Route du Rhum

She could get in the mix with Romaine. Once he gybes back, they're going to be close.
Looks like he'll cross about 5 miles ahead.

I know 11th is a long way ahead of what Pip was targeting as a realistic goal in this race, but top 10 would be epic.
 
Looks like he'll cross about 5 miles ahead.

I know 11th is a long way ahead of what Pip was targeting as a realistic goal in this race, but top 10 would be epic.
Looks on the tracker as if he's taken Pip's stern, so she is now in 10th. I wonder how far he will go before gybing back. All the way to the rumline, or sooner to cover?
 
Looks on the tracker as if he's taken Pip's stern, so she is now in 10th. I wonder how far he will go before gybing back. All the way to the rumline, or sooner to cover?
I'm pretty sure he crossed ahead, but he's sailing at nearly 90 degrees to the "mark" and making much less towards the finish, so Pip is now closer to the finish but at a less favoured angle. On the assumption that Pip will have to gybe twice to round Guadeloupe I'd put Romain marginally ahead still, but it's very much game on....

Running the wind forecast forward it does look like there's a nice shift for Pip to gybe in about 6 hours, and back again about 4 hours later to then lay the North side of the Island.
 
Running the wind forecast forward it does look like there's a nice shift for Pip to gybe in about 6 hours, and back again about 4 hours later to then lay the North side of the Island.
I agree. It's coming to her at the moment.
 
10th to 13th is really tight.
It is...

I'm pretty sure that no boat ahead of Pip is either the same Generation or older, whilst there are plenty of newer boats behind her. Top 10 in the biggest fleet of IMOCAs ever assembled is no mean feat... Just hoping the lee of Guadeloupe is kind to her!
 
It is...

I'm pretty sure that no boat ahead of Pip is either the same Generation or older, whilst there are plenty of newer boats behind her. Top 10 in the biggest fleet of IMOCAs ever assembled is no mean feat... Just hoping the lee of Guadeloupe is kind to her!
An outstanding performance by Pip, and a gripping finish in store between 10th and 13th place. A lot can happen down the Lee side of the island. Nail biting stuff.
 
Are the 40s riding on foils like the 60s?
I guess that ultimately if they can get them fully foiling, the bigger hull is just extra windage and weight and, like the little foiling Moth, the small boat can be faster than a big one.
No. No foils, canting keels or rotating wingmasts on the 40s. That was basically the initial point of the class- to provide good racing with fast performance but keep the cost (relatively) under control.
 
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