Vendee Globe - Day 5 - Past Madeira and onto the Doldrums
by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 14 Nov 00:12 PST
14 November 2024
Sam Davies (GBR/FRA) Initiatives-Coeur - en route to Madeira - November 13, 2024 © Sam Davies
The front of fleet racing continues to be dominated by five boats spanned now by 30nm - a big increase from the previous sked when the margin was 11nm using the "Distance to Sail to the Finish" (DTF) method.
Leading the group is Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea), nominally followed now by Nicholas Lunven (Holcim) and Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) who has overtaken his TS Racing team mate Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) who is fifth and Jeremie Beyou (Charal) is 4th, with Charlie Dalin (MACIF) is now sixth- having been second at the last sked.
The 40 boat Vendee Globe solo, non-stop around the world race remains intact with no withdrawals and all competitors still racing. Howver there have been some developments with ripped mainsails, a lost Code Zero, halyard issues, and a watermaker not functioning.
What happened in the Vendee Globe to Day 5 0200hrs UTC on November 14:
- Womens: Justine Mettreux (SUI) is the leading womens sailor lying 9th on the water in the full foiler Teamwork Team SNEF, Sam Davies (GBR/FA) in Initiatives Coeur is in 15th on DTF.
- Full Foilers: On DTF Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea) is first, with Charlie Dalin (MACIF) second, Sam Goodchild third (Vulnerable) and jeremie Beyou (Charal) in 4th
- Daggerboarders: Benjamin Ferre (FRA) leads the Daggerboard group, lying in 14th on the water, with Jean le Cam (Finistere) just behind in 17th and Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) in 19th they are covered by 20nm under the DTF system
The lead boats are expected to look for a way through the Doldrums as they head for the South Atlantic High and a slingshot boost past the Cape of Good Hope and into the Southern Indian Ocean.
Using the routing facility in Predictwind with polar for a full foiling IMOCA60, the routing suggests a hard move to the west, before heading South through the Doldrums. An inspection of the predicted boatspeeds shows the boats having a good run, except for those hugging the African coast who get caught by the influence of the Sahara desert. Four of the six weather feeds used show a similar route with a weeks worth of reliable weather data. Wind speeds drop to 4-6kts in a couple of days as the lead boats pass through. However the Doldrums are notorious for moving quite quickly, and all will be looking to cross through at the narrowest point and picking up the trade winds on the other side.
Sail-World Publisher Mark Jardine's Video Update from 0200hrs and 0600hrs UTC.
Thursday, November 14 | Vendée Live - English language update with Andi Robertson
Wednesday, November 13 | Vendée Live - English language update with Andi Robertson
Vendée Globe - Life onboard : Day 4 with Conrad Colman MS Amlin - Watermaker issues
Day 4 update from Ollie Heer in the Vendée Globe
All is good aboard Malizia - Seaexplorer on approach to Madeira
Hard condition of navigation for Pip Hare | Vendée Globe 2024
"It's a Kojiro that is getting in a better shape" | Vendée Globe 2024
Samantha Davies fonce vers Madère ! | Vendée Globe 2024
Maxime Sorel : "J'ai tout essayé..." sur son problème de grande-voile | Vendée Globe 2024
Arnaud Boissières poursuit sa route ! | Vendée Globe 2024
The extent of Szabolcs' damage | Vendée Globe 2024
Last hours have been difficult for Szabolcs Weöres... | Vendée Globe 2024
Sam Goodchild : "Charlie going pretty quick" | Vendée Globe 2024
Conrad Colman crosses Benjamin Dutreux | Vendée Globe 2024
Onboard #3 - Jérémie Beyou | CHARAL