Vendée Globe 2016-2017

I find it very dissappointing that here is a a Brit, not only partaking but, leading in what must be one of the most dangerous and exteme organised sporting events in the world, yet the mainstsream British media and press have yet to mention it. Maybe, if Alex wins, he will be awarded a column in some obscure corner of the sports pages after the well deserved antics of overpaid soccer players!
 
geoid96 said:
From the VG sailing instuctions:
6 EXCLUSION ZONES
A boat that is racing must neither enter nor sail in the exclusion zones set out below.
6.1 The exclusion zones of Finisterre, Cape Roca (Lisbon), Cape Saint Vincent, from the east Canary Islands and west of Mauritania, the coordinates of which are set out in appendix 3. (This changes NOR 2.5).
6.2 The Antarctic Exclusion Zone (AEZ) set out in appendix 3.
6.3 Before the start or during the race, Race Management may determine other zones for safety of the boats, depending on the identification of any safety risks (piracy, for example).

The Antarctic Exclusion Zone (latest version) is defined at: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/download/33711/
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SMA went into the exclusion zone off Finisterre. Anyone know when or if a penalty is due? Can't believe it will be disqualification so presumably it will be a time penalty. Seems wrong, should have been be told to stop for a few hours.
 
Captn D said:
I find it very dissappointing that here is a a Brit, not only partaking but, leading in what must be one of the most dangerous and exteme organised sporting events in the world, yet the mainstsream British media and press have yet to mention it. Maybe, if Alex wins, he will be awarded a column in some obscure corner of the sports pages after the well deserved antics of overpaid soccer players!
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I've been complaining to the DT sports editor daily by email. If I remember correctly didn't Alex talk live to one of the breakfast tv shows last time?
 
Robert Wilson said:
Blimey, that's cracking-on!

What amazes me is that they do it hour after hour, day in day out. Exhausting.:eek:
And for the sailors!!
:encouragement:

I suppose a calm spell, although frustrating, would be a welcome relief for a while.

Thanks for the link.
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What amazes me is that after two weeks of this treatment Alex looks fresher than I do after an afternoon sail..... Either he's some kind of superman or this entire race is an optical illusion being filmed in a studio somewhere with some of the best special effects known to man..... As sailers we know that what Alex and his peers are doing is incredible, unfortunately I suspect a lot of it goes straight over the head of the uninformed public......
 
Dame Ellen got a fair bit of coverage back in the day, but then maybe it was seen as more newsworthy- youngest ever participant, female, bit of an underdog story.

I think Alex is due his turn, but then again Armel has come second so many times so I will be happy for him if he finally manages it as well. Also rooting for the Kiwi, Conrad Colman, as he's in an older boat on a comparatively tiny budget, and sailing around the world without using any fossil fuels will be a great achievement.
 
I'm disappointed with the BBC's coverage, but then again the Vendée Globes own coverage has been excellent. I'm particularly impressed with the 7 day a week live English broadcast from Paris - http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/web-tv. The interview yesterday with Mike Golding was great, and every few days they have a live broadcast with Alex.

This time next year we could be talking about Sir Alex and SPOTY next year could see two sailors nominated (Ben and Alex).
 
doris said:
SMA went into the exclusion zone off Finisterre. Anyone know when or if a penalty is due? Can't believe it will be disqualification so presumably it will be a time penalty. Seems wrong, should have been be told to stop for a few hours.
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I thought I read something that said if they enter an exclusion zone they needed to exit at the point they entered.

Edit... I did...

British skipper Alex Thomson hosted a friendly, informal media breakfast this morning. He was on typically ebullient form, immaculately attired of course. He considers a course record is likely, the time to the Equator may be as little as six days - a record in itself. He revealed that one of his biggest worries is straying into the ice exclusion zone, not because of any threat of ice, but because of the swingeing penalties. Initially any skipper who sails into this exclusion zone must return and exit at, or west of the entry point, and then the penalty can be from 24 hours to disqualification. Thomson revealed he has an alarm watch which delivers an electric shock to his wrist to ensure he wakes on time and does not stray into the exclusion zone.

From here...

http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/15681/the-boss
 
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Ric said:
I always wonder what the object is. Unfortunately I suspect in most cases the collisions are with whales, which probably don't fare too well after the collision either:-(
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It can also be containers. They are apparently floating in between waters, and it's not uncommon for a ship to lose them. Can be anything with a bit of buoyancy to be honest. Always surprised at what people can throw in the water...
 
LePacha said:
It can also be containers. They are apparently floating in between waters, and it's not uncommon for a ship to lose them. Can be anything with a bit of buoyancy to be honest. Always surprised at what people can throw in the water...
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Lots of tree trunks off the S American coast
 
doris said:
Lots of tree trunks off the S American coast
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Maine insurance guy I spoke to reckoned that there are c 100,000 containers in the world's oceans at any one time! I found it hard to believe but it's a sobering thought. One of them messed up Ellen MacArthur's finish?
 
robp said:
Maine insurance guy I spoke to reckoned that there are c 100,000 containers in the world's oceans at any one time! I found it hard to believe but it's a sobering thought. One of them messed up Ellen MacArthur's finish?
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I heard (I think) that 20,000 containers go overboard every year. IF true, that's staggering - even 2,000 would be a big number.
 
That grin and thumbs up at the end says it all, he's brilliant. Leading can be a powerful motivator and I sure hope he's still got that smile in three more weeks.....
 
Sebastian Josse also hit something yesterday damaging one of his rudders - he stopped for 4 hours losing 2nd place and at least an additional 60nm on Hugo Boss and is on the cusp of falling into the hole which Alex and Armel appear so far to have eluded.
 
Video from Alex is great... he seems super motivated and very alert considering how fast they are going.

Looks like he might be able to get on stbd tack for a bit in the next couple of days.
 
Looks like HB and BP are slowly converging towards the South, whist EdR and Safran could be called the northern pair. And that N/S split looks like a lottery for the next couple of days. Tense times ahead.
 
The latest article on Sailing Anarchy states that Alex has a spare starboard foil, and that he plans to install it when conditions are suitable. Even if it isn't true, its certainly going to mess with the heads of other competitors!
 
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