Archives for November 2012

Damage For Riou, one of our favorite skippers

Vincent Riou tells about his colision with a metal buoy. “I was sailing on port side when I heard a big noise at bow of the boat. The buoy hit the starboard side. This is the first problem and that’s bad but it’s not the worst. I managed to see the boy because I was the navigation station. It was a huge metal buoy, something you find in a commercial port. Because it was almost submerged it must have been at sea a long time. I think the buoy was half air and half water. “After the buoy hit the hull four metres away from the bow, it hit the shroud, the carbon cable which helps to support the mast. The only luck I have today is that it is only carbon composite material, so me and my team are analysing the damage in order to find the best way to imagine some repairs. I have sent all the information to my architect and rigging manager. I expect some repair proposals from them. The Vendée Globe turns on very small details like rubbish you can find on the water. See you (sadly)”

Let’s hope he get good weather conditions giving him the chance to try some fixes.

Armel le Cleac’h gaining ground

Video Update Banque Populaire

Cléac’h Crosses The Equator

At 07:20 (UTC) on 21 November, the Vendée Globe leader, Armel Le Cléac’h, (Banque Populaire), crossed the Equator in 10 days 19 hours and 18min.
The effect of one of the toughest passages through the Doldrums that even the most experienced skippers in the top six can remember is clear. As even in a new lightning fast boat, Le Cléac’h was almost eight hours outside the record of 10 days 11 hours and 28 minutes Jean Le Cam set in 2004.

Le Cléac’h's time is the second fastest in the history of the race, easily beating the 12 days 08 hours and 58 minutes that Loïck Peyron took in 2008-09.

At 12:34 Zbigniew “Gutek” Gutkowski, Energa Sailing Team confirmed that he is retiring from the failing to fix issues with his electronic equipment, saying “Today I need to officially announce what I’ve been thinking about for days. Being brave is not only about fighting, it is also about knowing where to stop. I know my team and friends did their best as well. And I am extremely grateful for the huge support I got. But I can’t carry on like that. Having no autopilot means I can’t race, and if I can’t race, I have to retire. That’s a tough decision, one of toughest in my life. But that’s Vendee Globe, that’s the power of the ocean and you can’t fight it.”

Fleet news Francois Gabart (Macif) moved back into second as the pack of five chasing Le Cléac’h began to divide after an intense 36 hours of hand-to-hand fighting. Gabart is 39 miles behind the leader but there were still only eight miles between the four chasing him on Wednesday morning. Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) has lost touch, relative to what has gone before, 13 miles behind Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), in sixth. Dick slipped back from second to fifth.

In his overnight message Gabart, the 29-year-old skipper and youngest in ther fleet revelled in the close fought battle in the Doldrums. “It was predicted … But at this point!?” he wrote. “Yesterday morning (Tuesday), leaving the Doldrums, we were five boats in visual contact!

From the beginning, the times when I did not at least one teammate on the AIS (Automatic Identification System) are rare! This race is beautiful. It’s too bad Armel was not part of the fight. He usually likes this kind of battle. OK, he’s thinking it was better to pave the way! Congratulations to him. He sails impeccably.”

The forecast is for 12 knots south easterly trade winds that will become easterly the further south the boats go. And they will have to go south, there is no choice because the St Helena high, in the South Atlantic, is active and large at the moment. Thus, although Le Cléac’h is 3350 miles to the Equator as the swallow flies, they sail more than 4000 miles as they pass it.

The question is whether the British, French and Swiss triumvirate, behind the leading pack; Mike Golding (Gamesa), Jean Le Cam (SynerCiel) and, Dominique Wavre (Mirabaud) can make up enough ground to catch the same low pressure system south. They have not been nearly as badly affected by the Doldrums but Golding, who has banked over 100 miles, was 169 miles behind the leader.

 

 

Yacht racing image of the year Award 2012

Vote your pic http://www.yachtracingimageoftheyear.com/, I already voted mine …

a little selection

 

 

POGO 12.50 ” The call of the Sea”

The Pogo 12.50 is definitely not a cruiser like all the rest. It’s hull, designed by FinotConq Architects is the same as the pogo 40S² – a frequent sight on the podium of the Class 40.  Powerful, stiff, accentuated by the chine, she will take you to speeds that you have yet to experience.  In only 3 to 4 knots of breeze, even long distances will seem much shorter…

CONFORT AT SEA AS WELL AS AT REST

Even though the hull of the pogo 12.50 is race oriented, she remains a cruiser giving total comfort, simplicity and style like Pogos have done since the beginning.

The lightness and stiffness of our hulls permits us to give all the comforts of modern cruisers without in any way, detracting from the performance.  With 6 full-size bunks and her huge saloon, bathed in light, the pogo 12.50 is designed to welcome families and cruising friends alike.

The Pogo 12.50 is constructed using the reliable and efficient resin infusion technology that Structures has mastered over many years.

Based at Combrit Sainte-Marine (Finistère), near Quimper and the river Odet, the Structures boat yard has 25 years experience and knowledge in the conception and construction of fast, comfortable boats.

 

 

 

Vendee Globe : Rankings as of Monday 19 November 2012, 16h00 (FR)

Leader Armel le Cléac’h is still leader with a little advance, but entering the famous ‘pot au noir’ is closing the gap with the rest of the fleat.

