Vendee Globe Finish.

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Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela progress

As I had hoped, Ari's speed picked up a little after midday. At 13:30 his spot speed was 8.5 kts and his 4 hour average 6.4 kts. Forecast winds and waves in that location are 3kts and 2m. He has around 550 nm to the finish. The good news is that winds are due to increase, so he could be North of Cape Finisterre within 24 hours. Winds are forecast to slacken off from Wednesday night, which will slow progress again. Perhaps he could be near or inside the 200 nm radius by then. The winds will be low and sailing will be upwind from that point, so a slow final two days.

 

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I've been busy creating a (smallish) race statistics spreadsheet using info from the VG site and news articles from the skippers - waiting for Ari's return before posting.

 

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I've been busy creating a (smallish) race statistics spreadsheet using info from the VG site and news articles from the skippers - waiting for Ari's return before posting.

Sounds good. I don't much like their official stats page interface so haven't bothered with it. It needs a rethink for the next edition in my opinion.

 

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Sounds good. I don't much like their official stats page interface so haven't bothered with it. It needs a rethink for the next edition in my opinion.

If you thinks that's bad imagine pulling that data into Excel and trying to make sense of it. Every word, every letter, and every stat was in ONE cell. Lot's of =LEFT, =RIGHT, =MID, remove leading, excessive, trailing spaces, convert txt to numbers, and even convert txt to text. In other words - A NIGHTMARE with lot's of swearing involved!

 

[Electromagnetic]

If you thinks that's bad imagine pulling that data into Excel and trying to make sense of it. Every word, every letter, and every stat was in ONE cell. Lot's of =LEFT, =RIGHT, =MID, remove leading, excessive, trailing spaces, convert txt to numbers, and even convert txt to text. In other words - A NIGHTMARE with lot's of swearing involved!

Yuck!

 

[Electromagnetic]

Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela passes Cape Finisterre and into Bay of Biscay

"I am pushing as hard as I can to reach Les Sables d’Olonne on Friday morning, before midday. It looks good on three different models except for the high pressure and the light winds but my routing just now is saying between six and nine on Friday morning."

Sam Davies has offered advice to Ari on fishing boat location and behaviour.

The following article was published this afternoon but the interview was this morning. Ari has since reduced his distance from the finish to nearly 300 nm.

Super Ari Super Happy with 350 nautical miles to the finish​

News - Super Ari Super Happy with 300 nautical miles - Vendée Globe - En

 

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Like Ari said "It doesn't matter if he is last, the goal is to finish" and I quite agree with him. My only regret on this race is seeing Alex Thompson dropping out so soon.

 

[Electromagnetic]

Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela progress

It looks like winds are calming down overnight but will pick up again later in the morning. Despite the hours of calms, Ari should be within 200 nm by the time he has breakfast. When the winds pick up after 0900 they will be blowing westwards, so he may have to tack a few times to get to the finish on Friday.

 

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Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela tacks North, inside the 200 nm radius.

Ari has got through the 200 nm radius. Notice the gentle tack North in a sweeping arc rather than some of the sharp angles we are used to. Nothing wrong with that, as the wind direction is gradually changing. He will enjoy the light seas and gentle conditions on this, his penultimate days sailing, before winds strengthen for a brisker sail to the finish in the morning.

Here is the wind forecast for 0600 on Friday

Traffic in the Bay of Biscay.

ETA - Sam Davies gave Ari some advice on where fishing boats tend to go. You can see them in the map above, near to the coast. As Ari follows the main trans-Biscay route he has to turn at some point before going as far as Brest. I wonder where he intends to be as dusk approaches. Here is his next turn at 1230.

This may be his new course or it may be mid tack so it's a little soon to tell, unless we zoom in...

Great! That looks like a nice route, although it is a little upwind at the moment and the going will be slow through this evening. Winds will pick up from around 2100 and with so much more energy in the sails progress should improve significantly overnight. He will enjoy today's sailing. Hopefully he can get some rest as it may be a long night, picking up speed and watching out for fishing boats.

