Vendee Globe and Alex Thomson / Hugo Boss

[Little Dorrit]

Can anyone with some understanding of the matter shed any light on the tactics and routing of the leader Charlie Dahlin?

I notice that his route dives down to the exclusion zone and he has then jibed back up to the same latitude as the rest of the fleet?

My French is not good enough to understand the videos that he posted but he seemed to be saying that he came North because of the wind. I can see that the wind from the pressure system around the exclusion zone is around 30 knots whereas it is about 10 knots less at the northern edge where the chasing pack are bunched.

What is puzzling me is that I thought that these lunatics with their crazy boats considered 30 knots as a good thing.

And if he is jibing North to avoid the 30+ winds, why did he not stay at a more northern latitude rather than sailing a less efficient zig zag course? (The pressure system seems to be behaving as forecast.)

I am not questioning the race tactics of a professional sailor who is leading the Vendee Globe- just trying to understand them!

In addition to all the other comments, it was interesting to listen to Will Harris when he was interviewed by Conrad Humphries last week - he explained that optimum performance for these boats is in about 20 - 25 knots of wind.

 

[Frogmogman]

Probably a daft question but could not HB go round anyway after repairs if they don't take too long ?

More information would be gained about the boat and perhaps leave a more positive vibe for both Alex and the company ?

This is what American sailor Mike Plant did after receiving outside assistance at Campbell Island, New Zealand, in the first Vendée Globe. He carried on round in an unofficial capacity, crossing the line in 7th place, to a rapturous reception from the French public.

From a PR point of view, there could be more mileage in this for Hugo Boss than shipping the boat home from cape town.

 

[Giblets]

Interesting that ATR have stated that Alex has 'ceased racing' whereas the two others are showing on the tracker as 'Retired'. All his data is still live.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I believe he’s allowed to seek shelter and make repairs. But he’s not supposed to have outside help.

 

[Airscrew]

Hugo Boss : The Launch
Yes, they pop up.

Thanks Flaming.
When I posted, he was still running, and I was hoping it was repairable.
Sadly not.

 

[zoidberg]

'Not repairable'......

Among other things, that could mean he doesn't have enough L-sections of carbonfibre and resin-mix left to achieve a satisfactory repair. And if there isn't enough on the boat, he won't be allowed to go buy some in CapeTown, then apply it and carry on..... within the rules governing 'outside assistance'.

Besides, we're all assuming the damage is to his rudder BLADE, when it is more than possibly damage to the structure it is mounted on.

 

[savageseadog]

I'll be returning my Hugo Boss trousers from whence they came - The Cats Protection charity shop .

They can keep the £3.50. ?

I met a man in a charity shop once who said he had changed his name to Hugo Boss and showed me his driving licence to prove it.

 

[Giblets]

'Not repairable'......

Among other things, that could mean he doesn't have enough L-sections of carbonfibre and resin-mix left to achieve a satisfactory repair. And if there isn't enough on the boat, he won't be allowed to go buy some in CapeTown, then apply it and carry on..... within the rules governing 'outside assistance'.

Besides, we're all assuming the damage is to his rudder BLADE, when it is more than possibly damage to the structure it is mounted on.

Perhaps Hugo Boss want him to complete the course, even if not racing, to gain from the extra publicity. After all they have probably spent a few bob on the project.

 

[Frogmogman]

I met a man in a charity shop once who said he had changed his name to Hugo Boss and showed me his driving licence to prove it.

Was it the comedian Joe Lycett perchance ?

 

[pyrojames]

I’d be interested to know how many people on this forum have been in the Southern Ocean. I’ll put my hand up as one, but it was on HMS ENDURANCE!

I have in a friends 45 foot Adams. 2500 miles to windward. I could say that I really enjoyed it although it was memorable. We had the life raft spent from the deck one night.

 

[Frogmogman]

What would be really great, if Alex could get the boat repaired in time, would be for him to tag onto Jeremie Bayou as he passes the cape. The two race favourites could then have an unofficial race from the cape back to les Sables d'Olonne.

 

[Ravi]

In addition to all the other comments, it was interesting to listen to Will Harris when he was interviewed by Conrad Humphries last week - he explained that optimum performance for these boats is in about 20 - 25 knots of wind.

Ah. That would explain a lot. Dalin also skirted the higher wind area in storm Theta.

I guess that I thought that these boats would have a higher optimal wind speed since I heard that they can achieve 30-35 knots.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

This is what American sailor Mike Plant did after receiving outside assistance at Campbell Island, New Zealand, in the first Vendée Globe. He carried on round in an unofficial capacity, crossing the line in 7th place, to a rapturous reception from the French public.

From a PR point of view, there could be more mileage in this for Hugo Boss than shipping the boat home from cape town.

Would be great wouldn't it . I would still be very interested in his progress just to see what can be done.
Also good for the designers too. I think it was Edision who said "There are no failures, just results" .

The RTW foiler is still in it's infancy at the moment . Hitting something at 20 kts is going to be bad news however your boat is designed and constructed.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

There is a big difference between a test engineer and a racing skipper. Alex is a racer, he is driven to win. The mundane task of data gathering is not where his mind works. It would be a waste to have him sail a broken boat to gather data. I imagine they will just ship the boat back from SA and reset the program for the next edition.

 

[SaltyC]

Since my last post a few minutes ago - it seems he has done a "Sebastien Josse" and with relatively minor boat damage (he still has a working rudder) given up before he ends up facing starving to death and eating lifeboat rations like Conrad Colman, orliving off crabs and shoreline muscles lie Yves Parlier, or the other legends of the VG. I would have liked to have seen him fight to the end- not just fight to win. I think fighting to the end is what you have to do to be a VG legend - after all it was Moitessier who really started the legend..

Sorry but, is it sensible to sail the Southern Ocean only being able to steer on one tack? I think Alex has proved he will 'go the distance' if it is safe to do so.
From memory Moitessier had a Gallic Paddy at Cape Horn when he couldn't win, threw the towel in and continued to a tropical paradise?

 

[mainsail1]

Alex has already said that this is the end of this race for him.

 

[Tomahawk]

Curious that he hit the rudder which on HB boat is in the water between the foil and the centreboard!

 

[Tomahawk]

I believe he’s allowed to seek shelter and make repairs. But he’s not supposed to have outside help.

But how is it that he can discuss and plan repairs to the bow area with the shore crew?

 

[mainsail1]

Who says he hit the rudder, it could have just failed? First the front fell off and then part of the back fell off.

 

[Tomahawk]

Who says he hit the rudder?

Why else would it break?
Unless the ego maniacs were shaving too much of the weight of everything.....