Vendee Globe 2024, Brits

DownWest said:
Rooting for Sam G...Maybe with foresails he can manage to finish, can the main be used well reefed?
Multiple ports to leeward, doubt he wiil give in to them..
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.....OR.....crazy thinking here.....IF the sail is torn in half, leech to luff, at the level of the third reef......Could it be rigged (with a bit of tidying up) as two sails:
The bottom two thirds as the ultimate square top, for lighter/moderate winds?
The top third as a trysail in heavy conditions?

That's if the top and bottom can't be reunited. By overlapping and plenty of sika and some stitching. With the loss of a bit of height, in the hoist.

All easier said (from a centrally heated house) than done (aboard a storm tossed IMOCA, after 70+ days at sea). Of course.
 
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John_Silver said:
.....OR.....crazy thinking here.....IF the sail is torn in half, leech to luff, at the level of the third reef......Could it be rigged (with a bit oif tidying up) as two sails:
The bottom two thirds as the ultimate square top, for lighter/moderate winds?
The top third as a trysail in heavy conditions?

That's if the top and bottom can't be reunited. By overlapping and plenty of sika and some stitching. With the loss of a bit of height, in the hoist.

All easier said (from a centrally heated house) than done (aboard a storm tossed IMOCA, after 70+ days at sea). Of course.
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Well, he doesn't have much else to do at the mo, so worth a try.... :oops: Weather is a bit 'windy' soon?

I can't imagine being in that situation, even with a few lousy weather trips in the past.
 
Some ‘man maths:’

Benji Dutreux, in tenth, has a distance to finish of 1864nm. At the 18.00 sched. If he averages 15kts, that is 124hrs of sailing (15kts was race distance VMG average for Charlie, Yoann & Seb - see post #467).

Sam G’s DTF is 1115nm. At 9 knots that would take 124hrs. (Sam is currently making 9 knots, downwind, in heavy conditions, before completing any mainsail repairs)

Sam G could still make the top 10…..With some big names, and newer boats, behind him….Keep everything crossed!

IMG_9842.jpeg
 
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Wonder if Sam G is employing repair techniques like these? Used by Juju & Co, aboard 11th Hour Racing (sailing as Seb's Groupe Dubreuil in this Vendee Globe), during the Ocean Race. Faced with a (much shorter) lateral tear, from the luff, of their main. (Should open @2.31)


Sam G is alone, in far more brutal conditions, of course. Took the 11th Hour Team 24+ hours to fix their 1m tear…..

IMG_9844.jpeg
 
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Sam G sail repair update: Spoiler Alert, its coming along nicely.
Followed by Ken Read (President of North Sails): Top Tip, Sam's glue has a 24+ hour cure time
(Should open 08.15)


Insights from Ken on: Sail design and durability; Hardware development; Sponsorship in sailing; and trickle-down, from elite sailing, to we mere mortals. If you watch on.

Sounds like Sam could be back in the game, hot on the heels of Paul & Nico, in the not to distant future. Fingers crossed!
 
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Sam G, burning the midnight oil


Hoping to hoist the repaired main, in the morning….

EDIT: Just imagine having the mental bandwidth to be calmly vlogging, whilst rebuilding a mainsail in 35kts of wind and 7m seas, and working out a routing strategy to the finish line. Superhuman! And a gift to future sponsors, whatever the final placing (which could still be ‘first previous gen boat home.’ If he can get going, before Juju comes through [16 hrs @ current speed differential] - BUT don’t let’s tempt fate).
 
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Routing options, with Thomas, up to windward of Sam G. "Pas simple."


EDIT: Sam D, on Andi's 'Live,' concerned about (not) being able to safely enter the Les Sables canal. Once across the finish line. Due to the intensity and number of lows, forecast in Biscay. Is 'looking at alternatives.' (Lorient, La Base - where the, all tide, entrance is in the lee of Groix and many teams are headquartered? Is my guess)
 
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More 'man maths,' to work out Sam G's chances, post sail repair:

IMG_9850.jpeg

Purely on the relative Distance To Finish deltas (at the 14.00 and 18.00 scheds), he is gaining on Paul & Nico, and being caught by Juju & Thomas. OR ‘almost holding his own?’ BUT…..

IMG_9849.jpeg

…….he’s the most easterly of the group. Which may mean tight angles and restricted tactical options, to weather Cabo Finisterre…..

……What says @Buck Turgidson ’s routing software? (Assuming Sam is back to full potential)
 
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John_Silver said:
More 'man maths,' to work out how Sam G's sail repair is performing:

View attachment 188498

Purely on the relative Distance To Finish deltas (at the 14.00 and 18.00 scheds), he is gaining on Paul & Nico, and being caught by Juju & Thomas. OR ‘holding his own?’ BUT…..

View attachment 188499

…….he’s the most easterly of the group. Which may mean tight angles and restricted tactical options, to weather Cabo Finisterre…..

……What says @Buck Turgidson ’s routing software? (Assuming Sam is back to full potential)
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lols my software is windy and an eyeball! I was a bit out on the arrival of this low as they came in on the front of it rather than the back. I think sam is going to test his repair as I was thinking at least 4 tacks to finisterre but he should get across biscay before the big winds arrive.
 
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