Transat Jaques Vabre

[John_Silver]

Be interesting to see when Pip takes hers. Imagine (but haven’t confirmed) that BV took the penalty whilst getting the tides right for a slingshot through the Chenal du Four and the Raz. In the hope that doing something different to the bulk of the fleet, which have gone outside l'Ouessant, helps to retrieve some places.

 

[dunedin]

Two of the huge Ultim’s just crossed close by going in opposite directions West of Ascension Island (a turning “mark”) - converging at circa 60 knots must have been quite a sight !

And Sam Davies off to a cracking start in the IMOCA 60s - flying along (literally) currently in 4th place

 

[Roberto]

A number of Imoca heading towards shelter, some for repairs other have retired.
Imoca "Lazare" is taking on water, they are sailing with a fully canted keel to make the boat list and limit water ingress "we are sick, it's very uncomfortable"
".

 

[capnsensible]

Winning big tris already in. Amazing.

 

[dunedin]

Winning big tris already in. Amazing.

… at an average speed of 26.75 knots, on a race with quite of lot of bumpy upwind sailing. Transat Jacques Vabre: Banque Populaire XI wins Ultim class

The other amazing thing is their apparent reliability - set off upwind into 35-40 knots, and still all 5 racing. Edmund du Rothschild apparently has one broken rudder after an impact - but is still flying on at 32 knots!

 

[Bobc]

It's starting to get really interesting now. The boats to the north are starting to come good, and the trades look like they might be softening.

Sam Goodchild, Sam Davies and Will Harris (on Boris's boat), all in the top 10, and Pip working up the fleet just out of the top 10.

 

[dunedin]

The first OMOCA has arrived, and Sam Goodchild just about to cross the line in a fantastic podium 3rd place! Sam Davies locked in a very close 3 boat race for 4th place - go the Sam's!

 

[Bobc]

The first OMOCA has arrived, and Sam Goodchild just about to cross the line in a fantastic podium 3rd place! Sam Davies locked in a very close 3 boat race for 4th place - go the Sam's!

Sam Goodchild has done amazingly well, considering he's pretty new to IMOCAs.

I can't believe that after 12 days at sea, 2nd/3rd places, and 4th/5th places are within a mile of each other.

 

[dunedin]

Sam Goodchild has done amazingly well, considering he's pretty new to IMOCAs.

I can't believe that after 12 days at sea, 2nd/3rd places, and 4th/5th places are within a mile of each other.

Sam's Co skipper is happy as got all three podium places - designed 1st & 2nd placed boats! Maybe Sam G wasn't allowed to overtake the customers' boats

 

[Bobc]

Wow! How close was that for 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th? Especially 6th & 7th between Justine and Boris. All that way and they finish seconds apart.

 

[dunedin]

Wow! How close was that for 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th? Especially 6th & 7th between Justine and Boris. All that way and they finish seconds apart.

Wow yes, 1 minute 5 seconds gap. Amazing
Big congrats to Sam Goodchild in 3rd and Sam Davies in 5th (just failing to keep the super experienced team in Charal behind).

And Teamwork.net finished 6th, the first of the breakaway group who headed West much earlier

 

[dunedin]

That's Pip Hare and Nick Bubb finished in a very creditable 12th place in this hugely competitive flee of 40 starters.

 

[Bobc]

That's Pip Hare and Nick Bubb finished in a very creditable 12th place in this hugely competitive flee of 40 starters.

Especially when you consider they had a 5 hour penalty to scrub off, and a big tear in the main to fix. Without that, they would have been well into the top 10.

 

[flaming]

Without the penalty and the main tear (which combined she thinks cost them 7 hours) they probably would have got through the low wind area and got south with the other foilers, so it would have been a very different race, Whether they gained in the long run by being bounced west is anyone's guess really!
With a bit of luck a full repair can be done on the main, and Pip can be on it for the return leg singlehanded.

 

[dunedin]

Class 40s now approaching the finish from three very different directions - SE, due E and NE - due to complex weather systems. Theoretical leader has been the one on the direct course, but run out of wind and doing just 1.4 knots.
Suspect the Southern group might have a better pathway?

 

[dunedin]

Great result by Brian Thomson also, with a 5th (on this leg) in the very competitive Class 40 fleet

 

[John_Silver]

Le Roi Jean headed out to Martinique, on his new launch daggerboard boat, for the Retour a La Base......