Vendee Race underway

[Scott B]

Only 1 day into the race and already 8 of 30 boats have had to turn around for repairs including Derek Hatfield of Canada Derek has electrical problems. 1 other boat retruned early on with electrical, couple of dismastings and Hugo Boss has structural damage and is leaking.

The two ladies, Dee Caffari and Samantha Davies are 15th and 16th respectively.

First day out they hit 30-40 knot winds and up to 50 in a front.

 

[Neil McDonald]

Read all about it here http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en Can you visualize handling one of these monsters single handed in a 53 knot "breeze"??

 

[Scott B]

and with a boat that will do 35 knots.

 

[Scott B]

Press release

I get updates from the Spirit of Canada team. This is the latest Press Release updating the events so far.



PHILIPPE DE VILLIERS, President of the SEM VENDEE
DENIS HOREAU, Race director
ALAIN GAUTIER, former competitor in the Vendee Globe and security consultant in this edition

120 miles north west of Cape Finisterre

Of the 30 skippers who started the Vendée Globe at 1302hrs on Sunday off Les Sables d’Olonne, Alex Thomson is the seventh to have been forced to turn back to the Vendée start port.

Severe weather on the Bay of Biscay, with big, confused seas has hit the fleet. In the afternoon of Monday 10th November and evening winds are reported to have reached 45 to 50 knots.

Summary of the entrants who have had to return, or are making towards Les Sables d’Olonne:

DominIque Wavre, Temenos II: had an electrical problem and returned to Les Sables d’Olonne. He returned to the race course late in the evening of Sunday 9th November.

Bernard Stamm, Cheminées Poujoulat: had a collision with a cargo ship, returned to Les Sables d’Olonne during the night of 9th/10th November. Damage to bowsprit.

Michel Desjoyeaux, Foncia: electrical and engine problems following a leak from a water ballast tank, expected to arrive in Les Sables d’Olonne during the night 10/11 November.

Jean- Baptiste Dejeanty, Group Maisoneuve: damage to deck reported during the morning of Monday 10th November. Arrival expected in Les Sables d’Olonne on the morning of 11th November.

Derek Hatfield, Algimouss Spirit of Canada: electrical problems during the afternoon/evening of Monday 10th November. Expected to return to Les Sables d’Olonne during the morning 11th November.

Yannick Bestaven, Aquarelle.com: dismasted reported during the evening of Monday 10th November. Arrival expected Les Sables d’Olonne during the night of 11th or 12th November.

Kito de Pavant, Groupe Bel: dismasted during the evening of Monday 10th November, arrival could be in Les Sables d’Olonne during the night of 11th to 12th November

Alex Thomson, Hugo Boss: structural problem in the evening of Monday 10th November, arrival predicted in Les Sables d’Olonne during the night of 11th/12th November.

The Vendee Globe start line remains open during 10 days after the start. The competitors can cross it until Wednesday, nov 19th – 13:02 french time For more information: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/

 

[Tim R.]

American, Rich Wilson appears to be in the middle of the pack but under rankings he is listed last with a rank of NL. Does anyone know what this signifies?

BTW, The Bay of Biscay is known for some very challenging conditions. The Cap Ferret Canyon, which is 3,000m deep in places, and the continental shelf extending far into the Bay causes very confused seas even in calm weather. It turns very ugly very quickly when the wind picks up. Some sailors have compared it to being just as challenging if not more so than the southern ocean at times.

 

[Scott B]

Rich Wilson is now listed as 21st. Maybe NL was No Location for a technical glitch in his sending unit. Pure speculation.

Good to see the ladies keeping up with the main pack, now in 12th and 13th.

 

[Scott B]

Derek Hatfield ( CDN) rejoined the race at 2:00 am after ending up having to do repairs on his mast. A competitor team helped out by doing the repairs, he didn't have the people or resoucres to do the repiars himself. Bad part is he's 1300 nm behind the leaders and in 5 knot winds, they're in 15 - 18 knot winds.

Rich Wilson, still in 21st, fell during the high winds and has hurt his back. At this point he's taking Advil type pain killers to get through. Unfortunately he cannot hoist a spinnaker due to the pain, while the leaders are flying theirs.

The two laidies are in 14th & 15th, but keeping steady with the leaders, who according to one racer are pushing too much and are risking breaking equipment.