Breaking News
The race village in Les Sables d’Olonne officially opened today. It is open everyday from 10am – 7pm. The first skipper is expected to cross the finish line between 5am – 11am Sunday 27th January.
Bruno Retailleau (SAEM Vendée President) “Today, I have a special thought for all the skippers who are still in the race, those who had to abandon but also those who competed in the previous editions. These sailors all contributed to the amazing Vendée Globe legend. We have had a fascinating race with moments of joy, happiness, and sadness.”
Fleet News
Thomson hopes Dick finds a way
Teams Macif and Banque Populaire on tenterhooks
Gabart focused on the end goal
Fleet News
It was a magnanimous Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) that spoke today on the English version of the Vendée Globe LIVE, who is expected to move into third place tonight. At the 1500 UTC ranking today, only 16 miles separated him for Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3)
“Jean-Pierre Dick is coming in to stronger winds so I guess we’ll find out how stable it is for him when he reaches them. I hope he proceeds with caution and finds a way to finish the race. If I’m asked to assist him, I’ll help him in any way that I can.
It looks like it’s going to be windy on the route to Les Sables d’Olonne but it certainly won’t be as bad as it was three or four days ago. It’s still looking like the winds are going to be quite strong, with guts 30 knots. The Bay of Biscay is a quite dangerous place, especially in a winter storm with the continental shelf and deep waves. It’s not going to be very pleasant for sure.”
Thomson is no stranger to drama on the high seas in the 2006 edition of the solo yacht race with stops the Velux 5 Oceans, Thomson was rescued from his sinking Open 60, Hugo Boss by jumping into a liferaft and being rescued by Mike Golding in the Southern Ocean. He would not hesitate to assist Jean
Pierre Dick if it was required.
The decision to stop or continue lies with Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) alone. Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) would only assist if it was requested.
Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) today on the English version of the Vendée Globe LIVE explained his situation and how he was handling his keel-less Open 60. “Because I lost my keel three days ago, I can either stop in the Azores, or in Spain, or sail all the way to Les Sables d’Olonne. I’ll need to decide soon whether or not I’ll continue. Tonight, I’ll face more wind, I will have my first impressions of what it is to sail the boat without a keel in such conditions. Apart from that, things are fine onboard, the sails are in good shape.
It feels a little bit like sailing a dinghy or a multihull, you lose stability as soon as you have more than 30 degrees of heel. You need to be extremely careful and it’s important to keep the boat flat. I am sailing with a much reduced sail area and the water ballasts full.”
As the Open 60 has no keel it is important that Jean Pierre Dick keeps the boat flat and ensures that it doesn’t lean over because if it leans over more 30 degrees it will capsize. With a keel the Open 60 has 45 degree before it lay down on it’s side but the keel bulb ensure that it bounces back upright again. Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3) has filled both of the water ballast tanks with water, they are normally filled on one side or the other to help keep the boat flat when it leans over. By reducing his sail area, the metaphorical engine of the boat, and filling the ballast tanks with water to make the hull heavy, he is slowly able to progress up the track.
The forecast of heavy weather with big waves is what he must weigh up, whether he will be able to safely get the boat across the Bay of Biscay to the finish line. Large waves hitting a boat can cause it fall on its side but the purpose of the keel, like a pendulum is to rock the boat back to upright. This is when the keel-less boat is most susceptible to capsize. The Bay of Biscay in winter can be a cold, angry, windy place and must be approached with extreme caution, with, or without, a keel.
Teams on tenterhooks
The teams of Macif and Banque Populaire are in Les Sables d’Olonne in force, their nails gnawed down to the skin. Tomorrow will be a long day for them as they wait for their skippers to cross the finish line. Like anxious relatives waiting for the safe delivery of a new born baby, they wait, holding their breath, tapping their fingers, huddled in groups, occasionally giving media interviews and watching the clock. Both teams know that it’s not over until it’s over.
Leaders can’t rest on their laurels
On the water it is not time to relax and think of cold beers, hot baths and home comforts. Today, on the French version of Vendée Globe Live François François Gabart (MACIF) was very clear on the matter. His priority is to stay focused in the final straight, which, if it all goes well, should earn him his crown. But the Bay of Biscay will be bumpy in the last hours of the race. The southwest wind will not blow a gale, but the sea will churn up waves of 5 metres. The maritime traffic is busy around the Cape Finisterre, and there are many fishing boats hauling their catch.
The boats are tired following two and a half months battered by three oceans and the sailors too. It would be madness to jeopardize everything so close to the end.
Around the world in under 80 days
If François Gabart (MACIF) arrives Sunday morning, not only will he have completed his first solo circumnavigation, but in a world record breaking 78 days. The founding fathers of the Jules Verne Trophy no doubt would not have imagined that 23 years later, a solo helmed monohull would accomplish a circumnavigation in under 80 days. The first boat to do this was a 26 metre catamaran with a crew of 5, ‘Commodore Explorer’ in 1993, skippered by Bruno Peyron. So far François Gabart (MACIF) has sailed around the world averaging 15.2 knots since the start in Les
Sables d'Olonne.
The weather forecast does not look likely it will provide an opportunity for Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) to close the 123 mile gap. Today, on the French version of Vendée Globe Live he admitted this for the first time. Maybe he won’t achieve Gold but what a Silver indeed; to match race François Gabart (MACIF) around the world and to lead the charge on many occasions. Armel Le Cléac’h’s (Banque Populaire) main objective at the start was to do better than second but the world will agree that he has delivered a stellar, legendary performance on the track and he is without doubt a world class sailor.
But it’s not over until it’s over and it’s not over yet.
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