Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
Indeed, He deserves a real hero's welcome for sticking it out..
Vendée Globe 2016-2017
- Thread starter Andrew E
- Start date
NormanB
Well-Known Member
On this 94th day of the race, the 10 remaining competitors are spread from just over 1000 to 5,000 miles from the finish with 8 in the Northern and 2 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Nandor Far (8th), crossed the line just before midday GMT. He said some great things at the Press Conference which is worth copying in full from the VG website:
AN INCREDIBLE SPIRIT: NANDOR FA DELIGHTED WITH EIGHTH
WEDNESDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2017, 16H22
Nandor Fa was expansive, warm and happy to spend time sharing the details of his race with the public and the media, French, Anglo-Saxon and Hungarian. That he will not be back to race the Vendée Globe again, that this was the final finish line for him brought a real mix of emotions for the Hungarian skipper. The last few miles before the finish line he was already in a jubilant, boisterous mood aboard the boat he designed himself. He was on the bow punching the air, he was on the stern waving to the media and to friends and family for some 15 minutes before the line.
The weather was to order, 15kts of NW’ly breeze and some nice leftover waves. And hundreds turned out on the banks of the channel, the Hungarian national flag was stretched of the port hand entrance ‘Bravo Nándi!’ Minutes after the line he said “It is over. I have done it. It was successful according to my rules, my hopes. This is such beautiful weather to finish, the gods are with me and the people, friends, family, who have come out to greet me, it is so overwhelming. I can’t find the right words. It was 92 days of fighting. Sometimes it felt endless. It was really long, really tough, all the time it was really wet.”
Questioned on the pontoon in the Port Olona marina, he smiled broadly: “You know this last moment now is the most important, to be here now. Everything that goes before is the past. It is history. It feels much, much shorter than the last time but it still feels really, really long and sometimes there were moments which seemed endless but equally there were weeks which just flew by, they were gone. All the way was cold, rainy, wet. I enjoyed some moments, especially talking to my family and friends, sending e-mails, I received a lot of messages which encouraged me and they really encouraged me. I needed them because sometimes it was really hard.”
Mental toughness was, he said, key, but there were touching human moments too: “I must not feel. I just do. If I started to live an emotional life it is endless. This is the trouble. I wanted to just finish the trip as fast as possible. I have to tell you that the second part of the race was not racing, it was just sailing a safe line. There was nobody around me. The nearest guy behind me was far away. The nearest guy in front of me was far away. I was sailing on the safe side. The race itself finished in the middle part of the Pacific. In fact after Stéphane Le Diraison lost the mast it was no longer a race for me. It was a nice, tough, trip which I loved. Now I need days, weeks, months to work out what happened. I did not want to leave this race with a feeling that there were things I would do later or another time. That was the way I went when it was cold, when it was dangerous, when I was almost flying away. When things happened and when you are really tired, mentally, physically, that was it, you have no power, mentally, physically, it is nature.”
He confirmed that last night, appropriately, he had broken his all time speed record for the boat, hours before finishing the Vendée Globe: “Since the middle of last night it has been good. Before that, the night before and the last day, I had a lot of wind and big waves. But last night I made my speed record, 28kts, I had flat water, the big sails were up and I had 26kts of wind and I had 50kts of gusts. I bore away and took off. I started to fly and I survived. Eighth place is far beyond my dreams. At the start I did not think about placings because this fleet is so strong. The boats are so prepared and good. I thought my place with my boat, my age it might have been 15th to 20th. My performance? I just wanted to be better than 100 days. That happened. Eighth is way beyond my imagination.”
But the finish line was the final full stop as far as his participation in the Vendée Globe is concerned: “I had great motivation to sail fast. Sometimes I was frustrated I am not fast enough. My new boat would be a flying machine. She is a boat, this one. The next one is a flying machine. It will never be built for me though. The time is gone. I am sorry about that. I don’t feel any energy to do it again right now. In four years time I will be 67. I am young in the way of thinking, I am fit but now I see what kind of energy, what kind of motivation second by second, day by day, that you really need and I know my time is gone. I don’t have it any more. The future is with my family. It will be difficult to forget.”
And this one was tougher than he thought, or recalled. “It is winter conditions a lot of the time, cold and wet all the time, it is a winter race. Even at the end I had snow and hail showers these last few nights. I had 50kts of wind. It is a winter race with a lot of cold, a lot of frustration. You have to switch off as a human being and switch on as a machine. You have to leave behind a feeling race because sometimes it is so frightening and frustrating and you are tired and cold, if you let your feelings get to you, it is endless. In bad conditions, those that you cannot imagine, it feels endless. All together it is a very, very tough race. Sometimes I was thinking about the front runners making 30kts speeds and 22kts average and thought what is the difference between their boat and my boat, I made the same fight but I think my boat is slower.”
His one regret is that even though he loves his boat, he wishes he had designed it as a faster more aggressive machine: “I have to share with you that I was 62 when I designed this boat. By that I mean with all the people who helped when I say me, but I was thinking of a 62 year old man. I built a boat for that. I love my boat and she is fantastic. It is easily able to make less than 90 days. But I was sailing like I was 40 year old but I could not make the speeds. It was frustrating not to be able to do the speeds I wanted to do. In spite of that my speed record was 434 miles in a day. If I would do it again I would build a flying machine. I would like to do a faster boat. It is a race for machines with machines, it is not a human race. Sometimes you do switch the modes to human modes. I was in a good relationship with Kojiro (Shiraishi of Spirit of Yukoh) and when Koji lost his mast I told Koji I took the Spirit of Yukoh with me. Yukoh was a friend of mine. We had a similar personality. Koji was very important to me and so also with Stéphane Le Diraison. He was faster than me but sometimes I could get back at him by tactics and so when he lost the mast it was a bad moment for me.”
His darkest moment did not last long, his conclusion that in the end you must respect the sea an nature: “I always trusted my boat. Always. But once I lost control and was shouting, frustrated. I was out in the cockpit and screaming at God. I was shouting ‘Do What You Want, but I Will Go Home to my Family. Do What You Want….’ It was an interesting moment because one hour later I had cooled down and I thought ‘What a stupid guy I am. Why am I upset? This nature. This is what it is like here. In my mind I never once thought I would not come back. I always thought the finish line is there and I will get there. I am proud of my boat and my mast. I finished the race and I was able to concentrate on the race. I am proud of my race from a meteo point of view.”
And although he considers his Vendée Globe is over as a competitor he would still like to contribute his thoughts and experience in the future: “I spent so much time thinking about a new boat, drawings and points to memorise, and so I have a complete new boat in my head. I have a vision of how to do it and what to do. I would be very happy to build it for someone, but not for me. The Vendée Globe is forever a love for me. But the time is gone. I must be realistic. I must know the time is gone. In four years time it will not be me. I would love to sail one of these new machines like a machine. But it is not in my life now. It is not me anymore. My future is with my family and with my grandchildren. The Vendée Globe is a love. If anybody wants my help I am here. I don’t want a trophy for the oldest man in the Vendée Globe, that is not what it is about. In this Vendée Globe there were four skippers over 60. But I would say that if you are racing, not just travelling, doing the race, this is a professional race, I don’t have a place in this race anymore.”
Nandor Fa's homecoming 4 minute video:
Eric Bellion (9th), facing tricky conditions NE of the Azores and has changed course to avoid the worst conditions associated with a new low, unfortunately it looks as though he will be dogged by this low pressure system, most of the way home. He could have a 450 mile day, in the next 24 hours if the sea conditions and his stamina allow. He is currently doing 11 knots , he has covered 221 miles in the last 24 hours. Currently predicted to cross the finish line Sunday morning. Quote from VG website: "This is one of the most difficult moments in the Vendée Globe. I am starting to have a positive outlook. I have got electricity and have managed to get my water maker working, so I have go water too. The low that is moving in looked really nasty. Yesterday I felt really down. I didn’t have any water left and this huge low was right ahead of me. In the end, things are working out, but it’s still on the edge, as I’m relying on my hydrogenerators. It’s the sword of Damocles hanging over me, as there is nothing you can do about stuff floating around in the water. I have one more low to deal with and I’m not thinking about the finish. Les Sables d’Olonne is light years away.”
70 second video (in French only):
Conrad Colman (10th) is currently doing 15 knots, covered 267 miles today and is 283 miles behind EB. He will be dogged by the same LP system affecting EB. Currently SW of the Azores and probably routing through them, he will have strong and favourable winds and could achieve a 400 mile day in the next 24 hours, if he has the right sails to harness them.
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 10 knots, has covered 167 miles and is now 420 miles behind CC. Another 6 hours to clear light winds he will then be heading more or less upwind for the remainder of the next 24 hours and will probably have a 220 mile day.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 7 knots has covered 144 miles and is 86 miles behind AB. He will have the same issues and forecast as AB for the next 24 hours.
