Vendée Globe: Managing the Moments

(November 28, 2016; Day 23) – Over 80 days of racing, the Vendée Globe skippers have to know how to take care of themselves and the boat – no easy task at 20 knots in the deafening IMOCAs. They have to identify any work that has to be done at the best time they can find. They have to avoid pushing the man or the boat too hard. They also need to make the most of their advantages when the opportunity arises.

There is no point in taking unnecessary risks.

That is exactly the plan of Armel Le Cléac’h, who said a few days ago when he was behind Alex Thomson, “I’m not going to wear myself out just to be ahead at the Cape of Good Hope.” A wise choice by the skipper of Banque Populaire VIII, who was waiting for his time to come.

The first opportunity arose yesterday, when his route at 110 degrees from the wind and the sea state, relatively calm for the Indian Ocean, allowed him to assert himself. Like a good chess player, Armel Le Cléac’h grabbed the advantage. His 24 hour mileage is 451.2 nm, nearly 20 nm farther than Thomson.

He knows that Hugo Boss has a damaged starboard foil. He knows that at this angle and wind strength, he can make the most of the new technology. He is sailing two knots faster than Alex Thomson, sometimes even three in certain stretches. He is sending a clear message to his opponent: “My dear opponent, when the wind comes around to the left of our boats and when the seas allow, I’m going to be faster than you!”

For Alex Thomson, this assertion must be hard to bear. The British sailor can only hope that the route they follow is as much as possible on the starboard tack, so he can use his intact port foil. When the wind comes around to the right, Hugo Boss will be back on equal footing with Banque Populaire VIII, and is probably faster. We should not believe that this is all done and dusted. On Thursday a low from Madagascar will be blocking their path and will probably mean they have to gybe. ‘Wait and see’ is what Alex will be telling himself.

Ranking (Top 5 of 29 as of 22:00 UTC)
1. Banque Populaire VIII, Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA), 15942 to finish
2. Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson (GBR), 29.99 nm to leader
3. Edmond de Rothschild, Sébastien Josse (FRA), 476.45 nm
4. Maître CoQ, Jérémie Beyou (FRA), 903.08 nm
5. SMA, Paul Meilhat (FRA), 908.92 nm

Race details – Tracker – Ranking – Facebook – VendeeGlobe TV

Background:
The eighth Vendée Globe, which began November 6 from Les Sables d’Olonn, France, is the only non-stop solo round the world race without assistance. Twenty-nine skippers representing four continents and ten nations set sail on IMOCA 60s in pursuit of the record time set by François Gabart in the 2012-13 race of 78 days, 2 hours and 16 minutes.

For the first time in the history of the event, seven skippers will set sail on IMOCA 60s fitted with foils: six new boats (Banque Populaire VIII, Edmond de Rothschild, Hugo Boss, No Way Back, Safran, and StMichel-Virbac) and one older generation boat (Maitre Coq). The foils allow the boat to reduce displacement for speed gains in certain conditions. It will be a test to see if the gains can topple the traditional daggerboard configuration during the long and demanding race.

Retirements:
November 19, Day 14 – Bertrand de Broc, MACSF, UFO collision
November 22, Day 17 – Vincent Riou, PRB, UFO collision
November 24, Day 19 – Morgan Lagravière, Safran, UFO collision

Source: Vendee Globe