Vendee Globe 2024, Brits

John_Silver

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A tough interview, hardly an engaging guest.
Yes, it was slightly awkward. Important figure in the IMOCA class, nevertheless. He seemed to catalyse a step change, in bow design / rocker line thinking, with Armel Tripon’s L’Occitane (now Louis Burton’s Bureau Valle - sister ship to Sam D’s boat). Although, Antoine Koch appears to have subsequently eaten Sam Manuard’s lunch. With the development of the ‘speedboat’ (I think he terms it) bow, on Yoann’s IMOCA. Refining the concept..

Maybe Sam Manuard was a bit reticent because his latest design, Jérémie Beyou’s Charal, hadn’t made the podium, when it was tipped to do so, pre-race? And Sam D’s Manuard has also placed lower than hoped?

Guillaume Verdier was on the show, pre Christmas. His name features throughout the fleet, including at the very front, with Charlie. He too came across as somewhat ‘mystical.’ Leaving aside the effect of their being interviewed in a second language; perhaps the personality type, required to be a ground breaking designer, doesn’t suit off the cuff opinion or the creation of snappy sound bites? That may even be the chief insight from the interview……
 
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John_Silver

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Arnaud Boissieres deploys Liberty Kite


Making west. Perhaps for French Guyana, 1500nm to leeward. Making 3.6kts at the 06.00 sched….

EDIT: Arnaud making for the Antilles. 1500nm to leeward.

IMG_9877.jpeg

From his Facebook, it sounds as if Arnaud hopes to add to his sail area (and speed) with the salvaged J4. Auto-translate version below: (GV = mainsail. Laugh [sic] = reef. Balcony = pulpit. Chandeliers [sic] = stanchions)

IMG_9878.jpeg
 
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John_Silver

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Boris. Credit Olivier_Blanchet Alea.jpg

Boris, on " the beauty of the Vendee Globe......."the second half of the fleet......the self made sailor, laying everything on the line"......Spoken with the passion of one who has been there....and believes. (Should open @19.53). His advice for getting started? "Make yourself present, in Lorient......knock on some doors......there are plenty of openings."
 
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John_Silver

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Sam d arrival Facebook.jpg

Sam D, on handling an IMOCA in a Biscay gale : Foils in/out, sail plan, 'safe speed' etc etc. For @Supertramp & @dunedin . New chapter required in Heavy Weather Sailing! (should open @21.44)

.....And here on the joys of 'sending it,' what's changed since the Roxy years (2008-9). Plus mistakes and motivations......(should open @11.30)

.....Andi also asks about the Vendee Globe 2028.....'Yes, but not on the boat' (paraphrased), is the answer. Looking to do some Ocean Race legs though.

Revealing interview. Worth rewinding and watching, from the start, if you have half an hour to spare. There are probably more gems in there, that I've missed.
 
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John_Silver

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Vendee welcome for Benji.png

If there's an award for 'warmest Vendee welcome,' Benji must have clinched it. Disembarking, off La Chaume, to be carried shoulder high, by Benji-beard toting crowds. Before high fiving an orange-bewhiskered toddler. His boatyard is the next stop down, from Les Sables, in Bourgenay. And he's definitely a good bloke, because he's lending Pip the kit to support her boat, whilst being shipped back, from Melbourne to Poole.
 
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John_Silver

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Cali (Arnaud Boissieres) making almost 5 knots now. Under 'fortune rig.' With 1200nm to go, to the Antilles. Not sure if that's as-well-as, or instead-of, his Liberty Kite

Cali under Fortune Rig Credit Arnaud Boissieres.jpg

EDIT: Cali (who has not retired from the race, at this point) intends to assess the performance of the rig, in the coming hours. If I have understood correctly.
….It sounds as if Cali may be considering whether he could make it back to Les Sables (2650nm) under jury rig….,,,
 
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John_Silver

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IMG_9879.jpeg

Cali trying to head north. Unsuccessfully, so far. Despite the improved sheet lead. But still has a few more ideas to try……OK for power (to make water) thanks to his solar. Video here

Wonder if he could adapt the kite, to provide some sail area aft, Pip style? To help bring him up onto a reach.
 
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John_Silver

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Trysail (made by cutting down the main) rigged. Five knot barrier broken. But his course remains resolutely westward. The boat declining to point higher than a broad reach…….Cali officially abandons. Ten days out from the Antilles, by his estimation. Unsure of his exact landfall, for now. Fair winds! It was clearly a tough decision to make, for so resolute a competitor.

 
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John_Silver

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The first daggerboard boats are across the line. Sixteen minutes apart. Ahead of 5 foilers. Bejamin Ferre (2011 VPLP) leading Tanguy Le Turquais (2007 Finot Conq). Bejamin had consistently been to the fore, in the archimedean fleet. Tanguy put on a remarkable spurt, in the Atlantic. Forging ahead, as Jean Le Cam (David Raison 2023) fell back, beset with rig problems. Tanguy's feat the more impressive because, beside pushing one of the oldest boats in the fleet to (beyond?) its maximum potential, and making all the right tactical moves, he was forced to carry out structural repairs as he went. (See video - should open @ 01.26).


A performance in the true Vendee Globe spirit, by both. Boris' "self made sailors, laying everything on the line." (Post #566) A world away from the limelight of the big budget, new gen foilers. Here’s hoping that a way can be found, to accommodate both the ‘cutting edge’ and ‘entry level’ competitors, within future races.
 
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Skellum

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Does Roura losing out to Ferre and Tanguay in the last few miles reflect the extra drag of the foils in light winds or did he have another problem?
 

John_Silver

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Jean Le Cam (2023 David Raison) in, 13 minutes ahead of Conrad (2007 VPLP-Verdier). Perhaps having paid a price, for sailing the least qualification / shakedown miles in the fleet, in the coin of rig failures. Which cost Le Roi 4 trips up the mast, compromised sail plans and missed weather windows to resolve. Negating the gains of his, characteristically bold, routing strategy past the Falklands.

IMG_0386.jpeg
 
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Allan

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Every skipper, so far, has opened a bottle of something fizzy and sprayed their boat and their team. Only one skipper has then opened a bottle of red and taken a few swigs. Viva Jean Le Cam.
Allan
 

John_Silver

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800nm to go, to the Antilles, for Cali. Today’s success: the cargo ship Rose saw him 10nm out, on AIS, whilst he saw her 3nm out. Thanks to a vhf aerial, that he has lashed to the head of his deck-spreader-mast. Which also enabled him to establish radio contact. During which the watch officer commented, on how visible his orange storm jib made him……..Reassuring, as he edges toward busier shipping routes.

 
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