Alan Roura (13th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 282 miles today and is 568 miles behind FA. Moderate winds tomorrow and with it, probably a 250 mile day. Quote from VG website: "I need some help. Pray for me, for the weather. If things stay as they are this morning, it won’t be long before I’m home. It couldn’t be any worse than last night. Please don’t look at my speed on the tracker. Wind expected – on the beam. Real wind – upwind on a heading of 320°. I keep getting upwind sailing, but my boat was designed for downwind sailing. After a month of this every day, I’m starting to get tired. In four days I should be off the Azores. Psychologically that’s Portugal and therefore Europe, which means I’m not far from home. Even if conditions are hard to bear, it feels like I’m on the way back with Cape Finisterre seven days away and home in ten!”
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 6 knots, has covered 265 miles today, but is still very firmly the back marker of the 'Group of 4' , now 364 miles behind AR and 1018 miles behind AB. He has reasonable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 280 mile day. 5 min video (poor sound quality) on the origin of his boat's name ( it is really interesting if you soldier on through).
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 234 miles today still hanging on to his 15th place, and is 199 miles behind RW. Light winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 230 mile day.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 233 miles today and is 17 miles behind DC. Light winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 230 mile day.
70 second video (in French only).
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 14 knots and covered the most miles today (315) and is now 499 miles behind RA. Off to the East of Northern Brazil, he has reasonable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 280 mile day. Following that its the Equator and the Doldrums for Pieter.
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 224 miles today. He is now 1538 miles behind PH. Variable winds off the Southern coast of Brazil tomorrow and probably a sub 250 mile day. Quote from the VG website: "For two days now, I have had ideal conditions with fantastic weather, blue skies and seas that aren’t too rough. I’m quietly making my way up the coast of Brazil off Sao Paulo. Gradually, the wind is easing. I’m hoisting more sail. I’m under full mainsail and gennaker. But in 24 hours from now, the conditions will be changing, as I’ll be sailing upwind for a fortnight, at least until the Equator on a boat heeled over and slamming. I can’t wait to finish, but I need to be cautious. There’s still a month left. These are going to be the hardest times for the boat. I’m going to have to be cautious. That’s the key to finish the Vendée Globe. Two hundred times a day I tell myself, I must not forget anything. The closer we get to the finish, the more you need to be well disciplined.”
Nandor Far (8th), crossed the line just before midday GMT. He said some great things at the Press Conference which is worth copying in full from the VG website:
AN INCREDIBLE SPIRIT: NANDOR FA DELIGHTED WITH EIGHTH
WEDNESDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2017, 16H22
Nandor Fa was expansive, warm and happy to spend time sharing the details of his race with the public and the media, French, Anglo-Saxon and Hungarian. That he will not be back to race the Vendée Globe again, that this was the final finish line for him brought a real mix of emotions for the Hungarian skipper. The last few miles before the finish line he was already in a jubilant, boisterous mood aboard the boat he designed himself. He was on the bow punching the air, he was on the stern waving to the media and to friends and family for some 15 minutes before the line.
The weather was to order, 15kts of NW’ly breeze and some nice leftover waves. And hundreds turned out on the banks of the channel, the Hungarian national flag was stretched of the port hand entrance ‘Bravo Nándi!’ Minutes after the line he said “It is over. I have done it. It was successful according to my rules, my hopes. This is such beautiful weather to finish, the gods are with me and the people, friends, family, who have come out to greet me, it is so overwhelming. I can’t find the right words. It was 92 days of fighting. Sometimes it felt endless. It was really long, really tough, all the time it was really wet.”
Questioned on the pontoon in the Port Olona marina, he smiled broadly: “You know this last moment now is the most important, to be here now. Everything that goes before is the past. It is history. It feels much, much shorter than the last time but it still feels really, really long and sometimes there were moments which seemed endless but equally there were weeks which just flew by, they were gone. All the way was cold, rainy, wet. I enjoyed some moments, especially talking to my family and friends, sending e-mails, I received a lot of messages which encouraged me and they really encouraged me. I needed them because sometimes it was really hard.”
Mental toughness was, he said, key, but there were touching human moments too: “I must not feel. I just do. If I started to live an emotional life it is endless. This is the trouble. I wanted to just finish the trip as fast as possible. I have to tell you that the second part of the race was not racing, it was just sailing a safe line. There was nobody around me. The nearest guy behind me was far away. The nearest guy in front of me was far away. I was sailing on the safe side. The race itself finished in the middle part of the Pacific. In fact after Stéphane Le Diraison lost the mast it was no longer a race for me. It was a nice, tough, trip which I loved. Now I need days, weeks, months to work out what happened. I did not want to leave this race with a feeling that there were things I would do later or another time. That was the way I went when it was cold, when it was dangerous, when I was almost flying away. When things happened and when you are really tired, mentally, physically, that was it, you have no power, mentally, physically, it is nature.”
He confirmed that last night, appropriately, he had broken his all time speed record for the boat, hours before finishing the Vendée Globe: “Since the middle of last night it has been good. Before that, the night before and the last day, I had a lot of wind and big waves. But last night I made my speed record, 28kts, I had flat water, the big sails were up and I had 26kts of wind and I had 50kts of gusts. I bore away and took off. I started to fly and I survived. Eighth place is far beyond my dreams. At the start I did not think about placings because this fleet is so strong. The boats are so prepared and good. I thought my place with my boat, my age it might have been 15th to 20th. My performance? I just wanted to be better than 100 days. That happened. Eighth is way beyond my imagination.”
But the finish line was the final full stop as far as his participation in the Vendée Globe is concerned: “I had great motivation to sail fast. Sometimes I was frustrated I am not fast enough. My new boat would be a flying machine. She is a boat, this one. The next one is a flying machine. It will never be built for me though. The time is gone. I am sorry about that. I don’t feel any energy to do it again right now. In four years time I will be 67. I am young in the way of thinking, I am fit but now I see what kind of energy, what kind of motivation second by second, day by day, that you really need and I know my time is gone. I don’t have it any more. The future is with my family. It will be difficult to forget.”
And this one was tougher than he thought, or recalled. “It is winter conditions a lot of the time, cold and wet all the time, it is a winter race. Even at the end I had snow and hail showers these last few nights. I had 50kts of wind. It is a winter race with a lot of cold, a lot of frustration. You have to switch off as a human being and switch on as a machine. You have to leave behind a feeling race because sometimes it is so frightening and frustrating and you are tired and cold, if you let your feelings get to you, it is endless. In bad conditions, those that you cannot imagine, it feels endless. All together it is a very, very tough race. Sometimes I was thinking about the front runners making 30kts speeds and 22kts average and thought what is the difference between their boat and my boat, I made the same fight but I think my boat is slower.”
His one regret is that even though he loves his boat, he wishes he had designed it as a faster more aggressive machine: “I have to share with you that I was 62 when I designed this boat. By that I mean with all the people who helped when I say me, but I was thinking of a 62 year old man. I built a boat for that. I love my boat and she is fantastic. It is easily able to make less than 90 days. But I was sailing like I was 40 year old but I could not make the speeds. It was frustrating not to be able to do the speeds I wanted to do. In spite of that my speed record was 434 miles in a day. If I would do it again I would build a flying machine. I would like to do a faster boat. It is a race for machines with machines, it is not a human race. Sometimes you do switch the modes to human modes. I was in a good relationship with Kojiro (Shiraishi of Spirit of Yukoh) and when Koji lost his mast I told Koji I took the Spirit of Yukoh with me. Yukoh was a friend of mine. We had a similar personality. Koji was very important to me and so also with Stéphane Le Diraison. He was faster than me but sometimes I could get back at him by tactics and so when he lost the mast it was a bad moment for me.”
His darkest moment did not last long, his conclusion that in the end you must respect the sea an nature: “I always trusted my boat. Always. But once I lost control and was shouting, frustrated. I was out in the cockpit and screaming at God. I was shouting ‘Do What You Want, but I Will Go Home to my Family. Do What You Want….’ It was an interesting moment because one hour later I had cooled down and I thought ‘What a stupid guy I am. Why am I upset? This nature. This is what it is like here. In my mind I never once thought I would not come back. I always thought the finish line is there and I will get there. I am proud of my boat and my mast. I finished the race and I was able to concentrate on the race. I am proud of my race from a meteo point of view.”
