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.

VendeeGlobe skippers in X-Mas sphere

The Skippers in the VendeeGlobe, might be alone and far from family but there minds are not excluding X-Mas idea's.

Mike Golding with X-Mas cap 

Alessandro di Benedetto is preparing a "real" Italian dinner from his dry-food stock. The tomato's do on picture almost look fresh. 
Others , show on video with a Xmas Man cap. 

Sailing however continues and the  2 leaders just passed the
Gate. Both Jean-Pierre Dick and Alex Thompson have gained a lot of miles on the leaders and keep them honest. Stamm has temporarily stopped at Auckland island for repairs in calm waters on his hydro-generators, without them he would have no power left for autopilot, communication and navigation equipment to pass the Pacific. 

Cape Leeuwin passed with a new record.

The leaders MACIF and Banque Populaire get richer!

MACIF leading the VendeeGlobe2012

The Leaders have passed Cape Leeuwin (SW corner of Australia) last night in a new record time! The new record is: 
34 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes! This is 2days, 2 hours and 25 minutes faster from Les Sables d'Olonne to Cape Leeuwin as the record from PRB , Vincent Riou set in VG2004.
Macif was 1e shortly followed by Banque Populaire; 1hour and 50 minutes later. 
Both leaders are now in a different and better wind system as the followers, of which Virbac Paprec3 is the closest at 350 Nm. 

As a surprise, Francois Gabart (MACIF) also broke the record between the two Capes, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Leeuwin, with 9 minutes, now set at 11days, 6 hours and 40 minutes. 

The leaders in the virtual VR are somewhat ahead the real boats. 
I sail already east of New Zealand in LiveSkipper Virtual sailing game. All sailors are sailing a Imoca60 boat, but LiveSkipper does not have so many Ice gates, allowing those Boats to sail more Southerly routes. 

Boats sailing at high speeds in VendeeGlobe

After validating Crozet Ice Gate the leading boats sailing fast Eastwards on Beam. Alex Thompson is setting the highest speeds and climbing to 3rd spot. 

a wave covers the Sailing Boat, which Boat?

What a Fantastic pictures this is with a wave breaking and producing a white water cover of the sailing boat.
The fleet is now heading to the Amsterdam Ice Gate, that is positioned relatively North to keep the boats away from the dangers of floating Ice bergs. 

The Virtual Boats in LiveSkipper have reached the South of Australia already, but in their Sail the Globe race the Ice Gates are less and more to the South, giving the advantage of sailing more South and a shorter distance to the New Zealand Gate.