Vendée Globe 2016-2017

BobPrell said:
I have been thinking since post #1387


At thast stage he had not rounded the Horn. He maybe a bit more upbeat now that he is in the South Atlantic. I would not blame him at all if he retired, took a rest in a convenient port, and sailed home in a more liesurely fashion. As his race result is now essentially decided, it would be the responsible thing to do. There would be no shame, as he has endured in time what ALC, AT and the finishers have in distance.

NormanB may know, is there a time limit on this race?
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I cannot imagine Pieter would pull the black and yellow handle on this now. He is making really good progress so is clearly motivated. No doubt he has had his 'low spot' (but I guess most of the them do and have to talk themselves up focussing on the positives).

Conrad Coleman has talked about the nature of the elephant task and how he thinks only about the next arbitrary milestone whatever that may be.

I do not believe there is a time limit on the race.
 
Andrew E said:
I heard Destremau say he doesn't have enough food for the duration, or at least he does only because he ate fresh food on the way out. Maybe he was catching fish?

I understand it'll be late February or early March before he's back.
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To run short of food would certainly be a tragedy for Sebastian. How cruel would that be!

Looks like he could be round The Horn lunchtime tomorrow (Sunday).

C'mon Sebastian - COME ON.
 
He should be rounding the horn by midday today....

Looke like he is thumping into it... It will be good for him to be on the way home...
Odd how everyone is now rooting for the last one in the race.
 
Tomahawk said:
He should be rounding the horn by midday today....

Looke like he is thumping into it... It will be good for him to be on the way home...
Odd how everyone is now rooting for the last one in the race.
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Not so much routing for the last one in the race, more that I want them all home safely, and happily.
Although it must feel a bit depressing when you're the only one still in the Pacific :(
 
Robert Wilson said:
Not so much routing for the last one in the race, more that I want them all home safely, and happily.
Although it must feel a bit depressing when you're the only one still in the Pacific :(
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Robert, the rules of the Vendee say no outside assistance...
You are not allowed to give Sebastian any routing advice.. :encouragement:... sorry I couldn't resist


I am hoping his spirits lift when he turns a bit left this afternoon..
 
Hugo Boss left Le Sables D'Olonne about an hour ago. Can't work out if that's Alex onboard...

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Source: https://www.facebook.com/VendeeGlob...18556850186/10158172335770187/?type=3&theater
 
Quick update:


1. Louis Burton (7th), now due North of the Azores, had another good day covering 310 miles, with the finish less than 1200 miles ahead, he is predicted to finish around 1930 GMT Wednesday.
2. Nanda Fa (8th) following almost 1280 miles behind LB made good progress (336 miles). The predictions show stable winds ahead for him for the next 24 hours.
3. Eric Bellion (9th) crossed the equator at 2343hrs yesterday, has covered 211 miles today and is now 639 miles behind EB. He will continue in light winds for the next 6 hours, but should then pick up for the rest of the 24 hour period. So a relatively painless transit of the doldrums for him.
4. Conrad Coleman (10th), has profited from better winds and has closed to 221 miles behind EB, but will be passing through the same light winds in the next 24 hours.
5. Arnaud Boissieres (11th) leads the group of 4, which has stretched out further due to the slow progress of Rich Wilson (14th) who covered a mere 174 miles. RW is 580 miles behind AB. Tomorrow's winds offer no solace (again) to RW who is likely to fall back further.
6. 254 miles behind RW, Didac Costa (15th) and Romain Attanasio (16th) are currently less than 3 miles apart (that cannot be very 'relaxing' can it?) and are looking for wind while trading positions. They will spend most of the next 24 hours digging their way out of the wind hole.
7. Pieter Heerema (17th) - had a much slower day than yesterday with 233 miles ticked off. It looks like he will have a similar sort of day tomorrow. Still the weather is getting more comfortable and hopefully he is able to get more rest.
8. Sebastian Destremau (18th) rounded the Horn at 1336 GMT today, joining his peers in the Atlantic and closing the door on the Southern Ocean. He is now enjoying kinder conditions than he has experienced these last few days. Come on Seb - 7,000 miles to go and warmer waters ahead.��
 
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NormanB said:
I cannot imagine Pieter would pull the black and yellow handle on this now. He is making really good progress so is clearly motivated. No doubt he has had his 'low spot' (but I guess most of the them do and have to talk themselves up focussing on the positives).
.
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I agree with that interpretation. He is certainly staying well offshore away from shoreside temptations.