And although he considers his Vendée Globe is over as a competitor he would still like to contribute his thoughts and experience in the future: “I spent so much time thinking about a new boat, drawings and points to memorise, and so I have a complete new boat in my head. I have a vision of how to do it and what to do. I would be very happy to build it for someone, but not for me. The Vendée Globe is forever a love for me. But the time is gone. I must be realistic. I must know the time is gone. In four years time it will not be me. I would love to sail one of these new machines like a machine. But it is not in my life now. It is not me anymore. My future is with my family and with my grandchildren. The Vendée Globe is a love. If anybody wants my help I am here. I don’t want a trophy for the oldest man in the Vendée Globe, that is not what it is about. In this Vendée Globe there were four skippers over 60. But I would say that if you are racing, not just travelling, doing the race, this is a professional race, I don’t have a place in this race anymore.”
Nandor Fa's homecoming 4 minute video:
Eric Bellion (9th), facing tricky conditions NE of the Azores and has changed course to avoid the worst conditions associated with a new low, unfortunately it looks as though he will be dogged by this low pressure system, most of the way home. He could have a 450 mile day, in the next 24 hours if the sea conditions and his stamina allow. He is currently doing 11 knots , he has covered 221 miles in the last 24 hours. Currently predicted to cross the finish line Sunday morning. Quote from VG website: "This is one of the most difficult moments in the Vendée Globe. I am starting to have a positive outlook. I have got electricity and have managed to get my water maker working, so I have go water too. The low that is moving in looked really nasty. Yesterday I felt really down. I didn’t have any water left and this huge low was right ahead of me. In the end, things are working out, but it’s still on the edge, as I’m relying on my hydrogenerators. It’s the sword of Damocles hanging over me, as there is nothing you can do about stuff floating around in the water. I have one more low to deal with and I’m not thinking about the finish. Les Sables d’Olonne is light years away.”
70 second video (in French only):
Conrad Colman (10th) is currently doing 15 knots, covered 267 miles today and is 283 miles behind EB. He will be dogged by the same LP system affecting EB. Currently SW of the Azores and probably routing through them, he will have strong and favourable winds and could achieve a 400 mile day in the next 24 hours, if he has the right sails to harness them.
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 10 knots, has covered 167 miles and is now 420 miles behind CC. Another 6 hours to clear light winds he will then be heading more or less upwind for the remainder of the next 24 hours and will probably have a 220 mile day.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 7 knots has covered 144 miles and is 86 miles behind AB. He will have the same issues and forecast as AB for the next 24 hours.
Alan Roura (13th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 282 miles today and is 568 miles behind FA. Moderate winds tomorrow and with it, probably a 250 mile day. Quote from VG website: "I need some help. Pray for me, for the weather. If things stay as they are this morning, it won’t be long before I’m home. It couldn’t be any worse than last night. Please don’t look at my speed on the tracker. Wind expected – on the beam. Real wind – upwind on a heading of 320°. I keep getting upwind sailing, but my boat was designed for downwind sailing. After a month of this every day, I’m starting to get tired. In four days I should be off the Azores. Psychologically that’s Portugal and therefore Europe, which means I’m not far from home. Even if conditions are hard to bear, it feels like I’m on the way back with Cape Finisterre seven days away and home in ten!”
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 6 knots, has covered 265 miles today, but is still very firmly the back marker of the 'Group of 4' , now 364 miles behind AR and 1018 miles behind AB. He has reasonable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 280 mile day. 5 min video (poor sound quality) on the origin of his boat's name ( it is really interesting if you soldier on through).
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 234 miles today still hanging on to his 15th place, and is 199 miles behind RW. Light winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 230 mile day.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 233 miles today and is 17 miles behind DC. Light winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 230 mile day.
70 second video (in French only).
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 14 knots and covered the most miles today (315) and is now 499 miles behind RA. Off to the East of Northern Brazil, he has reasonable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 280 mile day. Following that its the Equator and the Doldrums for Pieter.
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 224 miles today. He is now 1538 miles behind PH. Variable winds off the Southern coast of Brazil tomorrow and probably a sub 250 mile day. Quote from the VG website: "For two days now, I have had ideal conditions with fantastic weather, blue skies and seas that aren’t too rough. I’m quietly making my way up the coast of Brazil off Sao Paulo. Gradually, the wind is easing. I’m hoisting more sail. I’m under full mainsail and gennaker. But in 24 hours from now, the conditions will be changing, as I’ll be sailing upwind for a fortnight, at least until the Equator on a boat heeled over and slamming. I can’t wait to finish, but I need to be cautious. There’s still a month left. These are going to be the hardest times for the boat. I’m going to have to be cautious. That’s the key to finish the Vendée Globe. Two hundred times a day I tell myself, I must not forget anything. The closer we get to the finish, the more you need to be well disciplined.”
Last edited:
Roger52
Well-Known Member
Excellent video of Nandor Fa's homecoming. All credit to the locals who turn out in huge numbers to welcome them back.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Vendee 9th February.
On this 95th day of the race, the 10 remaining competitors are spread from just over 750 to 4,800 miles from the finish with 8 in the Northern and 2 in the Southern Hemisphere. Leaving aside the clear and present danger of mishap or equipment failure - the race is still very much on and changes in the batting order are still realistically possible. It must be getting particularly difficult for those who have more than a week to go, especially the psychological dimension. Read the quote from Alan Roura (13th) below.
Eric Bellion (9th), He is currently doing 9 knots (in 32+ knots of wind), covering 302 miles in the last 24 hours and now faces one fierce final Friday, as he fights with the big, active Atlantic low pressure system during his last 766 miles to the finish line. He is being forced along the North Coast of Spain before executing a painful dog leg towards the finish. Currently predicted to cross the finish line late Sunday.
Conrad Colman (10th) is currently doing 13 knots, covering the most miles of the field today (267 miles) today and is 217 miles behind EB. Suffering the same weather, Conrad is being forced South too (currently heading due East). Predicted to cross the finish line on Monday.
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 9 knots, has covered 246 miles and is now 536 miles behind CC. He is currently heading East to get on the fringe of the Low Pressure system carrying EB and CC.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 0 knots (data may have been grabbed during a sail change) has covered 240 miles and is 128 miles behind AB. He will have the same issues and forecast as AB for the next 24 hours.
Alan Roura (13th): Much further West than the two ahead of him, he is currently doing 8 knots and has covered 308 miles today and is 579 miles behind FA. Good winds for the next 24 hours, he could profit from the HP system, heading North, before slingshotting onto the tail of the LP one as he turns East and resulting in a potentially a 300 mile day. Quote from VG website: "My route north is a complete failure. I’m heading straight for a wind hole and upwind sailing. I have no idea what is going on. How it’s gone from a forecast of 25 knots downwind to this. My routing suggests I head for Madeira and the coast of Portugal. That’s the exact opposite of what I intended to do and it adds more time to my race. My mood swings with the weather changes. It’s not weather ahead. It’s a disaster! Not a breath of air. Someone is playing a joke on me maybe? I think I have reached my limits. I’m disgusted to see the final miles are going to be the hardest and I risk losing my thirteenth place on top of that, as behind me they should be able to take the direct route with good wind and speed. We’ve reached a critical situation on board. The boat is fine, but me? I can’t stand this torture I have been experiencing since Cape Horn. I want to cry or scream. There’s no way out. I’m stuck here. I have to continue and hope that the weather changes. But it looks like I really messed up. I need to get a grip. Getting hit so hard so close to the finish, not knowing where to go and when I’m going to finish.”
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 8 knots heading almost due North and has covered 292 miles today, but is still very firmly the back marker of the 'Group of 4', now 334 miles behind AR and 1041 miles behind AB. He has favourable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 300 mile day on a good course. Quote from VG website: "I got a lot of attention for being the oldest in the fleet, but Nandor is only a year younger than me and he got there two weeks ahead of me. He did a great job. He knows his boat as well as anybody in the fleet and he just kept pushing a little bit, nothing dramatic, no huge runs, just pressure on all the way. And it just paid off, so big congratulations to him for that. A terrific guy, very calm, very modest. He’s quite the mariner.”
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 284 miles today still hanging on to his 15th place, and is 210 miles behind RW. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 300 mile day.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 276 miles today and is 32 miles behind DC. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 300 mile day.
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 3 knots and only covered 184 miles today and is now 485miles behind RA. Reality is clearly different from the model which suggested he would make much better progress. Off to the East of Northern Brazil, the model suggests he has light winds ahead tomorrow as he approaches the Equator which he should cross in around 18 hours and maybe a 200 mile day.
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 210 miles today. He is now 1511 miles behind PH. Another challenging day of low and variable winds off the Southern coast of Brazil tomorrow and probably a sub 180 mile day.
On this 95th day of the race, the 10 remaining competitors are spread from just over 750 to 4,800 miles from the finish with 8 in the Northern and 2 in the Southern Hemisphere. Leaving aside the clear and present danger of mishap or equipment failure - the race is still very much on and changes in the batting order are still realistically possible. It must be getting particularly difficult for those who have more than a week to go, especially the psychological dimension. Read the quote from Alan Roura (13th) below.
