Vendée Globe 2016-2017

0400 update had Armel 20nm behind Alex, with AT doing only 11kt to Armel's 19.... crossing my fingers for the next update!
 
The Windytv site http://gis.ee/vg/ shows the problems these guys are having at the moment with areas of little wind at centres of depressions and between them which need to be crossed. Makes for interesting routing deciscions!
 
Andrew E said:
Not sure. I think I am reading too many of the rumours/conspiracies posted on other forums.
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:D I haven't come across those. I can't see how mind games can work given that other competitors only have access to the video reports that we see. Do they bother to watch them? I would have thought that making your own decisions based on your own data is the only way to go. Even if you make critical remarks about other skippers in your blog, I can't see that it will make any difference. If someone has the strength of character to do this race, they're hardly likely to be put off by a little sledging.
 
StormNorm said:
The winds to the south are head winds. He's heading north for reaching winds, hoping that the next depression will be along in a day or two, is my guess.
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Yep, that was (is) my take on it (but who knows exactly where the wind will be ??)
The two leaders are reasonably close to each other and tacking.

As mentioned by captD, above :
The Windytv site http://gis.ee/vg/ shows the problems these guys are having at the moment with areas of little wind at centres of depressions and between them which need to be crossed. Makes for interesting routing deciscions!
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Those forecast winds look pretty light at the moment, but clearly (small) decisions 'now' can lead to (big) differences 'later'.
Fingers crossed they both get through this, without too much problem ... :) .
 
StormNorm said:
:D I haven't come across those. I can't see how mind games can work given that other competitors only have access to the video reports that we see. Do they bother to watch them? I would have thought that making your own decisions based on your own data is the only way to go. Even if you make critical remarks about other skippers in your blog, I can't see that it will make any difference. If someone has the strength of character to do this race, they're hardly likely to be put off by a little sledging.
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Alongside the analytical data, I would want as much information on the competitors as possible. Imagine your Armel and you hear of ATs broken foil and the following day hear reports in the media that Alex may have a spare foil. If your Armel what do you do - keep pushing on as you were? Push harder to put some miles on Alex while you can, but risk breaking yourself or the boat? Or take your foot off and reel in AT further down the course? Difficult one.
 
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Andrew E said:
. If your Armel what do you do - keep pushing on as you were? Push harder to put some miles on Alex while you can, but risk breaking yourself or the boat? Or take your foot off and reel in AT further down the course? Difficult one.
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Perhaps a period of 'Within Visual Range' match-racing, to observe relative strengths and weaknesses? Then a break when opportunity presents?

We might even get some video of the one from the other.....
 
StormNorm said:
The winds to the south are head winds. He's heading north for reaching winds, hoping that the next depression will be along in a day or two, is my guess.
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If you scroll on 24 hrs, on Windy TV, the wind seems to become northerly, the further south you go.

Perhaps de doesn't want to be boxed in by the southerly exclusion zone.

I'm sure they know what they are doing.

Anyway, Alex is back on the lead :-)))))))))))))
 
Another update in half-an-hour. It will be interesting to see if Armel gybes aswell and if so we could be in for 2 weeks of match-racing across the Indian Ocean :cool:
 
Great photo of Banque Populaire taken a few days ago...

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Andrew E said:
Another update in half-an-hour. It will be interesting to see if Armel gybes aswell and if so we could be in for 2 weeks of match-racing across the Indian Ocean :cool:
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Yep right on his tail now. Wonder if they can see each other, that must be exciting for them
 
Spyro said:
Yep right on his tail now. Wonder if they can see each other, that must be exciting for them
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I've been speculating on this too - I presume that they can , given how kind the conditions are down there at the moment and the height of their rigs.

I find it amazing after 20 days racing.
 
Andrew E said:
Alongside the analytical data, I would want as much information on the competitors as possible. Imagine your Armel and you hear of ATs broken foil and the following day hear reports in the media that Alex may have a spare foil. If your Armel what do you do - keep pushing on as you were? Push harder to put some miles on Alex while you can, but risk breaking yourself or the boat? Or take your foot off and reel in AT further down the course? Difficult one.
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At this stage of the race I would concentrate on sailing my own boat as efficiently as possible. I'd only worry about covering other competitors' moves in the last 1000 miles or so.
But then, I know nothing!
 
Spyro said:
Wonder if they can see each other, that must be exciting for them
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Should be able to see each other now as Armel is 8 nm of ATs port quarter.

I wonder if the boats are equipped with any special nav lights such as a strobe to help avoid collisions? I would not like to be gybing so close to another fast boat in the dark and in heavy seas.
 
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From Presse VG

quote:


French skipper Armel Le Cléac'h today reclaimed the Vendée Globe pole position from Alex Thomson – only for the British skipper to instantly steal it back.

end quote

Don't they like AT? AlC 'reclaims' the lead, AT 'steals' it.

Jonathan
 
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