tough to add to one's man card. Now that was one brave move right there.

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee-- On Board Hugo Boss

Sailing fast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQxMGa8gp1A

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee-Whats behind the design of Hugo Boss!

From Scuttlebutt: http://www.yachtingworld.com/extrao...go-boss-alex-thomsons-vendee-globe-2016-92713

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee-- On Board Hugo Boss

The bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkCIPmWCAVU

 

[Doug Lord]

Vendee

Le Cleach interview: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/17963/le-cleac-h-vents-frustration-at-complex-final-week