Eric Bellion (9th), He is currently doing 9 knots (in 32+ knots of wind), covering 302 miles in the last 24 hours and now faces one fierce final Friday, as he fights with the big, active Atlantic low pressure system during his last 766 miles to the finish line. He is being forced along the North Coast of Spain before executing a painful dog leg towards the finish. Currently predicted to cross the finish line late Sunday.
Conrad Colman (10th) is currently doing 13 knots, covering the most miles of the field today (267 miles) today and is 217 miles behind EB. Suffering the same weather, Conrad is being forced South too (currently heading due East). Predicted to cross the finish line on Monday.
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 9 knots, has covered 246 miles and is now 536 miles behind CC. He is currently heading East to get on the fringe of the Low Pressure system carrying EB and CC.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 0 knots (data may have been grabbed during a sail change) has covered 240 miles and is 128 miles behind AB. He will have the same issues and forecast as AB for the next 24 hours.
Alan Roura (13th): Much further West than the two ahead of him, he is currently doing 8 knots and has covered 308 miles today and is 579 miles behind FA. Good winds for the next 24 hours, he could profit from the HP system, heading North, before slingshotting onto the tail of the LP one as he turns East and resulting in a potentially a 300 mile day. Quote from VG website: "My route north is a complete failure. I’m heading straight for a wind hole and upwind sailing. I have no idea what is going on. How it’s gone from a forecast of 25 knots downwind to this. My routing suggests I head for Madeira and the coast of Portugal. That’s the exact opposite of what I intended to do and it adds more time to my race. My mood swings with the weather changes. It’s not weather ahead. It’s a disaster! Not a breath of air. Someone is playing a joke on me maybe? I think I have reached my limits. I’m disgusted to see the final miles are going to be the hardest and I risk losing my thirteenth place on top of that, as behind me they should be able to take the direct route with good wind and speed. We’ve reached a critical situation on board. The boat is fine, but me? I can’t stand this torture I have been experiencing since Cape Horn. I want to cry or scream. There’s no way out. I’m stuck here. I have to continue and hope that the weather changes. But it looks like I really messed up. I need to get a grip. Getting hit so hard so close to the finish, not knowing where to go and when I’m going to finish.”
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 8 knots heading almost due North and has covered 292 miles today, but is still very firmly the back marker of the 'Group of 4', now 334 miles behind AR and 1041 miles behind AB. He has favourable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 300 mile day on a good course. Quote from VG website: "I got a lot of attention for being the oldest in the fleet, but Nandor is only a year younger than me and he got there two weeks ahead of me. He did a great job. He knows his boat as well as anybody in the fleet and he just kept pushing a little bit, nothing dramatic, no huge runs, just pressure on all the way. And it just paid off, so big congratulations to him for that. A terrific guy, very calm, very modest. He’s quite the mariner.”
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 284 miles today still hanging on to his 15th place, and is 210 miles behind RW. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 300 mile day.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 276 miles today and is 32 miles behind DC. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 300 mile day.
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 3 knots and only covered 184 miles today and is now 485miles behind RA. Reality is clearly different from the model which suggested he would make much better progress. Off to the East of Northern Brazil, the model suggests he has light winds ahead tomorrow as he approaches the Equator which he should cross in around 18 hours and maybe a 200 mile day.
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 210 miles today. He is now 1511 miles behind PH. Another challenging day of low and variable winds off the Southern coast of Brazil tomorrow and probably a sub 180 mile day.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Vendee 10th February.
And then there was one - remaining competitor, Sebastian Destremau, in the Southern Hemisphere (nearly see PH entry).
On this 96th day of the race, the 10 remaining competitors are spread from just over 520 to 4,660 miles from the finish.
Quote from the VG Website: Rather than dissipating with each mile sailed towards the finish, stress can increase significantly. The real danger of a significant breakdown within the last 1000 miles to the finish line is greatly increased in the malicious Atlantic storms which have swept in from the west over the last ten days. Acute weariness, the mental and physical fatigue of nearly 100 days and more than 26,000 miles of solo racing makes it harder to keep a lid on any emotional turmoil, as does the knowledge that the dream will very soon be over.
Eric Bellion (9th), He is currently doing 9 knots (in 35+knots of wind), covering 252 miles in the last 24 hours and continues with his fierce final Friday, as he now fights upwind with the big, active Atlantic low pressure system during his last 520 miles to the finish line. He is being forced along the North Coast of Spain before executing a painful dog leg towards the finish. Currently predicted to cross the finish line midday Monday?
Quote from Eric on the VG Website:
“Gradually it gets harder and harder to deal with. But what does a few days more matter after three months? Sometimes I get fed up with being soaked. I get fed up with the food, but on the other hand I’m enjoying what I’m going through. I tell myself how privileged I am. I should now finish my Vendée Globe and that is exceptional," Bellion reflected today.“It’s pretty rough here at the moment with 40-45 knots of wind, but it’s better than a while ago. Over the past few hours, I had up to 73 knots, so 45 knots is a real pleasure. It’s pushing me along in the right direction and I’m on the right side of the low. In the 70-knot squalls, the boat got knocked down dozens of times. The autopilot was unable to cope. I got a bit scared at times, particularly when the boat broached, including one occasion when one of the backstays got swept away I hope to finish on Monday. The climb back up the Atlantic has been hard going, but that is part of the magic of the Vendée Globe. The race has been difficult, especially the final part.”
Conrad Colman (10th) is currently doing 13 knots, covering the most miles of the field again today (353 miles) today and is 217 miles behind EB. Suffering the same horrendous weather, Conrad is being forced South too (currently heading due East). Predicted to cross the finish line in the early hours of Tuesday, but he is chasing Eric down and it will be quite a close finish.
Quote from Conrad on the VG Website:
"Despite the fact that I’m about to be hit by the mother of depressions, things are fine. I’m not really happy frankly. It’s a big storm just before I arrive. I’ve been slow to get out of its way after all the sail damage. I’ve been sailing a little bit underpowered in comparison to what I should be, although I’m playing it safe. Potentially I should have 40-50kts probably in a few hours with waves over 8-9m, so it‘s going to be very uncomfortable. The boat is as prepared as she can be. I haven’t come all this way just to cross the Doldrums, but to get to Les Sables d’Olonne. I get in there on Monday hopefully.”
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 11 knots, has covered 269 miles and is now 523 miles behind , well to the South West of CC. He is currently West of Madeira heading North East (pointing towards Lisbon) and is on the fringe of the Low Pressure system carrying EB and CC. He has good winds ahead for the next 24 hours with a possible 350 mile day as he closes the coast of Portugal.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 11 knots and has covered 229 miles and is 211 miles behind and due South of AB. He will have the same issues and forecast as AB for the next 24 hours. He has reasonable winds ahead for the next 24 hours with a possible 300 mile day as he routes to the East of Madeira.
Alan Roura (13th): still much further West than the two ahead of him, he is currently doing 14 knots and has covered 284 miles today and is 511 miles behind FA. Good winds for the next 24 hours, he could have another 300 mile day but is starting to parallel the finish line and less of those miles will count. He will really need to start making more Easterlies by this time tomorrow.
Quote from Alan on the VG Website:
"I have my ups and downs like everyone, except that some people don’t show it. I think it’s interesting to share what is really going on in the sailor’s mind. I’m a week from the finish, but the forecasts keep changing and that is what is getting me down. I should have gone further after the Equator, but I couldn’t. Looking at this long detour, I have lost a lot of miles. There is a huge difference between the charts and reality and even between the various models. It’s hard navigating correctly when it’s like that. I don’t have the money to get all the files. It worked out fine in the south, but not up here. I’m a bit afraid after completing what has been my biggest project. It’s something I dreamt of as a child. Ashore, I won’t have my boat, or money and I’ll have to start all over again. I’m going to have to get my finger out to set up another project with a more powerful boat and then come back. After more than a hundred days out on the water, you have to prepare yourself for the finish. It all ends from one second to the next. I’ll moor up. Tell myself I have done it. But then, it’s all over. So I’m a bit frightened and feel some sadness deep down."
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 3 knots heading almost due North and has covered 278 miles today, now 384 miles behind AR. He has favourable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 260 mile day, he should try and nudge as much Easterly as he can get away with.
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 8 knots and has covered 307 miles today and is 216 miles behind RW. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 280 mile day.
