Vendee: December

wingreen · Post by **wingreen** » Dec 4th, '08, 09:22

My winches are fine, but my prop reversed direction. It's probably producing some significant drag...

The wind changed overnight, and I woke up w/ my Code 0 flying.

chase · Post by **chase** » Dec 4th, '08, 12:49

You guys are screamin down there by the ice gate...what are you flying? No 2 jib?

Wingreen and I are right behind you!

Chase

BillNH · Post by **BillNH** » Dec 4th, '08, 15:00

farmerchase wrote:You guys are screamin down there by the ice gate...what are you flying? No 2 jib?

I had the heavy chute up when it was blowing hard, along with the gennaker at times. Be careful of the light chute as it blows out at about 25 knots and you end up DIW...

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Dec 4th, '08, 18:47

BillNH wrote:Be careful of the light chute as it blows out at about 25 knots and you end up DIW...

At least when you blow out the chute, there's always another virtual one in the sail locker.

John Ring · Post by **John Ring** » Dec 4th, '08, 20:07

If you haven't already, I recommend the RSS feed from the real Vendee website. The feed delivers a half dozen or so emails per day from the race - many are short first hand reports directly from the racers. You can set up the RSS feed from this link: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/feed.html Outlook will set up a Vendee folder in your email, and automatically drop the RSS emails in there.

The reports carry great detail, and help convey some sense of what it's like to run an Open 60 in the race. The feed also reveals hardships and challenges inherent to ocean racing. It really adds a great new dimension to our virtual Vendee. Below is one of today's; apparently it's not all pristine wilderness and beauty.

Enjoy,
John Ring
Tantalus

"Hello from Algimouss Spirit of Canada
Pollution is today's topic, oil spills to be precise. Around 10:00 UTC this morning, white and red Algimouss Spirit of Canada sailed through a large patch of bunker oil and came out a sickly brown colour. The boat was surfing along at 15 knots or so and of course shipping a lot of water over the decks. The boat decks are now covered with sticky greasy crude oil. It's everywhere, on the ropes, line bags, deck hardware and cockpit floor. It will probably take me a day or more to clean it so it doesn't track inside the boat. A couple of days before the race start I was given a bag of Ecover cleaning solutions from Mike Golding's team, they sure will come in handy with this mess, thanks Mike. Otherwise the sailing is great and Jean-Baptiste and I are having a great drag race. He's not in sight but I know he's not far away off to my starboard side. Now back to cleaning."

Judith · Post by **Judith** » Dec 4th, '08, 20:23

John Ring wrote: "Hello from Algimouss Spirit of Canada
Pollution is today's topic, oil spills to be precise. Around 10:00 UTC this morning, white and red Algimouss Spirit of Canada sailed through a large patch of bunker oil and came out a sickly brown colour. The boat was surfing along at 15 knots or so and of course shipping a lot of water over the decks. The boat decks are now covered with sticky greasy crude oil. It's everywhere, on the ropes, line bags, deck hardware and cockpit floor. It will probably take me a day or more to clean it so it doesn't track inside the boat. A couple of days before the race start I was given a bag of Ecover cleaning solutions from Mike Golding's team, they sure will come in handy with this mess, thanks Mike. Otherwise the sailing is great and Jean-Baptiste and I are having a great drag race. He's not in sight but I know he's not far away off to my starboard side. Now back to cleaning."

Now that's just plain sad

chase · Post by **chase** » Dec 4th, '08, 20:56

Hatfield is having a great attitude about it -- that's a terrible predicament. Geez I hope that poor guy doesn't have too many sail changes until he gets that cleaned up. I like Canadians right well, so I'm happy to see him i nthe top 25. These guys are bashing along at unreal speeds, 350+ miles a day...alone!

Subscribed to RSS feed as recommended John, now I don't have to click around the website to get the good stuff. These sailors are incredible, and it's fun to play along.

Auburn and Liquidity, you guys are right on the ice gate line from my doghouse portlight. Wanderbird you appear to be 40' lat north of the line, but in a fantastic position. Do you still have to drop for the gate?

Meanwhile Peyron needs to climb his mast and fix a halyard. That does not sound appealing to me, in the southern ocean. But thats why I'm jsut playing the video game...

Here's to adventure-

Chase

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Dec 4th, '08, 21:21

>> Do you still have to drop for the gate? <<

You don't need to pass through the gate, just be north of it at one time or another.

Sea Owl · Post by **Sea Owl** » Dec 4th, '08, 21:37

All;

Go check out the 'real' Vendee Globe site. There is a picture taken from a cockpit that is just awesome, showing what we would really be going through......

For the late starters like Wingreen and farmerchase - don't be disheartened! There is a LOT of ocean to cover yet, and a well placed high or low can help you and trash leaders....

...I know that despite running at or near 20 knots all day, I have been steadily losing ground....who would've thought?

Got to say that this simulation is making the 'off' season a lot more enjoyable!

Best to all...

Russ

chase · Post by **chase** » Dec 4th, '08, 21:38

Neil Gordon wrote:>> Do you still have to drop for the gate? <<

You don't need to pass through the gate, just be north of it at one time or another.

oh, yeah, my other starboard

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Dec 5th, '08, 09:04

Geez, forget to login for a day and I find myself heading to antarctica! Doing a 400 mile passage next week (Christmas in Bequia!), probably gonna hit austrailia while I am off doing real sailing!

nprice · Post by **nprice** » Dec 5th, '08, 11:57

Well Russell, That's too bad and we'll all feel sorry for you in Bequia while we're having fun in front of our computers!

Being in London I snuck up on you while you were still asleep this morning, took your wind and nipped through!
Sorry.

Warren S · Post by **Warren S** » Dec 5th, '08, 16:07

It would seem like my suspicion proved out... why else would somebody deliberately miss a gate?? Gotta hand it to him... disqualifying himself for unfair advantage!

Will the real David Lancry please stand up:
http://www.kerys.com/photos/MiniTransat ... /index.htm

Warren S · Post by **Warren S** » Dec 5th, '08, 18:56

I just read the post regarding the possible software glitch - a more believable scenario.

Well, I always look on the bright side: we are good enough to sail against the pros!

wingreen · Post by **wingreen** » Dec 6th, '08, 09:43

Neil Gordon wrote:>> Do you still have to drop for the gate? <<

You don't need to pass through the gate, just be north of it at one time or another.

I've looked for the official documentation on the site, but can't seem to find it. Can I pass north of any gate, or just the first one?

The Cape Dory Board

Vendee: December

screamin

Re: screamin

Re: screamin

RSS Feed

Re: RSS Feed

bummer dude

Great Photo!

duh

ohh HO! So THAT's it!

I stand potentially corrected

ice gate rules?