New York Vendee

[Bobc]

Starts this evening at 8pm French time (7pm UK time). Live footage on the website.

 

[John_Silver]

Pip within touching distance of her “in the top ten” target….
Hoping to time our arrival, in Les Sables, to catch the prize giving - and ogle the boats. (Presently soaking up the rays in Concarneau). Fingers crossed!

 

[Bobc]

Very complex weather out there. The fleet has split. This could get very interesting.

 

[flaming]

Very complex weather out there. The fleet has split. This could get very interesting.

It's unbelievably complicated. And could yet turn out to be one of those occasions where being towards the back now gets you a much straighter shot at the finish.

 

[Bobc]

Sam Goodchild has dis-masted just SE of the Azores.

 

[jlavery]

Boris Hermann certainly banging the left corner! Don't think it's going to pay off in terms of winning, but looks like he's sure of 2nd.

 

[Bobc]

Boris Hermann certainly banging the left corner! Don't think it's going to pay off in terms of winning, but looks like he's sure of 2nd.

Not sure I'd bet against him. The routing has them finishing within an hour of each other.

 

[MikeBz]

Interesting wording for Vendee 2024 qualification on the website:

“Each skipper must be at the start of at least two qualifying races on their IMOCA (one in 2022 or 2023 and one in 2024). He must finish at least one of them and his race time must not be more than one and a half times longer than the winner's time.”

So if the winner finishes in 10 days, 1.5 times longer than that is 25 days. Is that what they meant?

 

[BobnLesley]

I'd assumed 50% behind so 15 days

 

[MikeBz]

I think that’s what they mean but it’s not what is written. Could be interesting if somebody challenges it.

 

[flaming]

I think that’s what they mean but it’s not what is written. Could be interesting if somebody challenges it.

Don’t forget that the actual rule is written in French. What’s on the website is someone’s translation.

 

[MikeBz]

Don’t forget that the actual rule is written in French. What’s on the website is someone’s translation.

I think you’ve probably hit the nail on the head. The translation has been done by someone who uses nonsense phrases like “two times less” to mean 50% less.

 

[Bobc]

Sam Davies just arrived in 6th. Pip is about 150 miles out, so will finish today and is sitting 9th.

 

[MikeBz]

Good spurt at the end from Sam to get back past Yoann.

 

[John_Silver]

Presently ‘lurking’ on Ile d’Yeu. Planning to try our chances, at getting into Les Sables, for some IMOCA sightseeing, tomorrow. (Port Olona was limiting stays to 1 night 7-11th)

 

[Bobc]

Pip is an hour away from the finish.

 

[John_Silver]

Missed Pip. Saw Medallia blasting north, on AIS, as we sailed south this morning.



Sam still about though. And had a chat with Rosalin Kuiper (without, at first, recognising who she was). She was waiting around, for the RIB to take her out to HOLCIM (finished but waiting for enough water to get in).

Got some more pics, of the contrasting bow shapes on Charlie Dalin's MACIF, Jeremie Beyou's Charal and Sam's Initiatives Coeur. Struggling to upload them at the moment. Will post later, if situation improves.

EDIT: Or here they are: New York to Vendee FLIKR album. Will add more pics as the rest of the fleet arrives, over the next thirty six hours.

 

[John_Silver]

Clarisse Cremer happy to be in, at Les Sables, yesterday.



Came up the canal in a convoy led by Charlie Dalin



Along with Conrad Colman and James Harayda. System not allowing me to upload any more pics. (file size limit) But the full set are here. Violette Dorange spent the afternoon/evening at anchor off the beach. Before sailing (by her heading) for home, in La Foret.