Vendée Globe 2016-2017

[LePacha]

British? Or doesn't that exist any more?

Who cares?!? I like the man, I don't care where he is from. It's about your achievements, not about where you were born.

 

[NormanB]

Well done Alex!

He could have won it, wouldn't have been undeserved to be honest.
There is still a part of me thinking that Armel might be more careful when it comes to his boat and maintaining it. Maybe something to work on. But he had the fastest boat, and us been such a colourful character! Very impressed by his performance, especially for the last few days.

Well the races is finished for superb sailors and continues for many more days for equally superb sailors. I will follow this until Sebastian gets 'home'.

I am sure Alex is as adept at husbandry of the husbandry of his boat as the other sailors. But lest we forget this is not just a circumnavigation it is a race and so it will always be a balance of risk.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

There is some talk of AT having a reputation for pushing his boat too hard. Well his problems started by losing a foil which can not be attributed to pushing to hard. All the rest were gear failures that were par for the course and some may well have been exacerbated by the vibration caused by the foil stub.
A superb achievement to regain the 800 miles and get the lead down to 50 or 30 odd miles depending on how you measure it and immense stamina over the last few days.

 

[Captn D]

Having just watched the video of Alex's Press Conference, I am amazed how good a speaker he is despite being exceptionally tired. Not only is he a brave and brilliant sailor but a fascinating person to listen to; a briliant and eloquent ambasador for the sport of sailing. We should be very proud of him.

 

[Tomahawk]

Meanwhile Yann and Jean are within site of each other...

That is real pressure... watching the other guy to see how much of their mast is in view hoping they make a small mistake... whilst oping you son't make one.. day after day after day after day after day .

 

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Meanwhile Yann and Jean are within site of each other...

That is real pressure... watching the other guy to see how much of their mast is in view hoping they make a small mistake... whilst oping you son't make one.. day after day after day after day after day .

Though perhaps having something tangible to race against makes it easier, too? I think I'd rather be the one behind in that situation, with the proviso that I was the one in front at the line, of course.

 

[Andrew E]

Spare a thought for Sébastien Destremau, 9,000 miles behind but still going strong...

 

[C08]

Yes great effort from Alex and the no 1 frog. Good to see them back safe, hope the others all come home ok.

 

[horatio_nelson]

Destremau is great, I love his vids, always cheerful with a wry smile. Must be tough to still be so far from home.

"Welcome to the office!"

Absolute heroes, every single one of them.

 

[Peroo]

Well done Alex!
Brilliant.
An astonishing achievement.
Look forward to 2020.

Will Ben offer a berth?

 

[Sybarite]

On the way in Armel was interviewed by somebody in a helicopter. He was asked if he had any advice for Alex. After a short pause he said " Yes, that he stays behind...!!

 

[Andrew E]

Conrad enjoying himself...

 

[[70521]]

Will Ben offer a berth?

Goodness why should he? From what I hear it is a total different type of sailing; 20 minute races so they can fit the TV adverts in.

 

[NormanB]

Meanwhile the race continues:

Jeremie Beyou is making good progress and is also able to take a slightly shorter route 'home' than Armel and Alex were able to take. But he is about to hit a big wind hole - however, could be back by midnight Sunday.

Yann Elies (4th) &Jean Le Cam (5th) have snuck past Jean Pierre Dick (6th) - they could all make it it back by Wednesday.

Louis Burton (7th) on his lonesome in the doldrums managed to advance a mere, 69 miles in the last 24 hours and should pick up decent wind in a couple of hours.

Nanda Fa (8th) extended his lead over Eric Bellion and Conrad Coleman (9 & 10th respectively)

Romain Attanasio (16th), is rounding the Horn in the next couple of hours leavin two brave sailors alone on the Pacific side.

 

[Tomahawk]

OOI, now Alex is in Les Sables, has anyone seen a picture of the damaged hydrofoil?

 

[NormanB]

He managed to withdraw the stump some weeks ago (into the boat) and there was just a ragged hole visible on TV.

I have not seem any footage of the remains of the stump.

 

[Roger52]

The interviews Alex gave when he came alongside and the press conference must have delighted Hugo Boss. Alex was informative, amusing and frank about the race. His comments about how he dealt with the loss of the foil (which may well have cost him the race) says a lot about the man. It's hard to imagine them not financing the next VG with him at the helm. Loved the question to the press etc about a Brit winning next time.
Still plenty to look forward to in the race. Seb Destramau's videos from the office are always worth a watch.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Didac and Romain are nicely round The Horn.
COME ON, Pieter :encouragement:

And let's not forget Jeremie B, plugging on to his Podium arrival still

 

[Tomahawk]

I wonder if the French are stage managing it to ensure a Brit doesn't win....

Elen was winning then she hit a container
Alex was winning then he hit something..

Coincidence?

 

[Andrew E]

OOI, now Alex is in Les Sables, has anyone seen a picture of the damaged hydrofoil?

Not really much to see...

Images from https://twitter.com/Ginie_Valentini/status/822371360395513857