Quote from Didac on the VG Website:
"The Equator and the Doldrums are behind us. In spite of getting increasingly accurate weather info, this area is still not very logical. When a squall arrives, you need to take in a reef and change the headsail very quickly, but often, when the boat is finally ready, the wind vanishes. Four or five times, I was completely stopped, tossed around on the swell. Romain (Attanasio) really stressed me out getting closer until he was within sight. After that, I picked up the trade wind a little earlier and managed to extend my lead by a few miles. In a couple of days, I shall have to cross a high with light winds, then I will have to decide which side of the Azores to go. My routing finally takes me all the way to Les Sables, which is a sign that we are not far from home now.”
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 276 miles today and is 44 miles behind DC. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 280 mile day. He apparently had a bit of bother yesterday though:
Quote from the VG website: Roman Attanasio reported yesterday that he has broken one of his daggerboards on his Famille Mary Etamine du Lys. He informed the Race Directors that he has suffered damage to his port daggerboard after colliding with an unidentified floating object. He noticed a small ingress of water in the housing and he can no longer use this daggerboard.
Quote from Roman on the VG website:
"I have just broken a daggerboard after hitting something. It was a clear break. There is a leak in the housing, but that is not going to prevent me from continuing. It will just hinder me when sailing upwind. I’m going to have to deal with it. That’s life. I’m really unlucky, as that was the third time I hit something. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t happen again. I’m going to make it back to Les Sables one day.”
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 5 knots and only covered 145 miles today (I wonder if he has had problems) and is now 528 miles behind DC. The model suggests he has light winds ahead after the Equator which he should cross in the next couple of hours and maybe a 180 mile day tomorrow.
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 5 knots and has covered 139 miles today and is still in a low wind situation. He is now 1511 miles behind PH. Another challenging day of low and variable winds off the Southern coast of Brazil tomorrow which should improve in the latter part of the day but probably another sub 180 mile day. Rather depressingly, the Race Director set out and issued the predicted finish dates and times for all the remaining competitors - he has Seb pencilled in for the 10 March!!!
And then there was one - remaining competitor, Sebastian Destremau, in the Southern Hemisphere (nearly see PH entry).
On this 96th day of the race, the 10 remaining competitors are spread from just over 520 to 4,660 miles from the finish.
Quote from the VG Website: Rather than dissipating with each mile sailed towards the finish, stress can increase significantly. The real danger of a significant breakdown within the last 1000 miles to the finish line is greatly increased in the malicious Atlantic storms which have swept in from the west over the last ten days. Acute weariness, the mental and physical fatigue of nearly 100 days and more than 26,000 miles of solo racing makes it harder to keep a lid on any emotional turmoil, as does the knowledge that the dream will very soon be over.
Eric Bellion (9th), He is currently doing 9 knots (in 35+knots of wind), covering 252 miles in the last 24 hours and continues with his fierce final Friday, as he now fights upwind with the big, active Atlantic low pressure system during his last 520 miles to the finish line. He is being forced along the North Coast of Spain before executing a painful dog leg towards the finish. Currently predicted to cross the finish line midday Monday?
Quote from Eric on the VG Website:
“Gradually it gets harder and harder to deal with. But what does a few days more matter after three months? Sometimes I get fed up with being soaked. I get fed up with the food, but on the other hand I’m enjoying what I’m going through. I tell myself how privileged I am. I should now finish my Vendée Globe and that is exceptional," Bellion reflected today.“It’s pretty rough here at the moment with 40-45 knots of wind, but it’s better than a while ago. Over the past few hours, I had up to 73 knots, so 45 knots is a real pleasure. It’s pushing me along in the right direction and I’m on the right side of the low. In the 70-knot squalls, the boat got knocked down dozens of times. The autopilot was unable to cope. I got a bit scared at times, particularly when the boat broached, including one occasion when one of the backstays got swept away I hope to finish on Monday. The climb back up the Atlantic has been hard going, but that is part of the magic of the Vendée Globe. The race has been difficult, especially the final part.”
Conrad Colman (10th) is currently doing 13 knots, covering the most miles of the field again today (353 miles) today and is 217 miles behind EB. Suffering the same horrendous weather, Conrad is being forced South too (currently heading due East). Predicted to cross the finish line in the early hours of Tuesday, but he is chasing Eric down and it will be quite a close finish.
Quote from Conrad on the VG Website:
"Despite the fact that I’m about to be hit by the mother of depressions, things are fine. I’m not really happy frankly. It’s a big storm just before I arrive. I’ve been slow to get out of its way after all the sail damage. I’ve been sailing a little bit underpowered in comparison to what I should be, although I’m playing it safe. Potentially I should have 40-50kts probably in a few hours with waves over 8-9m, so it‘s going to be very uncomfortable. The boat is as prepared as she can be. I haven’t come all this way just to cross the Doldrums, but to get to Les Sables d’Olonne. I get in there on Monday hopefully.”
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 11 knots, has covered 269 miles and is now 523 miles behind , well to the South West of CC. He is currently West of Madeira heading North East (pointing towards Lisbon) and is on the fringe of the Low Pressure system carrying EB and CC. He has good winds ahead for the next 24 hours with a possible 350 mile day as he closes the coast of Portugal.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 11 knots and has covered 229 miles and is 211 miles behind and due South of AB. He will have the same issues and forecast as AB for the next 24 hours. He has reasonable winds ahead for the next 24 hours with a possible 300 mile day as he routes to the East of Madeira.
Alan Roura (13th): still much further West than the two ahead of him, he is currently doing 14 knots and has covered 284 miles today and is 511 miles behind FA. Good winds for the next 24 hours, he could have another 300 mile day but is starting to parallel the finish line and less of those miles will count. He will really need to start making more Easterlies by this time tomorrow.
Quote from Alan on the VG Website:
"I have my ups and downs like everyone, except that some people don’t show it. I think it’s interesting to share what is really going on in the sailor’s mind. I’m a week from the finish, but the forecasts keep changing and that is what is getting me down. I should have gone further after the Equator, but I couldn’t. Looking at this long detour, I have lost a lot of miles. There is a huge difference between the charts and reality and even between the various models. It’s hard navigating correctly when it’s like that. I don’t have the money to get all the files. It worked out fine in the south, but not up here. I’m a bit afraid after completing what has been my biggest project. It’s something I dreamt of as a child. Ashore, I won’t have my boat, or money and I’ll have to start all over again. I’m going to have to get my finger out to set up another project with a more powerful boat and then come back. After more than a hundred days out on the water, you have to prepare yourself for the finish. It all ends from one second to the next. I’ll moor up. Tell myself I have done it. But then, it’s all over. So I’m a bit frightened and feel some sadness deep down."
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 3 knots heading almost due North and has covered 278 miles today, now 384 miles behind AR. He has favourable winds ahead tomorrow and with it, probably a 260 mile day, he should try and nudge as much Easterly as he can get away with.
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 8 knots and has covered 307 miles today and is 216 miles behind RW. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 280 mile day.
Quote from Didac on the VG Website:
"The Equator and the Doldrums are behind us. In spite of getting increasingly accurate weather info, this area is still not very logical. When a squall arrives, you need to take in a reef and change the headsail very quickly, but often, when the boat is finally ready, the wind vanishes. Four or five times, I was completely stopped, tossed around on the swell. Romain (Attanasio) really stressed me out getting closer until he was within sight. After that, I picked up the trade wind a little earlier and managed to extend my lead by a few miles. In a couple of days, I shall have to cross a high with light winds, then I will have to decide which side of the Azores to go. My routing finally takes me all the way to Les Sables, which is a sign that we are not far from home now.”
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 276 miles today and is 44 miles behind DC. Favourable winds for the next 24 hours and with it, probably a 280 mile day. He apparently had a bit of bother yesterday though:
Quote from the VG website: Roman Attanasio reported yesterday that he has broken one of his daggerboards on his Famille Mary Etamine du Lys. He informed the Race Directors that he has suffered damage to his port daggerboard after colliding with an unidentified floating object. He noticed a small ingress of water in the housing and he can no longer use this daggerboard.
Quote from Roman on the VG website:
"I have just broken a daggerboard after hitting something. It was a clear break. There is a leak in the housing, but that is not going to prevent me from continuing. It will just hinder me when sailing upwind. I’m going to have to deal with it. That’s life. I’m really unlucky, as that was the third time I hit something. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t happen again. I’m going to make it back to Les Sables one day.”
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 5 knots and only covered 145 miles today (I wonder if he has had problems) and is now 528 miles behind DC. The model suggests he has light winds ahead after the Equator which he should cross in the next couple of hours and maybe a 180 mile day tomorrow.
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 5 knots and has covered 139 miles today and is still in a low wind situation. He is now 1511 miles behind PH. Another challenging day of low and variable winds off the Southern coast of Brazil tomorrow which should improve in the latter part of the day but probably another sub 180 mile day. Rather depressingly, the Race Director set out and issued the predicted finish dates and times for all the remaining competitors - he has Seb pencilled in for the 10 March!!!
