The Heat Is On

"The Heat is ON"!

Banque Populaire in hot pursuit of MACIF

This can be understood in two ways, the leaders are sailing just North of the Equator in high Temperatures, but ..

also Banque Populaire gained back some 200 Nm in the last two days on the Leader Macif. Macif was stopped in the Doldrums, not that active this time, but still. B.P. however is now in the Doldrums and may see his gain stopped or reduced as Macif may speed up again. 

Behind them, Paprec has gained a  lot almost 290Nm on Alex, who lost speed in the lower winds at the Brazilian coast. Alex is now passed Recife and will speed up and hopes for a quicker passage of the Doldrums to catch Paprec. 

The group behind in the southern Atlantic is struggling with a big High that does not allow boatsspeed over 10kts. 

LiveSkipper, virtual boats have finished there Sail the Globe sailing race already. They sailed a whole lot faster, though also in the same boat and sails. Better navigation tools and scheduling options, must have helped those skippers to optimise the sailing better.  Their classifications can be seen in the TAB  RANK above. 

Week 9 Highlights

Week 9 was a week with many events, 

Week 9 Highlights by VendeeGlobeTV

Many Boats passed Cape Horn, some in the dark, some in tumultuous seas but Jean Le Cam in early daily and close distance. He thus could make a nice video of his passing, that give us arm-chair sailors a glance a vivid as can be. 

There was the final verdict of the Jury to "DSQ" Bernard Stamm, for accepting help. Bernard, who after his repairs on the hydrogenerators, lost the function again due to an UFO (un-identified floating object) and left without power generation had to re-fuel after passing Cape Horn. He basically put himself out of the race, keeping the honor on him, before the Jury could reject his appeal. 
Tanguy de Lamotte, found his gennaker drifting alongside his boat as the langyard broke loose and had some big effort to retrieve it onboard.
Alex Thompson, sailing close to the Argentinian coast, gained a lot of miles and for some time took the 3rd spot from Jean-Pierre Dick. 
Francois Gabart however sailed a perfect strategy which extended his lead, as we speak, to over 200 Nm. He has gained a very strong position doing this. 

Video passing Cape Horn almost like real.

Though Jean Le Cam is not the 1st skipper in the VendeeGlobe2012, he is the one that sailed close alongside and in daylight and could make a nice Video-passing of Cape Horn. 

Jean Le Cam franchit le cap Horn by VendeeGlobeTV 

If seems unreal, but gives some impression as if you were sailing yourself there. 

The Leaders are since well into the Southern Atlantic, struggling with the depressions that throw barriers on their path on one time and giving a push at the other time. MACIF skipper Francois has gained  a little more and has now a comfortable lead of 100+ Nm. However, the Tradewinds will come to help him further, be it that the Doldrums might bring some surprise. 

I am sailing in LiveSkipper my virtual boat towards France and find no real Doldrums in the middle between Brazil and Africa, so the Doldrums this time, this direction of sailing might not be that much of a problem.  

Cape Horn rounded by leaders in VendeeGlobe

The record for VendeeGlobe sailing from Les Sables to Cape Horn has been shattered by François Gabart on MICAF. He set the new record on 52days, 6 hours and 18 minutes, an improvement of more than 4 days.

Rounding Cape Horn in a New Record Time

It is remarcable as Francois is sailing for the 1st time the VendeeGlobe and is not even that long sailing in Imoca60 Boats.  He is however only 1hr and 15 minutes ahead of Banque Populair, so it will still be a fierce battle for the end Victory.

LiveSkipper virtual boats have reached the Trade winds at Brazilian coast already, that is to say the leading boats and thus spearing away from the large number of boats behind in the fleet.

The virtual boats in VR, are much slower and have just passed Cape Horn as well.

Happy New Year, and twice for some !

HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL VendeeGlobe skippers be it on the Real or the Virtual Boats. But for some , it will be a  quick succession of New Years celebrations, twice within the span of 24 hrs>

Happy New Year, twice in a Day!

Tanguy De Lamotte o/b Initatives Coeur, has the pleasure of Sailing as the first of all VG Boats into the New 2013.
As he is sailing soon passed the Date line, he will be confronted within a day for the 2nd time to see the start of the New Year 2013; strange things can happen while travelling through time.

The leaders are expected to pass Cape Horn on NewYears Day and will than set sail on the last stretch home over the Atlantic. Mostly the Atlantic has some surprises in waiting and there will be the Doldrums to pass again. So surprises may come and chances are still for a handful of skippers for the Victory.

Passing the Date Line

Just East of New Zealand runs the 180 longitude, that is where the East meets the West. Passing this line, from West to the East will set your Boat-clock one day minus a second back and you are one day younger. (this was the secret why Phileas Fogg won his 80-days around the world bet !!!) 

See it all happening in the video of Le Cam 

Day 47 highlights - Wednesday, December 26, 2012 by VendeeGlobeTV

Christmas in the VendeeGlobe

While one Boat is in seriois problems and in repair mode, some skippers are too serious to find some time for their Christmas celebrations, while others enjoy the VG2012 to its full extend and enjoy the celebrations of this special Christmas day as well. !

Day 45 highlights - Monday, December 24, 2012 by VendeeGlobeTV

Stamm is still in repair mode, be it that the shelter on Auckland island is likely to get hit by a  direct storm, lifting the sheltered conditions. He has now chosen to sail to New Zealand for a better shelter and to continue his repairs.

The Leaders in the VG2012 are approaching the West Pacific Ice Gate with still a very small margin of 12 Nm, after several times changing the lead.
The Boats on the chase are more or less staying at same distance. The last boat in the fleet, Team Plastic (on first generation Imoca60 boat) is enjoying strong winds and high speeds; however at some 4000 Nm behind the leaders.

LiveSkipper, virtual  Boats have passed the Falklands islands already and now looking for the best strategy to pass the Southern Atlantic.