A thread about the round the world solo sailing race just about to begin in France. Best of luck to all the skippers including the British contingent Alex Thomson, Sam Davies, Pip Hare and Miranda Merron.
The speeds with the foils will be crazy this time making for some exciting viewing.
It's too going to be a wild race.
Some of the new designs are pretty out there - might we see a more extreme design survive or will a proven and more conservative design be pushed hard and survive into a top finish?
I'm looking out for all the Brits, but Pip and Sam seem proper plucky, determined and I like supporting an underdog...
I do also hope Alex might win after so many nearly's..
Anyone entered on the vr regatta offshore game?
Interested in this, can anyone tell me how to keep up with the race and where any video content might be? TIA
My brother WhatsApp'd me this morning to say that, when the boats are in the Southern Ocean, they'll be nearer to the ISS than any land mass - rather spun my wheels! +1 for a site to keep track. 🙂
Interested in this, can anyone tell me how to keep up with the race and where any video content might be? TIA
It is live on YouTube at the moment
Ooh! I have just created a Virtual Regatta Offshore (Free) account so I can play along ;
Username Bentandbroken.
Anyone else joining in and fancy setting up a 'group' race (for those of us who used to be on the Boards Windsurfing forum this might bring back memories!)
We've been machining CNC parts throughout 2020 for ATR (Alex Thomson Racing) - will be following this closely.
Ooo, thanks, good thread. I'll hopefully catch a few bits. What sort of speeds so these yachts above m achieve these days? 45 knots ish?
And we are away. Charal sneaking into the lead, I guess no suprise.
The tracking link for the race:
https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracking-map
I did the virtual race last time. This time I'll just chat here
Looks like someone’s turned around already. Will they go back out or is that it race over for 4 years?
There's been a few over the years who nip back, fix something and head back out.
Fabrice' sails were jammed up the mast.
https://mobile.twitter.com/VendeeGlobeENG/status/1325700247922864130
Signed up for the virtual Vendee. Username "flatulence would be faster" only on a guest account as I am tight.
The foils look mad. Southern ocean in the dark on foils looks utterly bonkers
Will they be able to foil all the time? I’m not really up on foil sailing
The foils work above a certain windspeed I think - around 10knts breeze (I think).
I'm not sure they have an upper limit, other than full on 'sails down and retract everything'. Some impressive film of them in huge wind and seas.
I don't know how the sailors put up with the noise and motion for so long.
It's not quite the same sort of foiling as in the AC but the hulls do get lifted out of the water as the boat speed increases. AFAIK the foils can't be trimmed either so the hull will fly then probably drop back then lift again, etc.
Watching the start yesterday they seemed to be doing in the region of 13-15 knots which wasn't quite enough to get the foils working properly so it looks like a hull speed of about 18-20 knots seems to be the target at which point the foils work fully and the speed then rises rapidly.
All this will be dependant on foil design - I assume some are designed to lift earlier than others but will have a lower "top speed".
how do the foils respond in rough water?
No idea - probably not brilliant (hence the alternation between flying/not flying) which may partly be why there are still a number of older non-foiling boats racing (other reasons being cost and reliability).
AFAIK the foils can’t be trimmed either so the hull will fly then probably drop back then lift again, etc.
The new ones can be, but just not as quickly as an AC boat - a few seconds to respond and not automated, rather than a few tenths and 100% hands on that the AC boats have.
It does seem that the boats can crash off waves rather violently - I am sure I watched a video with AlexT speaking about injuring himself as the boat was going from 25-30knts to near standstill, without warning at times.
The new ones can be
Ahhh right, fair enough - thought it might be limited by the class rules. But given that a new (latest tech) hull is multiple £M then I shouldn't be surprised that they're trimmable to an extent.
I had heard that they're now a pretty violent and noisy place to be with unscheduled disassembly a constant threat.
AlexT has posted a short video saying he hit some fishing gear which caused a short delay. In the video he looks like he's playing some fancy PlayStation game all tooled up with headset and arm mounted tablet linked to his cameras. The electronic tech has come on massively, I just hope it doesn't become a liability in the Southern Ocean.
@sgn23 I am new to this Social Media stuff, but want to track some of this stuff. Where did he post that? Twitter? Insta? (i.e. what account should I create first 😉 )
@bentandbroken there's an Alex Thomson Racing YouTube channel and it gets pushed out to Facebook and probably other social channels.