Last edited:
Andrew E
Well-Known Member
Just heard that Conrad has dismasted.
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
He is presently pointing at America and doing 1.2 kts so he may well have lost the stick.
That must be gutting for him.
That must be gutting for him.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
That's confirmed - Conrad Colman was waiting for first light this morning to make a full evaluation of his situation this morning after being cruelly dismasted last around 2200hrs UTC last night. The Kiwi skipper had to cut his mast and mainsail free in 35-40kts of wind and big seas. He was only 790 miles or so from the finish line of his first Vendée Globe and is lying in tenth place. He has saved the boom of Foresight Natural Energy.
NEWS FLASH: Foresight Natural Energy dismasted NEWS FLASH:
He is in a horrible situation 35+ knot winds.
Last edited:
Bav34
...
Roger52
Well-Known Member
Was great to be in Portsmouth today to welcome Alex home. A good number of people on the Pompey side and even more at Gosport and this was despite the cold and the odd bit of snow.
armchairsailor
Well-Known Member
Two failures in the last 1000 miles. These boats and blokes are really being put through the mill. The mental toughness of the collective fleet is incredible and their determination is a credit to each and every one. Come on boys: a warm meal awaits you in Les Sables.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Gosport today
I see - thanks. great phot.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Vendee 11th February.
It has been an eventful 24 hours.
Conrad Colman was dismasted last night around 2200hrs GMT. He is OK well apart from high winds, big seas and no doubt rolling like a rolly thing.
In contrast Alex Thompson staged a return 'home' to Gosport this morning to celebrate his second place finish.
Eric Bellion (9th), Has reported problems this morning too, and has suffered damage to his mast track and had to drop his mainsail to effect repairs. He will no longer be able to sail under full mainsail and will have to complete his final 360 miles with three reefs in his mainsail. He is currently doing 7 knots (in 35+knots of wind), covering 183 miles in the last 24 hours. . Currently predicted to cross the finish line midday Monday but too early to assess the full effect of reduced mainsail.
Quote from Eric on the VG Website:
"These last few miles are impossible. I am not going to let this beat me,”
Conrad Colman (10th) The Kiwi skipper had to cut his mast and mainsail free in 35-40kts of wind and big seas. He was only 720 miles (but drifting SW) or so from the finish line. He has saved the boom and is also around 300 off the Portuguese coast. After a very uncomfortable night with the* boat rolling wildly in the big swells, Conrad was able to get on deck this morning to assess the situation after being dismasted. the sea state is too bad to work on putting a jury rig in place now but Conrad and his team are working hard on solutions as to how best to fix the boom and to proceed thereafter.* The boom has to be repaired first before setting it as a replacement mast. He is gathering information and ideas on how to repair it with the materials he has on board. This is just the first stages in establishing a jury rig. In 48 hours time the winds should be more favourable to allow him to get downwind and so he has two days* to work on a solution that would allow him to reach the Portuguese coast or Les Sables d'Olonne if it looks like that is a safe option. Conrad is reported to be extremely disappointed but very motivated to find a solution to allow him to finish his Vendée Globe.
Quote from Conrad on the VG Website:“Thanks for all the messages of support coming in from everywhere. I hope to be up to this and to be able to start towards land without assistance,”
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 10 knots, has covered 2257 miles and is now 322 miles behind CP. To the North West of Madeira, pointing towards Faro and with reasonable winds ahead could cover 240 miles tomorrow.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 217 miles and is 222 miles behind AB. FA will pass to the West of Madeira too and could stretch out to a 270 mile day.
Alan Roura (13th): Still much further West than the two ahead of him, he is currently doing 5 knots and has covered 227 miles today and is 495 miles behind FA. Still well out to the West of AR he is making more Eastings now but heading into the centre of the Azores High.
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 7 knots heading almost due North and has covered 272 miles today, now 403 miles behind AR. Heading North into a windhole maybe a sub 180 mile day ahead.
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 281 miles today and is 199 miles behind RW. DC is tracking North too, maybe 240 miles tomorrow, but then very low winds after that.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 275 miles today and is 55 miles behind DC. No doubt he will continue to mirror DC tomorrow
Quote from Romain on the VG Website: “This is the third time I have hit something. The boat stopped and it was the daggerboard that took the blow. The deck and the housing are a little cracked. It is terrible to see the boat damaged like this. At this stage I am not so bothered about the loss in performance but I make a lot of leeway. The solution is to drop the keel a little more to 20 to 25 degrees. It is less powered up and we go slower. It has been a bit mad for three days with big seas but it is starting to calm down a little. I am stunned about the news of Conrad. You are always afraid something like that happens so close to the finish. I hope he can make it. My daggerboard problem pales by comparison.”
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 1.3 knots in the Doldrums and only covered 99 miles today and is now 622 miles behind DC. He should escape and manage a 180 mile day tomorrow.
Quote from Pieter on the VG Website
“There is zero dot zero happening. There is no wind at all. There is lots of rain. There is not much to tell. I crossed the Equator at just before midnight and then just after that ran into this airbag. Everything stopped and I have hardly moved since. The whole thing about the Doldrums is the forecasting is all one big joke. As far as I can see then the Doldrums should only start about a degree from now, about another 60 miles to the north. And now, for the second day, I am in full Doldrums situation but the charts are still showing trade winds. So the forecasts are completely off. I am happy to be across the Equator. It is a step, another milestone. But I would rather be moving right now. If the end of the Doldrums is where they say it is then I will be here until Christmas.”
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 186 miles today and is still clawing his way up the Brazilian coast. He is now 1413 miles behind PH, but may turn in a 250 mile day tomorrow. In contrast to those off the coast of Europe he is able to enjoy the much more pleasant conditions, 'flat sailing' and seems to be in very good cheer - see this 100 sec video (in French only).
Final: If Conrad achieves the best outcome and is able to get home on a jury rig and finish the race, assuming he could average 3 knots he could get back in 16th place. If anyone deserves to finish it is Conrad -even before this dismasting he had significant challenges including an extended knock down.
It has been an eventful 24 hours.
Conrad Colman was dismasted last night around 2200hrs GMT. He is OK well apart from high winds, big seas and no doubt rolling like a rolly thing.
In contrast Alex Thompson staged a return 'home' to Gosport this morning to celebrate his second place finish.
Eric Bellion (9th), Has reported problems this morning too, and has suffered damage to his mast track and had to drop his mainsail to effect repairs. He will no longer be able to sail under full mainsail and will have to complete his final 360 miles with three reefs in his mainsail. He is currently doing 7 knots (in 35+knots of wind), covering 183 miles in the last 24 hours. . Currently predicted to cross the finish line midday Monday but too early to assess the full effect of reduced mainsail.
Quote from Eric on the VG Website:
"These last few miles are impossible. I am not going to let this beat me,”
Conrad Colman (10th) The Kiwi skipper had to cut his mast and mainsail free in 35-40kts of wind and big seas. He was only 720 miles (but drifting SW) or so from the finish line. He has saved the boom and is also around 300 off the Portuguese coast. After a very uncomfortable night with the* boat rolling wildly in the big swells, Conrad was able to get on deck this morning to assess the situation after being dismasted. the sea state is too bad to work on putting a jury rig in place now but Conrad and his team are working hard on solutions as to how best to fix the boom and to proceed thereafter.* The boom has to be repaired first before setting it as a replacement mast. He is gathering information and ideas on how to repair it with the materials he has on board. This is just the first stages in establishing a jury rig. In 48 hours time the winds should be more favourable to allow him to get downwind and so he has two days* to work on a solution that would allow him to reach the Portuguese coast or Les Sables d'Olonne if it looks like that is a safe option. Conrad is reported to be extremely disappointed but very motivated to find a solution to allow him to finish his Vendée Globe.
Quote from Conrad on the VG Website:“Thanks for all the messages of support coming in from everywhere. I hope to be up to this and to be able to start towards land without assistance,”
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) is currently doing 10 knots, has covered 2257 miles and is now 322 miles behind CP. To the North West of Madeira, pointing towards Faro and with reasonable winds ahead could cover 240 miles tomorrow.
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 217 miles and is 222 miles behind AB. FA will pass to the West of Madeira too and could stretch out to a 270 mile day.
Alan Roura (13th): Still much further West than the two ahead of him, he is currently doing 5 knots and has covered 227 miles today and is 495 miles behind FA. Still well out to the West of AR he is making more Eastings now but heading into the centre of the Azores High.
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 7 knots heading almost due North and has covered 272 miles today, now 403 miles behind AR. Heading North into a windhole maybe a sub 180 mile day ahead.
