Vendee Globe 2024, Brits

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.
 
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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!
 
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 :D
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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
 
Allan said:
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
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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.
 
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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
 
John_Silver said:
West worked for Thomas Ruyant, overnight. Wonder if it will for Pip, today?
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I think she’ll have gained by being west, but the lead group are up to speed now, so gain over.
Expect to see her bleed a few miles over the coming days. Not only is she further west, so has a slightly worse angle, but everyone around her is a generation ahead in terms of boat, and even though she has new foils the boat isn’t going to be quite as fast in a straight line reaching drag race.
Once in the south and sailing VMG downwind the difference should be less, but also offer tactical options that don’t exist in a straight line drag race.
 
The next few days are going to be crucial because of the way the st Helena high is collapsing. If you are early enough you might be able to ride downwind but if not it’s going to be a real struggle. We may see the fleet all get stopped west of the cape.
 
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