There's also The Hub at https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub where you can get all sorts of stats including his heart rate if that interests you!
Plus lots on the official Vendee Globe website too.
@sgn23 Thanks. I think I can dig round in the evenings, but want to try and get a 'feed' during the day. I had a look at the website and watched the video you mentioned. It looks great and I would love to follow it further/more 🙂
but want to try and get a ‘feed’ during the day.
It's a long race to get daily feeds!
But if you go to the Vendée website on your phone it will ask if you want updates.
In other news I'm going to hit Southern Spain later tonight unless I pay attention
😱
{Stapleford Flier currently lying about 17,000th - that won't last long 😫}
Alex Ts boat is nuts. It must be the sailing equivalent of riding Megavalanche on a Pinarello road bike over and over again for weeks at a time. It looks fast but brutally unforgiving.
Stapleford Flier and BentandBroken - just added you on VR. I'm in KAPOW.
Cheers,
Nick
If you start a group i would like to play along. Currently 189,000th.
A question for those who are playing the virtual version. Is this a level playing field? Are we signing up for Pro sails and such?
having never done a virtual regatta, i have now signed up. Yetidave
@uphillcursing I am going to be playing for free unless there is a paywall at some stage. If that happens I will probably stop.
That said, you seem to get some kind of experience points that can be used to 'buy' things and I have already spent and earned some of them.
Stapleford Flier and KAPOW are now being followed
@uphillcursing - Assuming I have typed it correctly, I cant find your boat :-/
So what powers the foils up and down on the VG boats? I think they're battery powered on AC boats, but this isn't going to work (or is it?) on VG.
Sailing along in the good ship "flatulence would be faster" and following all the STW boats
Looks like Stapleford Flier got off to a flyer indeed. Got some work to do if I am to catch up.
what is the red block on the live map, is it an exclusion zone to make race more exciting?
Red bit = Traffic Separation Scheme, to keep shipping heading in opposite directions apart at pinch points around the globe. Big penalty if you're a Vendee skipper and you go into the red bit. 'Sea is lava' type thing.
Read somewhere that AT hit some fishing gear, fingers crossed for a turn of speed in Boss downwind when he gets to send it.
thanks, I though it was something like that!!!
looks like the next 12-24hrs is going to be a bit bumpy. 30kts heading into a transition. Sea state i guess will be nasty.
Are we signing up for Pro sails and such?
Noooo!!
I am struggling to see the live tracking on my phone. Is there a mobile version.
So what powers the foils up and down on the VG boats? I think they’re battery powered on AC boats, but this isn’t going to work (or is it?) on VG.
On the America’s Cup boats they’re hydraulically powered from accumulators charged up by the crew grinding the ‘winches’
They are trimmable and the boat properly flies on one foil and the two rudders.
The IMOCA boats are a bit different, being single hull they cant over in each tack. That’s what puts the foils into position. Some are totally fixed, some can be adjusted slightly but rather slowly I believe.
As for ‘flying the boat’ it’s more a case of lifting the hull out a little, and providing a righting force from further outboard, so the drag is less. They’re most effective when the boats are reaching - they certainly don’t fly all the time.
The AC boats fly upwind now. It’s amazing looking back to the last one when they flew the whole course and comparing it the the edition before with similar boats where they weren’t flying upwind.
How the racing will be with current foiling monohull AC boats will be really interesting.
And this VG is going to be fascinating as the different generations of boats are all faster in different condition.
FX for Alex - was amazing following his effort last time, properly tense! Best of luck to him & all the others!
I’m signed up to the VG website and subscribed to the YouTube channel, but what site are other people using?
Arrgh this is getting fraught. I rolled the dice and the wind has not played ball. I am going to drop a lot of places in the next few hours.
Stapleford flier is pulling away and I suspect Kapow is going to pass me.
Damaged rudder on Charal
Kevin Escoffier dealing with damaged valve
“It is jacuzzi mode this morning on PRB.”
French skipper Armel Tripon has been forced to make the painful turn to the east on L’Occitaine and head for La Coruña, some 350 miles away, where he plans to anchor to effect a repair.
Boats starting to break! Interested to see how Charal is affected.
Ive just followed stapleford flier, who else is in? I was a bit late to the party currently in 200000+ position
"flatulence would be faster" is currently becoming a prophetic boat name.