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 281 miles today and is 199 miles behind RW. DC is tracking North too, maybe 240 miles tomorrow, but then very low winds after that.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 7 knots and has covered 275 miles today and is 55 miles behind DC. No doubt he will continue to mirror DC tomorrow
Quote from Romain on the VG Website: “This is the third time I have hit something. The boat stopped and it was the daggerboard that took the blow. The deck and the housing are a little cracked. It is terrible to see the boat damaged like this. At this stage I am not so bothered about the loss in performance but I make a lot of leeway. The solution is to drop the keel a little more to 20 to 25 degrees. It is less powered up and we go slower. It has been a bit mad for three days with big seas but it is starting to calm down a little. I am stunned about the news of Conrad. You are always afraid something like that happens so close to the finish. I hope he can make it. My daggerboard problem pales by comparison.”
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 1.3 knots in the Doldrums and only covered 99 miles today and is now 622 miles behind DC. He should escape and manage a 180 mile day tomorrow.
Quote from Pieter on the VG Website
“There is zero dot zero happening. There is no wind at all. There is lots of rain. There is not much to tell. I crossed the Equator at just before midnight and then just after that ran into this airbag. Everything stopped and I have hardly moved since. The whole thing about the Doldrums is the forecasting is all one big joke. As far as I can see then the Doldrums should only start about a degree from now, about another 60 miles to the north. And now, for the second day, I am in full Doldrums situation but the charts are still showing trade winds. So the forecasts are completely off. I am happy to be across the Equator. It is a step, another milestone. But I would rather be moving right now. If the end of the Doldrums is where they say it is then I will be here until Christmas.”
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 9 knots and has covered 186 miles today and is still clawing his way up the Brazilian coast. He is now 1413 miles behind PH, but may turn in a 250 mile day tomorrow. In contrast to those off the coast of Europe he is able to enjoy the much more pleasant conditions, 'flat sailing' and seems to be in very good cheer - see this 100 sec video (in French only).
Final: If Conrad achieves the best outcome and is able to get home on a jury rig and finish the race, assuming he could average 3 knots he could get back in 16th place. If anyone deserves to finish it is Conrad -even before this dismasting he had significant challenges including an extended knock down.
Last edited:
Robert Wilson
Well-Known Member
Firstly, NormanB - thanks for your commentaries. It puts the race really well into perspective.
Secondly, COME ON Seb :encouragement: - not far now
Thirdly, I REALLY hope Conrad can rig a jury mast and sail home. They all deserve to get home, but In my mind Conrad needs that extra dose of luck.
Please, PLEASE, no more potentially terminal failures/UFOs.
And finally, Well done Alex, and all of you who turned out to see him and HB home to Blighty. Sorry to hear it was nasty wintry weather - it was glllloorrrriuos up here, has been for days.
Just thought I tell you that
Runs for cover.
Secondly, COME ON Seb :encouragement: - not far now
Thirdly, I REALLY hope Conrad can rig a jury mast and sail home. They all deserve to get home, but In my mind Conrad needs that extra dose of luck.
Please, PLEASE, no more potentially terminal failures/UFOs.
And finally, Well done Alex, and all of you who turned out to see him and HB home to Blighty. Sorry to hear it was nasty wintry weather - it was glllloorrrriuos up here, has been for days.
Just thought I tell you that
Runs for cover.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Vendee 12 February. Erratum for 11 Feb entry - I noted that Arnaud Boissieres logged 2257 miles , this was clearly impossible, and was a typo, it should have read 257 miles
Eric Bellion (9th), was still sailing under headsail only today as a blocked and twisted halyard meant he had not yet been able to re-hoist the mainsail. His aim is to try and sort it when the wind eases. He is now close in to the Northern coast of Spain, the wind has shifted Southeast and is easing in strength which should allow him to sort out the main halyard and then achieve best speed. But as it stands he still has 24 + hours of racing to get to Les Sables d'Olonne, although this is obviously dependent on what sail configuration he can manage to set. He is currently doing 5 knots (in 35+knots of wind), covered 155 miles in the last 24 hours. Currently predicted to cross the finish line late Monday, but too early to assess the full effect of reduced mainsail. Late edit - Eric's speed has just jumped from 5 to 10 knots so figure he must have a reefed mainsail deployed.
Conrad Colman (10th): No hard news on Conrad's situation onboard his dismasted boat but he has continued to drift about 12 miles SW since dismasting Winds are due to ease and move into the south west and drop to 20-25kts which should allow Conrad to start work on attempting to step a jury rig. He is in full energy saving mode,(obviously his hydro will not be effective) minimising all of his electrical power use unless essential. The forecast is much more favourable for him over the next several days. 732 miles from the finish and 310 miles from the coast of Portugal.
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) was almost exactly 200 miles south of Conrad Colman’s position this afternoon and is currently doing 13 knots, has covered 238. Looks set to gain downwind conditions as they route towards the Portuguese coast and could cover 260 miles tomorrow - and take 10th place from Conrad.
Quote from AB: "I am 1000 miles from the finish but these can be the most difficult and dangerous miles of the race. Anything can happen at any time. Every step brings me closer to home but it feels long and hard. The last stage for me is to Cape Finisterre. Right now I am upwind and it is not slamming too badly. I take it as it comes.” “ I am affected by what happened to Conrad, that scares me.”
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 13 knots, North of Madeira and has covered 232 miles, is 197 miles behind AB and will have similar wind conditions as him tomorrow so probably a 260 mile day too.
Alan Roura (13th): Still much further West than the two ahead of him and well North of the latitude of Madeira - will have to arc northwards to get round the high pressure zone, but his complicated weather situation is evolving all the time. He is currently doing 7 knots, has covered 147 miles today and is 594 miles behind FA.
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 7 knots heading almost due North and has covered 147 miles today, now 443 miles behind AR. Maybe a 270 mile day tomorrow?
Quote from RW
“There is a big low pressure system coming out of the north east of the USA but it forecast to not come all the way across but head across the north east. We will carry on the north east and get updates every six hours, we need to watch that. It looks like the Azores high pressure system will re-establish itself between the Azores and the Bay of Biscay. So we will see how that materialises. The idea is that we can stay on the southern peripheral of the system, take advantage of the downwind aspect of it and not get into the north where the really strong winds are. Again if goes where it is forecast then it is all do-able and so it depends how far south we want to stay. My inclination is to stay away.
Yesterday I had some sun and that helps a lot. It seems like this whole race has been very grey compared to 2008-9 when it seemed like we saw the sun a lot more along the way. That was nice. And there was a nice big full moon last night which is a bonus. As we are out of the stronger part of the trade winds then he sea state has gone down which is great relief. The boat really took a pounding. Everyone in front that I was in touch with said the boats really took a beating upwind. We are closer to the eastern side of the Atlantic. In 2008 it was a strange situation. I had trouble going across the trade winds, we had no ballast tanks. We were really overpowered with the staysail and so I had to sail a lot of time with the storm jib then in 2008. We have done better this time."
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 222 miles today and is 186 miles behind RW. DC is tracking North too, but low winds for him most of tomorrow so probably another 200 mile day.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 236 miles today and is 39 miles behind DC. No doubt he will continue to mirror DC tomorrow
Quote from Romain on the VG Website: “This is the third time I have hit something. The boat stopped and it was the daggerboard that took the blow. The deck and the housing are a little cracked. It is terrible to see the boat damaged like this. At this stage I am not so bothered about the loss in performance but I make a lot of leeway. The solution is to drop the keel a little more to 20 to 25 degrees. It is less powered up and we go slower. It has been a bit mad for three days with big seas but it is starting to calm down a little. I am stunned about the news of Conrad. You are always afraid something like that happens so close to the finish. I hope he can make it. My daggerboard problem pales by comparison.”
45 sec video (in French only) from Romain
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 3 knots in the Doldrums and only covered 93 miles today and is now 739 miles behind DC. He should escape the wind hole and manage a 180 mile day tomorrow. Quote from Pieter on the VG Website “There is zero dot zero happening. There is no wind at all. There is lots of rain. There is not much to tell. I crossed the Equator at just before midnight and then just after that ran into this airbag. Everything stopped and I have hardly moved since. The whole thing about the Doldrums is the forecasting is all one big joke. As far as I can see then the Doldrums should only start about a degree from now, about another 60 miles to the north. And now, for the second day, I am in full Doldrums situation but the charts are still showing trade winds. So the forecasts are completely off. I am happy to be across the Equator. It is a step, another milestone. But I would rather be moving right now. If the end of the Doldrums is where they say it is then I will be here until Christmas.”
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 3 knots and has covered 203 miles today and is still clawing his way up the Brazilian coast. He is now 1242 miles behind PH, but may well turn in a 250 mile day tomorrow.
