Vendee Globe 2028 (Brit bias)

Frankie & Will first into stronger breeze, SE of the Canaries. Making 20kts to the following pack's 15kts. Their lead up from yesterday's 10-15nm to 20-25nm (about an hour @ IMOCA speeds). With another light airs zone to transition once they turn west.

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Sam G chats to Andi: Was up the mast (post #40) to fix the halyard lock. Reports well caught up on sleep, in the ridge. Talks tactics for himself and for Will. Plus outlook for the Trades. Sounding chilled. Click on Radio Vacation with Sam Goodchild. There's a chat with Sam D, on the same page. About her comeback and Violette's (improving) tea brewing skills. All in English.​
 
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Wonder if the trade wind conditions allow Charal to fully lift off, on her V'd rudders? Where the rest of the fleet may be up on their foils, but dragging their transoms. Think Charal's rudder arrangement is still unique within the IMOCA fleet. Over the past 24 hours she's averaged nigh on 18 knots v's everyone else's 14-16.....

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Winding the wind prediction forward (+12 hours) suggests that the breeze will move west with Jeremie. And he's still pulling out distance on his pursuers..... Sam G now past Frankie & Will. Sam D & Violette renew their duel, with sistership Bureau Vallee, further back.

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On the 09.00 sched:

Jeremie 30kts SOG 19.3kts average over 24hrs
Sam G 26.7kts SOG 20.5kts av
Frankie & Will 25.4kts SOG 18.5kts av

Within 30nm of each other, an hour or so apart. With tracker predicting 12hrs of steady tradewinds ahead. Which begin to fade from +18hrs, with the ridge of light winds reappearing. Three boat breakaway in the making, perhaps?
 
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Fast and furious for all fleets. Smiling Sam D in final frames


Oh….seems to have been taken down. Pity. Good action shots, nicely edited. Hopefully returns soon!

Here we go. Footage returns, recut, expanded and with subtitles (in French & English). From Frankie: "Will is driving the bus like he stole it........" Sam D opens.

 
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How did that happen? Seb Marsset explains…..



…..the breakaways, by Frankie & Will, then by Jeremie. And the fight back by Sam G et al. Seb reckons ...." its going to get closer." Final word from Will "Keep Pushing." (Auto translate subtitles available in settings)
 
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John_Silver said:
Soggy socks for Frankie & Will

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Sounds like there's some of the resonance back with the foils, which dogged them early in the last full Ocean Race. I'm hoping that the noise on the video is because they're close to the foils themselves while working in this hull space.
 
jlavery said:
Sounds like there's some of the resonance back with the foils, which dogged them early in the last full Ocean Race. I'm hoping that the noise on the video is because they're close to the foils themselves while working in this hull space.
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Let’s hope so. Does sound loud, now you mention it. The foil howl was a big thing in the Ocean Race. Either it’s better now or they left their headphones behind! Or got used to it!


Think Malizia squared off / rounded off (can’t remember which) the trailing edges, of the foils, to quieten things down. Will does (did) say “…..I think it’s the price of foiling….’ (the howl). He’s one well chilled customer!
 
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“It’s going to get closer.” 900 nm / 48ish hrs to go. Jeremie stretching away again. Despite some course kinks overnight. Playing the shifts or problems? Probably the former, given Charal’s pace. Frankie & Will up alongside Sam G & Lois, but 20nm / an hour further from Martinique. Thomas Ruyant still in the hunt. Hang on tight, as the 2022 generation IMOCAs fight it out. And let’s not forget Juju, keeping them honest, in a 2018 generation boat. Leading the sister ships, of Louis Burton (2019 launch) and Sam D (2022 launch). Which continue to be locked in combat.

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Jeremie, giving it his all. Maintaining 70+nm separation on MACIF. Apologises that, with the “broken” trades, he hasn't had much time for video making…. or shaving (English subtitles)


Imagine that's why Sam G is sticking to short FB reels . His latest set to The Cardigans' "Favourite Game." But minus the ".......I'm losing my favourite game....." line. Fingers crossed 🤞
 
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Jeremie has stretched Charal's lead, over Sam G & Lois, to 111nm overnight. With 486nm (24ish hrs) to go to the Fort de France finish. Frankie & Will are 6 nm to the north, and, near enough abeam, of Sam G & Lois. Looks as if there are going to be two Brits in the top three. But in which order?
Interesting stat: tracker shows near identical 24hr average speeds, for each of the top three. (JB 20.0kts, SG 20.6kts, WH 20.2kts). Jeremie's secret-sauce perhaps being that he is able to sustain that speed at a slightly deeper angle than his pursuers?

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