@uphillcursing - Don't worry, I am the fat lad at the back 😀
@Wors - Bentandbroken, KAPOW, flatulance would be faster
There is always a few early issues - between new boats & kit or pushing perhaps harder than advisable in the sprint away from the start.
Stapleford flier is pulling away and I suspect Kapow is going to pass me.
Don't worry there's plenty of time for me to mess it up!!
Charal returning to Les Sables dOlonne for repairs to the rudder. A few of the boats seem to have been having issues with the headsail 'hook'. Presumably hook is another term for quick release swivel shackle?
Presumably hook is another term for quick release swivel shackle?
Probably not - they'll likely use a masthead lock that engages when the sail is fully hoisted - this takes the strain off the halyard and reduces mast compression.
The problem is that either the lock isn't engaging or isn't releasing when required.
Edit: Or it could be the furling system playing up.
Makes sense, thanks. One boat (L'Occataine I think) the sail dropped and another boat could furl the sail but not drop it. Neither scenario ideal especially when surfing down the southern ocean.
I remember having a main and jib hook on my old Graduate - What. A. Pain.
I'm in. Somewhatbehind. No idea what I'm doing but we can give it a go
It's a shame for the race that Charal is out. I hope Alex Thomson has better luck and manages to get around without hitting anything this time!
It will be interesting to see if Boss is really faster than Apivia once they get into decent wind...
Can someone explain what they’re referring to when they talk about “the stack” and arranging it etc?
Well it came to pass. I got dropped by Stapleford Flier, overtaken by Yetidave and Kapow. Still there are lots of chances to make good over the course of the race.
I am beggining to think that Stapleford may have played a blinder going to the East of that weather system. I was too scared to roll the dice again so soon and decided to play safe.
Winds changed direction for me overnight and I lost 80000 places!
I'm living up to my name, I had the wrong sails up for 7 hrs so also lost loads of places
For blobonastick
“the stack”
Sails and other movable items are often moved around the boat to change the righting moment and pitch of the boat. So upwind in light winds you may have it forward and to leeward, as the wind builds it will get put on the windward side and more midships. As the boat is more downwind it gets moved backwards to lift the bow until your fully blasting on a reach and everything is stacked onthe transom on the windward side. Although you may only be moving 1/2t of stuff in a 10t boat with a swing keel, every little helps.
oh, and this is getting rather addictive.
Agreed, i am completely hooked now. Even downloaded the phone app in case i have to pop out.
In case anyone was interested in joining in it seems late starters get dropped in the pack rather than the at the beginning. As we all seem to be a load of duffers, apart from Stapleford Flier, it won't be a big handicap.
Confirm that I started late and got drop near the back of the pack.
Well I nearly cocked it up royally yesterday evening - went to my BIL for a couple of hours and came back to find myself in the wrong place/wrong time.
Luckily I spotted what a friend was doing and it showed me light at the end of the tunnel!
Feeling somewhat better about the situation now but my highest position of 6900th is a dim and distant memory!!
It's a long long race and there's loads of opportunity to catch up - so fret not!
I’ve just joined, username STWanchor (I’m very proud of that name)
Trying to figure out out how Yetidave streaked away from me I noticed he has prescribed a nice smooth arc. Seems the little padlock ties you to keeping the wind at a certain angle. That will prove to be useful. There does not seem to be a set of instructions on all the functionality that I can find.
Wish I’d have known that a couple of nights ago!
That padlock will come in handy over the next few weeks. Thanks
Not sure what happened over night - made up 75000 places, I'm sure that won't last.
should probably re-name the thread to "Virtual Vendee Globe 2020" 🙂
Twodogs
Full Member
should probably re-name the thread to “Virtual Vendee Globe 2020” 🙂
Yeah, is there anyway we can separate the silly stuff from the real race please? Having to wade through endless 'I'm in 100,000th place...' stuff to get to the actual race nuggets is a bit wearing... Ta 👍
Yeah, was hoping for news and opinion on the actual race ;o)
Charal seems to be going all the way home to La Sable. I think that is him done 🙁
Good to see Alex now 35 miles ahead and increasing.
Oh, and geek out folks.
Boris' boat is sending us all the data.
Wow. Interesting numbers there.
Charal seems to be going all the way home to La Sable. I think that is him done
Pretty sure he's making repairs and then setting off again.