Eric Bellion (9th), was still sailing under headsail only today as a blocked and twisted halyard meant he had not yet been able to re-hoist the mainsail. His aim is to try and sort it when the wind eases. He is now close in to the Northern coast of Spain, the wind has shifted Southeast and is easing in strength which should allow him to sort out the main halyard and then achieve best speed. But as it stands he still has 24 + hours of racing to get to Les Sables d'Olonne, although this is obviously dependent on what sail configuration he can manage to set. He is currently doing 5 knots (in 35+knots of wind), covered 155 miles in the last 24 hours. Currently predicted to cross the finish line late Monday, but too early to assess the full effect of reduced mainsail. Late edit - Eric's speed has just jumped from 5 to 10 knots so figure he must have a reefed mainsail deployed.
Conrad Colman (10th): No hard news on Conrad's situation onboard his dismasted boat but he has continued to drift about 12 miles SW since dismasting Winds are due to ease and move into the south west and drop to 20-25kts which should allow Conrad to start work on attempting to step a jury rig. He is in full energy saving mode,(obviously his hydro will not be effective) minimising all of his electrical power use unless essential. The forecast is much more favourable for him over the next several days. 732 miles from the finish and 310 miles from the coast of Portugal.
Arnaud Boissieres (11th) was almost exactly 200 miles south of Conrad Colman’s position this afternoon and is currently doing 13 knots, has covered 238. Looks set to gain downwind conditions as they route towards the Portuguese coast and could cover 260 miles tomorrow - and take 10th place from Conrad.
Quote from AB: "I am 1000 miles from the finish but these can be the most difficult and dangerous miles of the race. Anything can happen at any time. Every step brings me closer to home but it feels long and hard. The last stage for me is to Cape Finisterre. Right now I am upwind and it is not slamming too badly. I take it as it comes.” “ I am affected by what happened to Conrad, that scares me.”
Fabrice Amedeo (12th) is currently doing 13 knots, North of Madeira and has covered 232 miles, is 197 miles behind AB and will have similar wind conditions as him tomorrow so probably a 260 mile day too.
Alan Roura (13th): Still much further West than the two ahead of him and well North of the latitude of Madeira - will have to arc northwards to get round the high pressure zone, but his complicated weather situation is evolving all the time. He is currently doing 7 knots, has covered 147 miles today and is 594 miles behind FA.
Rich Wilson (14th) currently doing 7 knots heading almost due North and has covered 147 miles today, now 443 miles behind AR. Maybe a 270 mile day tomorrow?
Quote from RW
“There is a big low pressure system coming out of the north east of the USA but it forecast to not come all the way across but head across the north east. We will carry on the north east and get updates every six hours, we need to watch that. It looks like the Azores high pressure system will re-establish itself between the Azores and the Bay of Biscay. So we will see how that materialises. The idea is that we can stay on the southern peripheral of the system, take advantage of the downwind aspect of it and not get into the north where the really strong winds are. Again if goes where it is forecast then it is all do-able and so it depends how far south we want to stay. My inclination is to stay away.
Yesterday I had some sun and that helps a lot. It seems like this whole race has been very grey compared to 2008-9 when it seemed like we saw the sun a lot more along the way. That was nice. And there was a nice big full moon last night which is a bonus. As we are out of the stronger part of the trade winds then he sea state has gone down which is great relief. The boat really took a pounding. Everyone in front that I was in touch with said the boats really took a beating upwind. We are closer to the eastern side of the Atlantic. In 2008 it was a strange situation. I had trouble going across the trade winds, we had no ballast tanks. We were really overpowered with the staysail and so I had to sail a lot of time with the storm jib then in 2008. We have done better this time."
Didac Costa (15th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 222 miles today and is 186 miles behind RW. DC is tracking North too, but low winds for him most of tomorrow so probably another 200 mile day.
Romain Attanasio (16th) is currently doing 6 knots and has covered 236 miles today and is 39 miles behind DC. No doubt he will continue to mirror DC tomorrow
Quote from Romain on the VG Website: “This is the third time I have hit something. The boat stopped and it was the daggerboard that took the blow. The deck and the housing are a little cracked. It is terrible to see the boat damaged like this. At this stage I am not so bothered about the loss in performance but I make a lot of leeway. The solution is to drop the keel a little more to 20 to 25 degrees. It is less powered up and we go slower. It has been a bit mad for three days with big seas but it is starting to calm down a little. I am stunned about the news of Conrad. You are always afraid something like that happens so close to the finish. I hope he can make it. My daggerboard problem pales by comparison.”
45 sec video (in French only) from Romain
Pieter Heerema (17th) is currently doing 3 knots in the Doldrums and only covered 93 miles today and is now 739 miles behind DC. He should escape the wind hole and manage a 180 mile day tomorrow. Quote from Pieter on the VG Website “There is zero dot zero happening. There is no wind at all. There is lots of rain. There is not much to tell. I crossed the Equator at just before midnight and then just after that ran into this airbag. Everything stopped and I have hardly moved since. The whole thing about the Doldrums is the forecasting is all one big joke. As far as I can see then the Doldrums should only start about a degree from now, about another 60 miles to the north. And now, for the second day, I am in full Doldrums situation but the charts are still showing trade winds. So the forecasts are completely off. I am happy to be across the Equator. It is a step, another milestone. But I would rather be moving right now. If the end of the Doldrums is where they say it is then I will be here until Christmas.”
Sebastian Destremau (18th), is currently doing 3 knots and has covered 203 miles today and is still clawing his way up the Brazilian coast. He is now 1242 miles behind PH, but may well turn in a 250 mile day tomorrow.
Last edited:
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Firstly, NormanB - thanks for your commentaries. It puts the race really well into perspective.
Secondly, COME ON Seb :encouragement: - not far now
Thirdly, I REALLY hope Conrad can rig a jury mast and sail home. They all deserve to get home, but In my mind Conrad needs that extra dose of luck.
Please, PLEASE, no more potentially terminal failures/UFOs.
And finally, Well done Alex, and all of you who turned out to see him and HB home to Blighty. Sorry to hear it was nasty wintry weather - it was glllloorrrriuos up here, has been for days.
Just thought I tell you that
Runs for cover.
Ta muchly :encouragement:
Robert Wilson
Well-Known Member
As of a few minutes ago it looks like Conrad is moving northeastwards. Dare we hope that he has managed to fix some sort of jury rig and is making positive progress?
FINGERS CROSSED for him.
Or is it just that he's got the wind from astern? making 1.7kts
FINGERS CROSSED for him.
Or is it just that he's got the wind from astern? making 1.7kts
NormanB
Well-Known Member
As of the last news bulletin, Conrad is just completing repairs to the carbon fibre boom and will attempt the jury rig later today. As to his speed, well the wind has shifted around to the South West so he is now pointing in the right direction and he is drifting at 0.7 knots at the moment.
Sebastian Destremau is in a bit of bother. He has water ingress into the engine room which he believes is a stern drive seal issue. He has also gone through all his spare alternator belts. He is intending to seek shelter and anchor at Fernando de Noronha (off the NE corner of Brazil) to investigate the leak issue. I think he is in more trouble than Conrad!!
Edit at 1126: Eric Bellion now in much kinder conditions, with less than 70 miles to go, is doing 10 knots and slated to cross the finish line this evening - 2000 ish. Arnaud Boissieres has now overtaken Conrad Colman so is now in 10th place.
More later.
Sebastian Destremau is in a bit of bother. He has water ingress into the engine room which he believes is a stern drive seal issue. He has also gone through all his spare alternator belts. He is intending to seek shelter and anchor at Fernando de Noronha (off the NE corner of Brazil) to investigate the leak issue. I think he is in more trouble than Conrad!!
Edit at 1126: Eric Bellion now in much kinder conditions, with less than 70 miles to go, is doing 10 knots and slated to cross the finish line this evening - 2000 ish. Arnaud Boissieres has now overtaken Conrad Colman so is now in 10th place.
More later.
Last edited:
Andrew E
Well-Known Member
Sebastian Destremau has had terrible luck. Does Conrad have enough food onboard? I know he began rationing a few days prior to the dismast.
NormanB
Well-Known Member
Seb has been given many challenges that would have cracked a lesser man. He is a real trooper.
I think they must all be struggling with the supplies issues. Seb in particular (leaving aside repair time) has another two weeks sailing (at least).
Conrad has also overcome adversity in spades and will give it his very best shot and while he and all of us should remain optimistic about the theoretical chance of him achieving race completion - the odds are in actuality stacked against him. If it was August maybe, but its March and the Bay of Biscay, just look at the weather Eric Bellion has been through to get to the finish - a jury rig ain't going to cope with anything near that.
I think the VG organisers have lost some interest in the race now - very sparse updates on their website now.
Last edited: