Vendée Globe 2020
Author
Discussion

pequod

Original Poster:

8,997 posts

161 months

Friday 30th October 2020
quotequote all
Is this the year that Alex will prevail?

You can follow the race from the official website here;

https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en

ecsrobin

18,523 posts

188 months

Saturday 7th November 2020
quotequote all
He will end up breaking it again.

pequod

Original Poster:

8,997 posts

161 months

Saturday 7th November 2020
quotequote all
I hope not, but by the very nature of the challenge, that is the risk!

Chris Stott

18,521 posts

220 months

Sunday 8th November 2020
quotequote all
One of the toughest human challenges, and sits alongside the Volvo as the greatest sailing races.

I really hope AT wins it, but the boats have become so complex avoiding mechanicals is tough.

Chris Stott

18,521 posts

220 months

Sunday 8th November 2020
quotequote all
Start is on BT Sport now. Delayed 30 mins.

rossb

634 posts

244 months

Sunday 8th November 2020
quotequote all
Would love Alex to win but think Charal and any of the top foilers are hugely strong contenders. Thought Fastnet was a challenge over 4 and half days - makes me laugh to think of the absolutely different orbit of challenge these guys are about to embark upon! Good luck to all the men and women competing - they are all complete warriors!

micky metro

307 posts

209 months

Sunday 8th November 2020
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tracking map not working on website, i,m sure they will fix his soon i hope.

Athlon

5,700 posts

229 months

Sunday 8th November 2020
quotequote all
micky metro said:
tracking map not working on website, i,m sure they will fix his soon i hope.
It is working for me if you link from the drop down menu, Alex Thomson in Hugo Boss is 6th and and Samantha Davies is 10th.

Fabrice Amedeo looks to be going home already

PushedDover

7,101 posts

76 months

Monday 9th November 2020
quotequote all
I would imagine the media / imagery / video' to place us cosy warm armchair spectators in the fury of the Southern Oceans to be fairly impressive this year.

pequod

Original Poster:

8,997 posts

161 months

Monday 9th November 2020
quotequote all
If anyone is having trouble with the official Vendee Globe website tracker you could try following the race via Alex Thomson's website, The Hub.

https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/race/

Also has lot's more info about Alex's race including video clips.

Athlon

5,700 posts

229 months

Monday 9th November 2020
quotequote all
pequod said:
If anyone is having trouble with the official Vendee Globe website tracker you could try following the race via Alex Thomson's website, The Hub.

https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/race/

Also has lot's more info about Alex's race including video clips.
I was just going to post that, superb website!

Arnie Cunningham

4,499 posts

276 months

Monday 9th November 2020
quotequote all
It seems some of their linkies are/were broken. This one works : https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracking-map

Interesting how many of the skipper videos show them settling in - but AT still seems to be running @ 100%. Hopefully the keel stays attached, would love to see both a brit win it and all the brits make it round too.

SpartacusF

203 posts

76 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
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Going to be interesting. Is there a commentary forum anywhere, maybe on a specialist yotty site, that discusses current tactics and scenarios?

ecsrobin

18,523 posts

188 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
Arnie Cunningham said:
It seems some of their linkies are/were broken. This one works : https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracking-map

Interesting how many of the skipper videos show them settling in - but AT still seems to be running @ 100%. Hopefully the keel stays attached, would love to see both a brit win it and all the brits make it round too.
I imagine that’s why he has more “incidents” than most. I hope he does well but he will need a lot of luck.

Arnie Cunningham

4,499 posts

276 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
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One one of the video blogs he did, he made a comment to how when he was younger he was characterised as a risk taker - he knew that, he was OK with that. But....I think he also made a reference to having "learnt" since then.

Chris Stott

18,521 posts

220 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
SpartacusF said:
Going to be interesting. Is there a commentary forum anywhere, maybe on a specialist yotty site, that discusses current tactics and scenarios?
Sailing Anarchy, Ocean Racing forum.

rdjohn

7,005 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
Is Alex’s boat more suited to conditions in the southern oceans rather than the long haul south?

When the going gets tough, is that when the tough get going?

pequod

Original Poster:

8,997 posts

161 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
Chris Stott said:
SpartacusF said:
Going to be interesting. Is there a commentary forum anywhere, maybe on a specialist yotty site, that discusses current tactics and scenarios?
Sailing Anarchy, Ocean Racing forum.
Here's a link for anyone wanting to follow the banter;

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?/topic/...

Chris Stott

18,521 posts

220 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
Hard to tell at this stage as they've spent a lot of time going up wind... which IMOCA's aren't built for.

Losing the keel on the JV, not getting the mileage in, and not seeing how competitive his boat was against the others doesn't help when trying to make predictions

In the last Vendee AT's boat was the most optimised for reaching, which is where they will spend most of their time over the next 70 odd days. He had the fastest boat last time, but losing the starboard foil cost him the win.

The proper race hasn't really started yet.




Arnie Cunningham

4,499 posts

276 months

Tuesday 10th November 2020
quotequote all
Totally agree with all this. Even without the stbd foil, still managed 2nd. But, all the leading boats have learnt and moved on......
It might be 70 days, but IMVHO this is more exciting than F1 these days.

Chris Stott said:
Hard to tell at this stage as they've spent a lot of time going up wind... which IMOCA's aren't built for.

Losing the keel on the JV, not getting the mileage in, and not seeing how competitive his boat was against the others doesn't help when trying to make predictions

In the last Vendee AT's boat was the most optimised for reaching, which is where they will spend most of their time over the next 70 odd days. He had the fastest boat last time, but losing the starboard foil cost him the win.

The proper race hasn't really started yet.