Vendee Globe Race Thread

[nrs5000]

I wonder if that boat off to the west will get more wind through the horse latitudes.

[Hwyl]

The excitement continues there's the very real chance of a non French winner.

[John Meachen]

It has been an incredible race and Boris could be in with a chance.It also a bit early to rule out Jean Le Cam benefiting form his time allowance for picking up Kevin Escoffier.

[Woxbox]

So now the gambling begins. The leading pack is fanning out as each skipper looks to gain from a different course. I'm still behind Le Cam, but it's looking like the win is getting beyond reach. He's in the white boat to the lower left of the image. The foilers have shown a bit more speed over the older boats after rounding the Horn -- but clearly the foils have not been a massive advantage.

Vendee - 1-24-21.jpg

[John Meachen]

For those who weren't aware,Charlie Dalin in Apivia crossed the line about an hour and a quarter ago.There should be four or five more finishers in the next 24 hours.Then allowances for time deductions for the rescue of Kevin Escoffier come into play.

[Clarkey]

Looks like Boris has hit a fishing boat less than 100 miles from the finish - limping in at 7-8 knots.

[John Meachen]

Looks like Boris has hit a fishing boat less than 100 miles from the finish - limping in at 7-8 knots.

I ought to work out the critical time for Yannick Bestaven to finish.He has a few hours due.

[Clarkey]

I ought to work out the critical time for Yannick Bestaven to finish.He has a few hours due.

I think it will be quite close - Bestaven is still in with a decent chance.

[sp_clark]

It was posted on the Vendee Globe website when Dalin crossed the finish line that Herrmann has 6 hrs time credit, Bestaven 10 hr 10 min. Clock starts from when Dalin crossed the line.

Latest rankings show Boris 87 nm out doing 16 kts so he's about an hour within that 6 hr credit. If that post above about him having hit a fishing boat's slowed him... be a tough blow after 80 days at sea.

Bestaven's 248 km out, doing 33 kts so what, 7-1/2 hours out? Well within his 10 hr window.

Nice touch that somehow the OP who started this thread chose to use an image of Apivia in his post at the start.

Nov. 8 seems now such a long time ago....

[pez_leon]

Bestaven wins after 80 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes at sea! After applying a time credit for November's rescue-related re-routing, he wins by only 2 hours and 16 minutes (if I'm reading the graph right). That means that the second place finisher's time was only 0.12% slower. Astonishing.

[Woxbox]

Astonishing, indeed. I like Le Cam's comment (iffy English translation here from the Vendee story.)

These foiling boats are a lot of puzzles for not much!

[Hugh MacD]

Bestaven wins after 80 days, 13 hours, 59 minutes at sea! After applying a time credit for November's rescue-related re-routing, he wins by only 2 hours and 16 minutes (if I'm reading the graph right). That means that the second place finisher's time was only 0.12% slower. Astonishing.

In Olympic terms that's the .004 seconds that is often the difference between first & second. Imagine maintaining Olympic intensity for 80 days!?!