Rolex Fastnet 2017 - IMOCA 60s v Volvo 65s v Rambler

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Andrew E

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It's going to be enthralling, perhaps even record breaking! All kicks off on Sunday.

I'm rooting for Hugo Boss / Alex Thomson & Nicholas O’Leary, show those Volvos how it's done!

Alex bullish about taking on the Rambler -

As to how Hugo Boss will get on this time, Thomson is obviously hoping to beat the other IMOCA 60s and is bullish about the potential of Hugo Boss to take on the larger boats. “Upwind, a VO65 will be quicker than us, but not downwind. And if you give us the right conditions (22-25 knots of wind, broad reaching) we can beat Rambler on the water: Genuinely my boat can beat the fully crewed monohull record, but in the Fastnet you don’t get to choose the weather you sail in.”
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With a beat all the way to the rock the imocas won't beat the 65s, much less rambler and CQS.

Rambler vs CQS will be fascinating.
 
People are saying CQS is a dud and she's constantly dragging her outriggers in heavy wind?

Hugo Boss was hitting 30 knots in the Solent yesterday
 
Andrew E said:
It's going to be enthralling, perhaps even record breaking! All kicks off on Sunday.

I'm rooting for Hugo Boss / Alex Thomson & Nicholas O’Leary, show those Volvos how it's done!

Alex bullish about taking on the Rambler -
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Nobody would ever accuse Alex of lacking self-confidence.
 
Andrew E said:
People are saying CQS is a dud and she's constantly dragging her outriggers in heavy wind?

Hugo Boss was hitting 30 knots in the Solent yesterday
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CQS certainly has a lot to prove...

You'd think though that light to medium upwind conditions ought to favour her over Rambler, just because of the width. And certainly over the VO65s.
 
The 65s beat CQS easily on Wednesday. CQS was heavily reefed in a force six. The 65s didn't reduce sail until much later.
 
Bobc said:
We had 44kts yesterday in that squall, just off East Bramble.

Watched the race go from just off the Squadron. My money is on Rambler.
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Rambler certainly looking to have the legs over the fleet at the moment. CQS definitely slower in the medium air upwind stuff so far, conditions which you'd expect they need to be at least in touch if it's to be a competitive overall package.

Was gutted for Pip Hare to have had her Fastnet cut short by a dismasting.
 
SMA is doing really well to keep ahead of the VO65s. Hugo Boss is struggling against the other IMOCAs for some reason?
 
Andrew E said:
SMA is doing really well to keep ahead of the VO65s. Hugo Boss is struggling against the other IMOCAs for some reason?
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Upwind work doesn't suit Boss. And I think they made a bad call to go so deep into Lyme bay, none of the shifts have seemed to work for them.
 
Concise 10 now round the rock, in 29hrs.

Rambler with a 30+ mile lead over CQS and Mikata
 
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Bobc said:
Not designed to go upwind (which is all they've had). He should be able to claw some of it back now though.
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Been a good race to show the limitations of the Dali foils.

I wonder if the Volvo guys have been watching the current generation of VO65s thrash all the Dali foiled IMOCAs to the rock, given they've made the commitment to go to Dali foils from the next race.... Which always looked like an odd idea, why combine the daggerboards and the foils if you're not bound to do so by your class rules?
 
Alex is now rounding the rock. Be interesting to see his speed once he turns & burns.

Rambler just passing the Scillies
 
flaming said:
Been a good race to show the limitations of the Dali foils.

I wonder if the Volvo guys have been watching the current generation of VO65s thrash all the Dali foiled IMOCAs to the rock, given they've made the commitment to go to Dali foils from the next race.... Which always looked like an odd idea, why combine the daggerboards and the foils if you're not bound to do so by your class rules?
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So which class got the first boat round the rock? A longer, fully crewed V65 or a shorter, two handed, downhill focussed Open60?
 
dunedin said:
So which class got the first boat round the rock? A longer, fully crewed V65 or a shorter, two handed, downhill focussed Open60?
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First was SMA, an older IMOCA with straight boards. I believe it's also considerably lighter than the new boats, as it was built before the rules on weight came in. In short it was the IMOCA you'd pick for a medium - light wind beat to the Fastnet. Much more rounded performance profile than the latest boats.
 
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