I didn't expect this post to be liked but can I assume the dislikes are because of the bad news or was there an issue with my post? The usual is an informative if it's useful info but you don't particularly like the news. If there was something you found offensive let me know.Vendee Globe
Sadly, Alex has had to drop out of the race.
Unfortunately, this isn't so surprising after the latest damage, this time to a rudder. Almost inevitable perhaps.
Alex Thomson ceases racing in the Vendée Globe
November 28, 2020. After incurring damage to the starboard rudder of his boat, British sailor Alex Thomson has ceased racing in the Vendée Globe and is now sailing his boat towards Cape Town.
Thomson last night disconnected the starboard rudder and has since been sailing the yacht with just one rudder. After assessing the situation today, the skipper and his team have decided that the only course of action is to cease racing and sail the boat to Cape Town.
Thomson said: “Unfortunately, a repair is not possible. We therefore accept that this will be the end of the race for us. Myself, my team and our partners are of course deeply disappointed. We believe the best was yet to come in this race”.
The incident occurred on what was Thomson’s 19th day of racing in the round-the-world Vendée Globe yacht race, which began on Sunday 8th November from Les Sables-d’Olonne on France’s west coast.
Alex Thomson is currently approximately 1,800 nautical miles from Cape Town and it is expected to take the skipper around seven days to make the journey. He’ll do so without the use of his starboard rudder and so will proceed safely and cautiously. Thomson’s technical team will travel to Cape Town to meet the yacht upon arrival.
Alex Thomson ceases racing in the Vendée Globe - The Hub
(ETA 19:52 - link to official Vendee Globe new article News - Alex Thomson Heads to Cape Town After Rudder Damage, His Vendée Globe Is Over - Vendée Globe - En This includes some informative comments from Charlie Dalin regarding the route and conditions ahead).
The fleet positions from the Alex Thomson racing site:
View attachment 524506
Current rankings from the official Vendee Globe site. Note that Alex as not yet been marked as retired in the spreadsheet.
View attachment 524508
Nothing wrong at all. Thumbs down - mentioned in my last post a minute ago. It was the bad news and nothing else.I didn't expect this post to be liked but can I assume the dislikes are because of the bad news or was there an issue with my post? The usual is an informative if it's useful info but you don't particularly like the news. If there was something you found offensive let me know.
Thanks. Me too re Jean and Sam. They are in older boats so at a theoretical disadvantage vs the latest foils but are very capable sailors. As I think Florian said a few episodes ago the Southern ocean is a real test for reliability. Alex's web page is a tremendous resource for viewers of the race but we also need to look at material from other sources. I'll maybe have a go in the coming week. Jean and Sam have appeared in short clips and interviews on the official website's "TV".@Electromagnetic
Excellent reporting on this somewhat sad day for Hugo Boss and Alex. The thumbs down were simply because a thumbs up wasn't appropriate btw. When I hadn't seen an AT 2min update I was starting to wonder if he was about to drop out of the race. It must be a terrible disappointment for him and the foil crews to see yet another failure on these systems, in fact I am switching to watch Le Cam and Sam Davies from now on to win.
Jules Verne.
I shall be getting more into this as well so thanks for the great links earlier
Steve.
The unfortunate truth is that of you hit something solid at 20-30kts you are going to do some serious damage. Ellen MacArthur hit a shipping container on the homeward leg. Debris in the ocean is unfortunately a risk of sailing. Not sure if foils increase the risk?Vendee Globe AND Jules Verne
Two races and three boats affected by foil damage. We could be forgiven for asking "Are foils more trouble than they are worth". Maybe it's the more extreme, less compromising designs? Meanwhile Sam is doing well with an earlier Imoca which was modified for her with added foils, from what I understand. Jean Le Cam is doing well in third place without any foils. From the Vendee Globe site:
IMOCA MONOHULL YES WE CAM!
"It’s on this boat that Michel Desjoyeaux masterfully won his Vendée Globe 2008-2009. Substantially revised, the boat got a makeover - the lines of the bow have been modified to give it additional power. It is with this configuration that Jean Le Cam and Swiss navigator Bernard Stamm won the Barcelona World Race 2014.
Although the boat can no longer claim a fight with the brand-new IMOCAs, it can nonetheless join the front runners of the peloton, when in the hands of the skipper that knows it so well."
Jean LE CAM - Vendée Globe - En
Vendee Globe
Latest from Sea Wolves. Florian looks at the Vendee Globe. Much praise for Jean Le Cam. Looking at the back of the fleet, conditions looking good for Jeremie Beyou to catch up with the trailing pack. At the time of recording, Alex had one damaged rudder and one operable rudder but was still in the race pending assessment. We now know that the assessment was that the rudder could not be repaired at sea.
Jules Verne (From 12:40)
In the last few minutes of this episode Florian mentions the Jules Verne competition. "In the Trophee Jules verne Gitana was forced to halt racing as they reported a damaged foil due to hitting something in the water, but Sodebo still string in the race, though the weather so far has not been great for the JV race."
I’m really enjoying the Team Malizia coverage on Sea Explorer. Their weather routing videos are very informative; Boris Hermann is very engaging.Thanks. Me too re Jean and Sam. They are in older boats so at a theoretical disadvantage vs the latest foils but are very capable sailors. As I think Florian said a few episodes ago the Southern ocean is a real test for reliability. Alex's web page is a tremendous resource for viewers of the race but we also need to look at material from other sources. I'll maybe have a go in the coming week. Jean and Sam have appeared in short clips and interviews on the official website's "TV".
Re Jules Verne, I think it requires a little more effort to get the best from it and posting loads of 2 min vids makes little sense, when we just need to point in the general direction. Perhaps Florian will stick some footage together to go with his analysis in coming weeks.
Three links here for info https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/t...ules-verne-trophy.302609/page-7#post-10411567In the Jules Verne Gitana have interrupted their record attempt, and are returning to Lorient following damage after colliding with an Unknown Floating Object. They hope to effect repairs in time for another attempt this winter.
I hadn't thought of that to be honest but the boat has to get back somehow, sometime.@Electromagnetic
I haven't looked at the links yet (3am here) do you think the intention is for Hugo Boss to replace the rudder in Cape Town and Alex to continue the race has a non competitor ?