Armel le Cleac'h

Vendée Globe 2012 : Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) new leader

During the night from thursday to friday Armel Le Cléac’h overtook his compatriot Francois Gabart’s first place in the Vendée Globe while the britisch Samantha Davies’ yacht was dismasted  Thursday night north of Madeira.

Armel Le Cléac’h is the new leader of the Vendée Globe. By dawn 05:00 CET Friday, Banque Populaire was ahead  7.5 miles of François Gabart (Macif)  and  about 9.5 miles of the Swiss Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat). Gabart, leading the race around the world solo and non-stop since the day of departure Saturday, was caughtup by Le Cléac’h favored by a better positioning in the west. Comming in between Le Cléac’h and Gabart, Stamm should also pass by midday.

The only woman involved in the Vendée Globe, “Sam” Davies is not injured and does not require assistance, her team announced Thursday shortly after midnight. When her ship was dismasted, the 38 year old British Savéol was about 130 miles (200 km) north-west of Madeira. “At dawn, Sam will carry out a check of the boat before starting the engine to route to Madeira,” reported her team Friday morning.

 

Ranking at 05:00 (French time) ::

 

1. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) at 22466.1 miles from the finish

2. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) 7.5 miles from the leader

3. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) to 9.5

4. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) to 73.5

5. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) to 87.7

6. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) to 96.9

7. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) to 102

8. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) 134.7

9. Jean Le Cam (FRA / SynerCiel) 151.3

10. Dominique Wavre (SUI / Mirabaud) to 174

 

source: http://www.eurosport.fr/voile/vendee-globe/2012-2013/vendee-globe-2012-armel-le-cleac-h-(banque-populaire)-nouveau-leader_sto3493897/story.shtml

Gabart still leading … for about 2 small miles

The French François Gabart was still in the lead thursday evening of the Vendée Globe but only for 2 small miles, his fellow countryman Armel Le Cléac’h has been catching up like a rocket and the Swiss Bernard Stamm, 3rd, isn’t also very far anymore (8,2 miles).

Held back by a softening breeze, Gabart – who has been leading the race around the globe on his own non-stop since last saturday – has been caught up south-west of the Canaries des Canaries by the dogging bevy who has been benefiting from more supportive winds. A Classic accordion effect. We will know friday morning if the dream that Gabart (Macif) has been living will find an end or if it has been a matter of only a temporary delay.

By midday Gabart noted that there wouldn’t be any major strategic choices until the Pot-au-Noir, with a relative simple trajectory.

“We will have to count the points at Cap Vert in two days”, confirmed Vincent Riou (PRB) for his part, estimating that his delay towards the head of the race ( 86 miles thursday evening) “wasn’t dramatic”.

The day had also been marked by the damage on the boat of the Spanish Javier Sanso (Acciona), who has gone off course towards Madeira “due to a technical problem (…) to get shelter and repairs”.

According to “Bubi” Sanso, “the damages aren’t that bad and the situation is under control.

 

Ranking at 20h00 (French time):

1. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) to 22544.7 miles from the finish

2. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) at 2 miles from lead

3. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) 8.2

4. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) 85.9

5. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) to 86

6. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) to 91.6

7. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) 108.3

8. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) 142.4

9. Jean Le Cam (FRA / SynerCiel) 147.2

10. Dominique Wavre (SUI / Mirabaud) to 222.3

 

source:

http://www.eurosport.fr/voile/gabart-toujours-en-tete.-pour-2-petits-milles_sto3493671/story.shtml

Gabart still leading, followed by the Stamm and Le Cléac’h

The the French François Gabart (Macif) is still in the lead wednessday morning of the Vendée Globe 2012-2013, followed by the Swiss Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) and another French Français, Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire).

This morning by 05h00, Gabart was ahead for about 60 miles (± 100 km) of Stamm and Le Cléac’h. the 3 leading sailors prgressed at more than 10 knots in weakening western winds north of Madeira.

Eighteen IMOCA monohulls of 60 feet (18.28 m) remained in the race Wednesday after the dropouts of Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) Monday and Marc Guillemot (Safran) on Sunday.

The yacht of the French Louis Burton (Bureau Valley) was hit by a trawler in the Tuesday night wednesday announced his team said the skipper unharmed.

Burton, the youngest of the fleet, will decide around 10h00 French time (9:00 GMT) on whether to continue the race after assessing his damages.

The collision took place off the coast of Lisbon, this information was verified by the same source. It is the second collision during this race after the one which forced the French Kito de Pavant to abandon.

Ranking at 05:00 (French time):

1. François Gabart (FRA / Macif) to 23045.5 miles from the finish

2. Bernard Stamm (SUI / Cheminées Poujoulat) in the first 60 miles

3. Armel Le Cléac’h (FRA / Banque Populaire) to 63.3

4. Jean Le Cam (FRA / Synerciel) to 64

5. Mike Golding (GBR / Gamesa) to 73.6

6. Arnaud Boissières (FRA / Akena Verandas) to 97.7

7. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA / Virbac-Paprec 3) 118.5

8. Jérémie Beyou (FRA / Master CoQ) 122.6

9. Alex Thomson (GBR / Hugo Boss) 125

10. Vincent Riou (FRA / PRB) 126.4

 

source: http://www.eurosport.fr/voile/gabart-toujours-en-tete-suivi-de-stamm-et-le-cleac-h_sto3491498/story.shtml