Vendee Globe 2024, Brits

[John_Silver]

Pip's week that was.....

Plus, for anyone who hasn't seen today's 'Live:'
Sam G expected to cross the doldrums around 30W (as predicted by @Buck Turgidson , a while back), Jean Le Cam at around 23W. With Sam expected to emerge a day before Le Roi Jean......
Tomorrow's 'Live' guest is Antoine Koch (designer of Sam G, Thomas Ruyant and Yoann Richomme's boats). Should be interesting to hear him on IMOCA design.
Worth watching today's edition, for its heartfelt contributions from Nick Moloney. Whose 2004 Vendee Globe ended with the loss of his keel, coming back up the Atlantic.

 

[michael_w]

I find the Dutch guy on Sea Wolves much better on the weather than Andi.

 

[TLouth7]

Pip staying on the west edge of the fleet seems to be paying off, she's definitely at the front of the second half of the fleet. Hopefully she can reel the leaders back in as the wind reaches her!

 

[flaming]

Pip staying on the west edge of the fleet seems to be paying off, she's definitely at the front of the second half of the fleet. Hopefully she can reel the leaders back in as the wind reaches her!

I had a chat with Pip from our Mets stand today as part of our sponsor activities. She was doing 27 knots at the time…

 

[Roberto]

They are arriving at the ITCZ, the green cross at 7N 30W, is getting the first squall
Eumetsat image at 0900UTC, RGB Convection
Eumetview

 

[John_Silver]

Pace hotting up. New 24 hr run record, for Yoann Richomme:

 

[Roberto]

Great personal success I managed to make my first animated gif
Example of the ITCZ dynamics, data from Eumetsat available in almost real time, one image every 15 minutes, it spans two hours 10-12UTC. Central meridian is 30W, top and bottom borders are 10N and Equat, it's the area with the bulk of the fleet. RGB convection channel as above made slightly more transparent, overimposed digits are RDT data, Rapid Development Thunderstorms a blend of different satellite channels to highlight areas where Cumulunimbus are in the developing phase. A developing one usually has more wind around its borders, whereas those mature/dissipated leave areas of no wind, now ready for some slalom

 

[John_Silver]

Mich Des ( "The Professor"), on routing through the doldrums and beyond:

 

[John_Silver]

At this rate (18.00 sched), Sam G could be emerging from the pot au noir by the 22.00 sched. Ahead. Fingers crossed! Sam D easing up the fleet too. And Pip hanging onto the leading pack, out west. All to play for.....

 

[Allan]

A question, I know the skippers are not allowed help with repairs etc. but are they allowed to discuss routing and tactics with their team?
Allan

 

[John_Silver]

A question, I know the skippers are not allowed help with repairs etc. but are they allowed to discuss routing and tactics with their team?
Allan

Forbidden!
There was a big saga over the summer whereby Clarisse was accused of cheating, in the last Vendee, for mentioning meteo in WhatsApps with her husband Tanguy. Back story here, from Tip & Shaft.
EDIT I'm wondering if part of the fallout, of that case, is the (more) superficial (than I remember from previous Vendee Globe coverage) routing / weather analysis this time round.

 

[geoid96]

A question, I know the skippers are not allowed help with repairs etc. but are they allowed to discuss routing and tactics with their team?
Allan

All communications between skipper and shore are very tightly controlled.
See: Notice of Race 3.3.3 Performance support

 

[Buck Turgidson]

of course they all have starlink this time so they can watch all the YouTube analysis they want.

 

[Allan]

Many thanks for all the information. The Clarisse situation seems tragic. I'm glad they seem to have moved on from it.
Looking at the tracker tonight seems interesting. If the wind overlay is to be believed the main fleet are going nowhere. Jean Le Cam looks in a better place than he was this morning and Thomas Ruyant looks pretty good out west.
Allan

 

[Sea Change]

Sam G sitting at 0.6kt... everything ok?

 

[John_Silver]

Many thanks for all the information. The Clarisse situation seems tragic.

The routing accusations were a minor disruption compared to Banque Populaire pulling the rug out from under Clarisse's campaign. Fight back story here. Including Alex Thomson's role in it.

 

[John_Silver]

West worked for Thomas Ruyant, overnight. Wonder if it will for Pip, today?