 

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Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela just over 100nm from finish. VG update. Ari video update.

Ari's average speed has been creeping up with the winds. Here are the 1800 and 2100 forecasts, with the current position as of 1930. This shows a spot speed for Ari of 9.5kts, in winds of 7 kts and waves of 1 m.
I think that's what he wanted for his penultimate days sailing.

Today's VG update has a witty title:

Friday Morning Finnish​

News - Friday Morning Finnish - Vendée Globe - En

 

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Alarm set for 9a........ no wait that's 4am. Will watch the video when I wake up.

 

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Alarm set for 9a........ no wait that's 4am. Will watch the video when I wake up.

Sebastien Destremau is in Christchurch. That will be a worry with the expected Tsunami. Latest I heard was up to one metre expected, though it can be compressed by features. Strong and unusual currents expected nationwide.

 

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Sebastien Destremau is in Christchurch. That will be a worry with the expected Tsunami. Latest I heard was up to one metre expected, though it can be compressed by features. Strong and unusual currents expected nationwide.

Reading about that now.

 

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Reading about that now.
View attachment 554526

Good overview map. Feel free to post it here also: https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/tsunami-warning-for-new-zealand-update-new-earthquakes-reported.304050

 

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Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela hasLess than 50 nm to go at 0200. VG article. Seawolves.

Not so long ago the finish seemed so far away, as calms threatened to delay Ari but he persevered and got through them. VG published an article last night anticipating the Friday finish.

A Fitting Last Hero​

News - A Fitting Last Hero - Vendée Globe - En

If I wake up in time, I will try and find and link to the live video feed of Ari arriving.

I haven't linked to SeaWolves for weeks but he has taken time off from it in any case. This is from 3rd March.
There is just a short part featuring Ari Huusela and as usual other stuff too, mostly out of the scope of this thread. If you want more yachting stuff after this edition of the Vendee Globe Seawolves TV is one possibility. Here though I think we will keep a watch out for Sebastien Destremau and maybe occasional VG or IMOCA news.

Sea Wolves - Ari Huusela about to Finish! America's Cup delay, class 40, Europe race and COFFEE!

 

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I didn't know there was a MAX 163 days written into the rules - interesting.

I'll come on 1st thing in the am post the stats and perhaps you and I can wrap it up with some closing comments.

 

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Vendee Globe - Ari Huusela - Live footage starts from 0730 with arrival and interview on boat
Press conference.

We should know now to beware of VG estimates. Ari was ahead of time this morning. Anyway you can watch the video live or from the beginning. Well done Ari.

1. (0:00 to 39:58 ) Coverage of finish from 0730 to 0810 GMT
2. (1:35:22 to 2:30:12) Resumes around 0905 GMT for ascent of the channel, arrival ashore, first words, interview with Andi Robertson. Footage stops at 1000 while Finnish TV start interview with Ari, in Finnish.
3. (3:17:45 to 3:54:57) Press conference starts 1050 and finishes with the VG team at 1125.

Super happy Ari is super organised and finishes with his own flares ready.

Waving to the crowds who line the channel and sailors in boats taking photos.

Some refreshment after the journey from the finish line.

Andi Robertson interviews Ari.

Even some of the VG staff are wearing Super Happy Sailor tee shirts.

VG Team join in the celebrations at this, the end of their 2020-21 season and a lot of hard work. Some are wearing Super Happy sailor tee shirts.

 

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Vendee Globe - VG article about Ari Hussela's race. Rankings table.​

Ari Huusela Finishes 25th, First Nordic Skipper To Complete the Vendée Globe, and closes the course.​

News - Ari Huusela Finishes 25th, First Nordic Skipper To Complete the Vendée Globe, and closes the course. - Vendée Globe - En

 

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The 2020/21 Vendee Globe.

 

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The statistics.

24hr distance

Speed

Distance

and finally.