Keep on sailing guys.
 
Key points for the last 24 hours.

1. Louis Burton (7th), covered the most miles today, of all current competitors, with 363 miles, with the finish less than 770 miles ahead. It may not all be plain sailing though and is predicted to finish around 2100 GMT Wednesday.
2. Nanda Fa (8th) covered a respectable 317 miles and is negotiating the Azores High pressure, but should merge with the south east of an Atlantic depression to give him a fast passage to the finish. He could, with a fair wind , get across the line in the early hours of Monday morning (6th Feb).
3. Eric Bellion (9th) covered 245 miles today and is now 656 miles behind EB. He is now in good winds, so a relatively painless transit of the doldrums.
4. Conrad Coleman (10th), crossed the equator at 0845 GMT now 226 miles behind EB, another painless passage through the Doldrums.
5. Arnaud Boissieres (11th) leads the group of 4, which has stretched out much further due again to the slow progress of Rich Wilson (14th) who covered 215 miles. RW is now 655 miles behind AB and has challenging low winds again tomorrow. Rich Wilson talks about the frustrations that King Neptune presents in this fascinating video -
6. 333 miles behind RW, Didac Costa (15th) and Romain Attanasio (16th) are currently less than a mile apart and are still looking for wind while covering less than 100 miles today. The Remora model suggests more of the same for the next 36 hours.
7. Pieter Heerema (17th) - had a better day than yesterday with 289 miles achieved. It looks like he will have a similar sort of day tomorrow. Taken from the VG website - 'Heerema is on great form, enjoying good speeds and much more at one with his boat – the final foiling IMOCA in the race. “I am enjoying myself,” Heerema said. “Lady luck is grinning at me with a big smile. The weather is much more than the GRIB files. In fact I was worried that last night I would be flogging around and drifting but I had to take in two reefs and put the small jib on. I was flying.'
8. Sebastian Destremau (18th) had a slow and erratic course after passing Cape Horn yesterday. He has posted a great video, saying 'G'day Mate' to the Horn and locking the door on the Pacific, which truly shows his character - Video.

Leaving aside the raw physical and mental challenges for all competitors in the Vendee but for those with a few weeks left to finish they can add food endurance to that list. Taken from the VG website: In 12th place Amedeo admits he will run low on food and is already undertaking a basic rationing system: “I am resting a lot, as I have to ration my food. The quantity is limited and so I’m not getting all the calories I need, so feel tired. I’m not feeling energetic when at the winch. So I’m trying to save up my energy and enjoy myself. It’s not going to be much fun at the end of the race. I contacted the Race Doctor, Jean-Yves Chauve, who gave me some advice. I have three meals a day, two meals using freeze-dried food and then for breakfast, what is left over. Meat paste or sardines without anything to go with them for example. After breakfast I still feel hungry. You learn from your mistakes like this.”
 
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Tomahawk said:
Robert, the rules of the Vendee say no outside assistance...
You are not allowed to give Sebastian any routing advice.. :encouragement:... sorry I couldn't resist


I am hoping his spirits lift when he turns a bit left this afternoon..
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Hangs head in embarrassment.:rolleyes:

Hey ho - too much reliance on "spell check" and not enouff reeding throogh wot I rote :D

Great to see them all in the Atlantic again.
 
NormanB said:
8. Sebastian Destremau (18th) had a slow and erratic course after passing Cape Horn yesterday. He has posted a great video, saying 'G'day Mate' to the Horn and locking the door on the Pacific, which truly shows his character - Video. [/I]
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Thanks for the update.

Cracking video from Destremau there. A special moment for him indeed. Amazing and well done!
 
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