The sailors that sailed further west are benefitting now from better winds, direction and strength wise. So we expect Vibrac3 and MACIF to make gains and come close to or maybe even pass Banque Populaire before passing Cape of Good Hope.
The virtual Boats are also approaching the Cape, where the ice-gate has been shifted 1 degree to the North, because of floating Ice growlers from Antarctica. My Boat Suratna, sailing in LiveSkipper is about to pass Trista de Cunha, and not like PUMA in the VOR to make a stop :) For the locations of My virtual Boats in LiveSkipper and VirtualRegatta and the leader of the VG, have a look at my Map in the TAB: "ROUTE" above.
Loy Kratong is a traditional Thai festival. It is a Bhoedist tradition and the people celebrate with dance and music. People will make (or nowadays buy) a Kratong, a floating "lantern" and will float it on the water with a candle lit, while making a wish for the coming year.
Kratong are made from natural materials such as banana tree leaves and straw, thus not harming the nature.
A reason for Loy Kratong is: to ask for forgiveness to the Gods because we drink and use the water and we often throw rubbish and waste in the water.
Sailing on the Oceans, we should remember that the Oceans should be kept clean as there is already too much waste (plastics, containers) spoiling the waters.
OK Sailing the Atlantic in the VendeeGlobe, I am with my boat in LiveSkipper, confronted with the question how to sail around the St. Helena High? Should I go more south, somewhere along the route of Paprec3 or just East along Banque Populaire? I think today is decision day!
This 2nd week had 2 Boats retiring from the Race, Gutik(Zbigniew Gutkowski) on Energa could not resolve his electronic problems on the autopilot, and Jeremie Beyou on Maitre CoQ who suffered a broken arm on the hydraulic jack for the tilting Keel. Alex made a miraculous repair on a pusher bar for his ruder broken by the hudrogenerator failure. Lets hope the repair will last also in the expected heavy winds and waves of the Souther Ocean. On the Virtual sailing front, it is about the same progress for the leaders, though the boats without options (0$ Sailors) are far behind sailing with the basic sails only.
