Spanks
LE
General info:
The Vendee Globe is a once every four year event that starts in France, on Nov 8th 33 sailors left Le Sables O'lonne in 60' yachts to sail single handed in an attempt to race around the world non-stop without the support of anything beyond radio technical help. If the boat breaks the skippers either fix it or leave it and many do leave it. It is known as the hardest and toughest boat race in the World for good reason, completing the race is considered to be as great an achievement as being the 1st to cross the line.
The race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60 class criteria. The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects, but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features. The race generally covers approximately 24,000 nautical miles (44,000 km) and runs from November to February, timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer. Two types of boat have been competing since 2016, Foilers and Non-Foilers, at certain speeds the bow of a foiler glides above the water enabling greater speed - 30+nph is not uncommon.
The competitors may stop at anchor, but may not draw alongside a quay or another vessel; they may receive no outside assistance, including customised weather or routing information. The only exception is that a competitor who has an early problem may return to the start for repairs and then restart the race, as long the restart is within 10 days of the official start.
The race presents significant challenges; most notably the severe wind and wave conditions in the Southern Ocean, the long unassisted duration of the race, and the fact that the course takes competitors far from the reach of any normal emergency response. A significant proportion of the entrants usually retire, and in the 1996–97 race Canadian Gerry Roufs was lost at sea. To mitigate the risks, competitors are required to undergo medical and survival courses. They must also be able to demonstrate prior racing experience; either a completed single-handed trans-oceanic race or the completion of a previous Vendée Globe.
UK Forces interest:
Royal Marine Pete Goss received a hero's welcome back and the Legion d'Honneur for saving fellow (French) sailor Raphaël Dinelli in the 1996 Vendée Globe solo around the world yacht race. During a severe storm in the Southern Ocean, he turned his boat around and spent two days sailing into hurricane-force winds, finally finding Dinelli in a life-raft that had been dropped by an Australian Air Force plane shortly before the yacht had sunk. Dinelli is said to have come aboard clutching a bottle of champagne. I highly recommend reading his book Close to the Wind.
The 2020 Race:
As of today (UK) Alex Thompson on Hugo Boss is approximately 90nm ahead of 2nd place Linked in.
Overnight Alex was more than 120nm ahead but since then he has sailed into a low wind system (doldrums) allowing others still in high winds to catch up.
Exact speed and position is difficult because each skipper provides updates at different times and the race is only official updated 4(?) times a day.
Apologies for the long post but I thought some of you guys might be interested in Alex's attempt to win the race and maybe some of you didn't even know the race existed, I didn't until I read Pete Goss's book back in 2015 and found the race fascinating. I will provide a few smaller updates on this thread as the race continues but I am providing references to race links here.
Vendee Globe History - Wiki.
Tracking Map (there is a free android app in Google PS)
Race News
You Tube obviously has a ton of videos:
Alex Thompson Racing
and Sea Wolves does a really nice update and a daily race analysis.
Thanks chaps.
The Vendee Globe is a once every four year event that starts in France, on Nov 8th 33 sailors left Le Sables O'lonne in 60' yachts to sail single handed in an attempt to race around the world non-stop without the support of anything beyond radio technical help. If the boat breaks the skippers either fix it or leave it and many do leave it. It is known as the hardest and toughest boat race in the World for good reason, completing the race is considered to be as great an achievement as being the 1st to cross the line.
The race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60 class criteria. The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects, but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features. The race generally covers approximately 24,000 nautical miles (44,000 km) and runs from November to February, timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer. Two types of boat have been competing since 2016, Foilers and Non-Foilers, at certain speeds the bow of a foiler glides above the water enabling greater speed - 30+nph is not uncommon.
The competitors may stop at anchor, but may not draw alongside a quay or another vessel; they may receive no outside assistance, including customised weather or routing information. The only exception is that a competitor who has an early problem may return to the start for repairs and then restart the race, as long the restart is within 10 days of the official start.
The race presents significant challenges; most notably the severe wind and wave conditions in the Southern Ocean, the long unassisted duration of the race, and the fact that the course takes competitors far from the reach of any normal emergency response. A significant proportion of the entrants usually retire, and in the 1996–97 race Canadian Gerry Roufs was lost at sea. To mitigate the risks, competitors are required to undergo medical and survival courses. They must also be able to demonstrate prior racing experience; either a completed single-handed trans-oceanic race or the completion of a previous Vendée Globe.
UK Forces interest:
Royal Marine Pete Goss received a hero's welcome back and the Legion d'Honneur for saving fellow (French) sailor Raphaël Dinelli in the 1996 Vendée Globe solo around the world yacht race. During a severe storm in the Southern Ocean, he turned his boat around and spent two days sailing into hurricane-force winds, finally finding Dinelli in a life-raft that had been dropped by an Australian Air Force plane shortly before the yacht had sunk. Dinelli is said to have come aboard clutching a bottle of champagne. I highly recommend reading his book Close to the Wind.
The 2020 Race:
As of today (UK) Alex Thompson on Hugo Boss is approximately 90nm ahead of 2nd place Linked in.
Overnight Alex was more than 120nm ahead but since then he has sailed into a low wind system (doldrums) allowing others still in high winds to catch up.
Exact speed and position is difficult because each skipper provides updates at different times and the race is only official updated 4(?) times a day.
Apologies for the long post but I thought some of you guys might be interested in Alex's attempt to win the race and maybe some of you didn't even know the race existed, I didn't until I read Pete Goss's book back in 2015 and found the race fascinating. I will provide a few smaller updates on this thread as the race continues but I am providing references to race links here.
Vendee Globe History - Wiki.
Tracking Map (there is a free android app in Google PS)
Race News
You Tube obviously has a ton of videos:
Alex Thompson Racing
and Sea Wolves does a really nice update and a daily race analysis.
Thanks chaps.
