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I'm not a yacht sailor - but I like the tech and tactics of the Vendée Globe - and looking forward to watching this year's.
I enjoyed this interview with Sam Goodchild
Anyone have any other recommendations to watch before the start?
Not just the tech and the tactics, the entire race must be immensely grueling for the crews. Pro crews, not all beer and choccy biccies.
I'd a mate did the 1981/82 Whitbread in smallest yacht ever, which was 42.5'. I cannot imaging sailing across the Atlantic is something that small let along taking on the southern ocean.
Best of luck to all the participants. I hope theres footage on ITV4
Here's something to get in the mood with
"Have you got everybody" 😮
I’m looking forward to it. There’s a Vendée Globe youtube channel which is mainly in French, however there are a few interviews in English. Been keeping up with Pip Hare’s progress since the last one.
Found this useful -
@dyna-ti Crews? There aren’t any - skippers only!
I realized after posting that the Vendee is the single handed one. I had BT and Volvo in mind.
What’s the virtual thing where you skipped your own boat around the race via the comfort of your phone? We did a STW race within a race last time, it was ace. I’ve been looking forward to doing it again.
Virtual regatta
So who fancies a virtual Regatta STW race then?
franksinatraFull Member
So who fancies a virtual Regatta STW race then?
Yes. This race always amazes me
And Dallin wins in a record breaking 64 days. Incredible.
I've been following daily.
Pip's disaster was heartbreaking and yet her sticusm in true Pip style was heartwarming...
https://www.france24.com/en/video/20250114-charlie-dalin-sets-world-record-with-vendee-globe-victory
As a result of following Pips Slow Boat to Melbourne i ended up reading her book, it’s excellent.
From way i can see Dalin is the fastest monohull round the world record. There doesn’t seem to be any fast time for crewed boats. Dalin is also faster than Ellen Mcarthur in her trimaran. Which shows how much things have moved on
Yep, he averaged 17 knots over the whole race which is pretty bonkers.
The front group got slightly lucky with the weather but it's still an amazing feat and shows the boat construction now [mostly] matches the performance potential.
They've got a new mast design starting later this year which is better suited to coping with the stresses induced by the foiling boats.
Shame we'll probably never know what happened to Pip's.
The front group got slightly lucky with the weather but it’s still an amazing feat and shows the boat construction now [mostly] matches the performance potential.
I read an article on his new boat. Summary was they designed a boat which didn't nose dive and was less extreme, big focus on his comfort and ergonomics. He's already saying it's a big factor in maintaining the average speed.
Apparently some of the other boats (Hugo Boss et al from last race) are absolute beasts to handle, constantly decelerating by nose diving, and deeply uncomfortable....
I read an article on his new boat. Summary was they designed a boat which didn’t nose dive and was less extreme, big focus on his comfort and ergonomics. He’s already saying it’s a big factor in maintaining the average speed.
Apparently some of the other boats (Hugo Boss et al from last race) are absolute beasts to handle, constantly decelerating by nose diving, and deeply uncomfortable….
My understanding is that that’s the sort of boat Sam Goodchild is in. Which is why everyone is so impressed by his position.
Dalin’s is a more modern boat but it’s a much more of an all rounder than Richommes. Richomme went for a boat optmised for downwind in the southern ocean (VMG sailing). So when Dalin came out of the southern ocean without losing any time he was in a good position
Matt do you have a link to the article, I’m totally geeking out on IMOCA design
Struggling to find the one with a bit more detail, but this seems to have a lot of it.
Matt do you have a link to the article, I’m totally geeking out on IMOCA design
Take a look at the [classe] 6.5 Mini's also. They've been used as a design development testbed for the IMOCA's for some time and have gone even more extreme in the hull design.
Although they're ugly as sin the 'scow' bow has a lot of volume up front which helps to stop the nosediving that can occur at higher speeds and bigger waves - this makes the ride more comfortable, increases overall speed, reduces rig stress and increases storage in the bow.
Interestingly the fat bow doesn't has as big an effect on upwind/lighter airs performance which is a little surprising, although the increased wetted area will ultimately hurt it in certain conditions. The use of C foils to generally lift the full would help with that though. I'm kinda glad they voted against the use of T foil rudders to lift the stern.
The bits that interest me so much now are the whole "IT" package and especially the self-steering systems these boats now employ - they're really impressive and so accurate that they are faster than a human can steer now. Those guys out there will have hardly touched the tiller between the start and finish of the race!
The bits that interest me so much now are the whole “IT” package and especially the self-steering systems these boats now employ – they’re really impressive and so accurate that they are faster than a human can steer now. Those guys out there will have hardly touched the tiller between the start and finish of the race!
I dunno, I'm a bit of a luddite and think things peaked in the 2000's. They were boats you could (and some foolhardy people did) imagine some relatively average people buying and going racing / fast cruising in once their Vendee days were over. Kingfisher seemed to keep going forever in various liveries!
The later B&G self steering systems pretty much made it quicker to not steer the boats by hand.
And the first generation(s) of foiling boats just looked ungainly and difficult.
Macif at least looks like it can be sailed fast with the bow trimmed down, Hugo Boss and Charal just looked ungainly with the bow up in the air and spray flying everywhere.
Take a look at the [classe] 6.5 Mini’s also. They’ve been used as a design development testbed for the IMOCA’s for some time and have gone even more extreme in the hull design.
The mini's are ace! They (or at least used to) need special dispensation form the French Government to race because they could never reach requirements of class A in the RCD when it came in.
They were boats you could (and some foolhardy people did) imagine some relatively average people buying and going racing / fast cruising in once their Vendee days were over
100%! Could you imagine cruising an older IMOCA - it would be amazing!!
"Cruising"....
Putting aside, lack of headroom and all creature comforts the 4.5m draft and canting keel would rather restrict your cruising locations. Some of the early open 60s had I believe fixed keels and water ballast . But also a tendency to capsize and stay inverted.
Superbigio (the previous Pip Hare Medallia ) was up for sale recently, ~ €200k from memory.
Would love to get a sail on an IMOCA, for a day or weekend. I've seen a couple training around the Solent (l'Occitane en Provence and Be Water Positive ) and the distance they can cover in a short time is impressive.
Race for 4th through to 10th still looking close.
Here you go...
https://www.imoca.org/en/imoca/sales
https://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats-for-sale/make-custom/model-imoca-60/
100%! Could you imagine cruising an older IMOCA – it would be amazing!!
A few have done it, once fitted out they don't actually look that bad (60ft is still a lot of boat, especially if you're not stuffing it with a full wardrobe of racing sails).
There was one recently (within 5 years or so) that ended the way you'd predict though. On GoFundMe trying to sort out repairs after storm damage (dismasted IIRC). They might be cheap-ish to buy after their racing days but that's only if things don't break. There's probably a thread on sailing anarchy.
One Planet One Ocean (ex. Kingfisher) was for sale £170k after the last Vendee if anyone fancies a punt in 4 years time........ when you consider how much house that buys you around the Southampton waterfront it doesn't seem such poor value ?