Vendee Globe Race

[bhafc99]

What's the gap down to now

36.26 miles, with 330 to go!

It's all about the final tack down towards the finish now – they're both sailing way further north than the 'direct line' at present. At some point Armel will tack and it's all about whether Alex can find anything different tactically at that point that enables him to slash the gap. If he just keeps sailing 'behind' him, as he has been for the past few days and as Armel has been working hard to make him do, then he'll keep chipping away at the lead but probably not enough to catch up in time.

 

[Albion in the north]

The damage is to one of the foils, on the Port side I think.

So if the yacht is sailing predominantly with a Starboard tilt the damaged foil is not really in play.

He damaged his starboard foil near the beginning of the race and had to hang over the side to cut it off!

 

[Hillian1]

He damaged his starboard foil near the beginning of the race and had to hang over the side to cut it off!

Proper LAD is Alex.

34.5 nm behind now.

Get in there my son, hunt the bugger down.

 

[Albion in the north]

Proper LAD is Alex.

34.5 nm behind now.

Get in there my son, hunt the bugger down.

A friend of mine raced with him in the 98/99 clipper race. Said he is a great guy and incredibly good tactically. Also said he was a bit of a monkey.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B2PQfJ2SAg4

 

[bhafc99]

Just been an update on the VG website. The wind instruments on Hugo Boss have broken, which means the autopilot can't be used. So Alex Thomson has been hand steering for two days without sleeping, is knackered and more concerned about safely getting to the finish than catching Banque Populaire.

From the interview, it sounds like he's effectively conceding the race and focusing on trying to fix his instruments.

Gutted for him.

 

[Hillian1]

Just been an update on the VG website. The wind instruments on Hugo Boss have broken, which means the autopilot can't be used. So Alex Thomson has been hand steering for two days without sleeping, is knackered and more concerned about safely getting to the finish than catching Banque Populaire.

From the interview, it sounds like he's effectively conceding the race and focusing on trying to fix his instruments.

Gutted for him.

It's a ruse I reckon to lull Le Froggy into a false sense of security.

 

[skipper734]

Don't forget the Froggies are listening too.

 

[skipper734]

 

[Albion in the north]

https://www.facebook.com/yachtingworldmagazine/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf

The problem is that his masthead anenometer has broken which means that he cant sail using his autopilot on true wind angle so he has to sail using autopilot but using a magnetic bearing course. If the wind then changes direction, even slightly, he has to alter his sails or his course to suit to keep his speed up.

 

[Hillian1]

Armel has made the turn and headed for the finish.

Alex is 33nm behind now.

Here we go, the chase is ON.

 

[skipper734]

The froggy has overstood his tack by a bit, as he has to avoid entering the separation zone off Ushant. Alex has a chance, which is to not go as far NE and tack before the other boat did, and hope the wind will be kind. See my other screen grab.

 

[Official Old Man]

Are 4, 5 & 6 tied up together, 1800 miles behind the leader?

 

[Hillian1]

Armel doing 7kts and Alex doing 9kts.

Nail biting stuff.

 

[chucky1973]

this thread is great, I have no interest in sailing, but somehow this has gripped me to the point I check 3 or 4 times a day. I don't think Alex will catch the Frenchman, but what a chase down in the last 2-3 days. Exciting stuff

 

[Hillian1]

Ah shit, Alex now back to 56nm back.

Guess the busted foil is buggering his chances.

 

[bhafc99]

Gap up to 87.6m this morning – guess he was being honest about the wind instruments. No chance of catching Le Cleac'h now, but respect to both men, it's been an epic race.

 

[Hillian1]

Unless Armel sinks now Alex will have to settle for second.

 

[KingstonSeagull]

100 Miles behind?!? What the fudge happened?

 

[Hillian1]

100 Miles behind?!? What the fudge happened?

His broken foil is basically acting like a brake

Think of the foil as an aircraft wing generating lift thus reducing the amount of the hull slipping through the water. The friction from the water is acting as a negative force, effectively slowing down the boat's progress.

His knackered foil iirc is on the starboard (right as you look to the pointy bit at the front) side so when he's on a port tack, with the wind coming from the left side or offshore as it is in the stretch they are in, the knackered stump will be in the water.

 

[Albion in the north]

The English language version of the live report is now live. Armel to finish in 5 hours time with Alex to return to Sables sometime tomorrow morning.