Vendee Globe – Day 8 –
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 18 Nov 05:20 PST
16-17 November 2024
After several days of experiencing an unusual spell of light winds, the fleet of 38 boats is now making progress at varied speeds. Only a few of the IMOCA60 vessels are achieving double-digit VMG (Velocity Made Good) speeds, with the highest VMG over the last 24 hours recorded at 12.7 knots by Nicholas Lunven (Holcim PRB).
Ahead lies the region known to sailors of yore as “The Doldrums” and referred to in meteorological terms as the “Intertropical Convergence Zone.”
We can observe the ITCZ
Leading the pack is Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea), currently followed by Nicholas Lunven (Holcim) and Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable), who has overtaken his TS Racing teammate Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable), in fifth place, while Jeremie Beyou (Charal) is fourth and Charlie Dalin (MACIF) is now sixth, after being second in the previous sked.
The 40-boat Vendee Globe solo, non-stop round-the-world race is still intact, with no retirements and all competitors actively racing. However, there have been issues with torn mainsails, a missing Code Zero, halyard problems, and malfunctioning watermakers.
What transpired in the Vendee Globe by Day 5, 0200hrs UTC on November 14:
Female sailors: Justine Mettreux (SUI) is the leading female sailor, placed 9th in the fully foiling Teamwork Team SNEF, while Sam Davies (GBR/FA) in Initiatives Coeur is in 15th according to DTF.
Full Foilers: On DTF, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) is first, followed by Charlie Dalin (MACIF) in second, Sam Goodchild in third (Vulnerable), and Jeremie Beyou (Charal) in fourth.
Daggerboarders: Benjamin Ferre (FRA) leads the Daggerboard category, currently 14th, with Jean le Cam (Finistère) right behind in 17th and Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) in 19th, all covered by 20 nautical miles under the DTF system.
The leading boats are anticipated to seek a route through the Doldrums while heading toward the South Atlantic High, aiming for a boost past the Cape of Good Hope and into the Southern Indian Ocean.
Using the routing feature in Predictwind with polar data for a fully foiling IMOCA60, the forecast indicates a strong westward move before proceeding south through the Doldrums. An analysis of predicted boat speeds shows good progress for the vessels, except for those close to the African coast, which are affected by the Sahara desert’s influence. Four out of six weather sources indicate a similar trajectory supported by a week of reliable weather forecasts. Wind speeds are expected to decrease to 4-6 knots in a few days as the lead boats navigate through; however, the Doldrums are notorious for shifting quickly, and all competitors will aim to cross at the narrowest point to pick up the trade winds once clear.
