Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px TOP

Vendée Globe Race - Day 21: Good news and bad news for fleet leaders

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World NZ 2 Dec 11:12 NZDT 1 December 2024
Charlie Dalin - MACIF - IMOCA - Southern Ocean - December 1, 2024 © Charlie Dalin

Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) continues lead on Day 21 of the Vendee Globe 2024 Race, and has extended slightly on the second placed Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance.)

The four race leaders well into the Southern Ocean, as a group they are now almost 150nm ahead of the fifth placed competitor - Jérémie Beyou (Charal), who is 250nm behind the race leader.

A day or so ago there looked to be few options for the race leaders ahead of an approaching storm, which promised gusts of 60kts and 7 metre seas on two of the weather feeds available in Predictwind's weather routing system.

A widening of the centre of the low pressure centre has offered the option for the leaders to move in front of it and enjoy lower windspeeds (but still with a peak gust of over 50kts).

Quite how the full foiling IMOCA60s handle those extreme conditions will be watched with interest, and now it is matter of watching how the various navigational strategies play out.

The afternoon and evening update showed a changing situation, with the eye of the low offering tempting sanctuary, and of sufficient size to be an option - provided one was confident of it going in the right direction, not shutting down, and being able to escape at the right time.

The routing changed so that the lead boat (we used as a baseline) stayed close to the centre, without actually being in it, and then getting out as the low began to dissipate.

Related Articles

Big entry for RS Feva Sail GP Inspire Program
One hundred young sailors, from all over NZ, sailing 50 RS Fevas will compete in SailGP Inspire One hundred young sailors, sailing 50 RS Fevas from all over New Zealand will compete in SailGP Inspire program, which is sailed in conjunction with the SailGP regatta in Auckland. Posted on 21 Dec
PredictWind supercharges Marine Weather
New safety features arms users with better decision-making Insights PredictWind has bolstered its marine weather forecasting platform with a new Lightning Display Feature and upgrades to existing features, designed to enhance user safety. Posted on 13 Dec
The unforgettable PIC Harbour Classic returns
Live concert by Six60, part of the Moana Auckland Festival after PIC Harbour Classic The PIC Harbour Classic, one of NZ's premier sailing events returns with an unforgettable blend of thrilling sailing and exciting festivities. It will take place from Feb 28th to March 1st, 2025,with Six60 concert after the racing Posted on 12 Dec
Top Kiwi boatbuilder and sailor dies at 91yrs
Jim Mackay a leading builder of racing dinghies, surfboats and racing powerboats has passed away Jim Mackay was best known through the early 1960's as a builder of wooden racing dinghies for the Olympic Finn and Flying Dutchman Dutchman classes, using cold moulded veneer construction. He was an active builder and racer in powerboats and surfboats. Posted on 12 Dec
Big turnout for superyacht season launch
Owners, captains, crew and more than 100 of New Zealand's industry gathered on Auckland's waterfront Auckland's annual Superyacht Welcome Function took place Thursday night with the largest crew turn out to date for the event, which marks the opening of the 2025 summer cruising season in New Zealand. Posted on 5 Dec
How to report marine pest sightings
As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can't get around it all. They need your help! From Northland all the way down to Hawke's Bay, our regions include a vast amount of coastline. As fantastic as our surveillance teams are, they can't get around it all. They need your help! Posted on 3 Dec
Bay of Islands Sailing Week: Sponsors announced
Enter now to assist regatta planning and creation of another excellent BOI SW regatta The countdown is on for Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2025, New Zealand's premier multi-boat regatta, scheduled for January 21-24. Posted on 1 Dec
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling
Bay of Islands Sailing Week is calling - regular entries close on December 31 Seasoned sailors Rob Bassett and Brett Russell are rallying competitors to join what Peter Montgomery has called “the best-big boat regatta in NZ” as entries roll in for the 2025 Bay of Islands Sailing Week (BOISW). Posted on 12 Nov
SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody - Now just €50
Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: Was €120 | Now €50 - Order yours today! Price Drop: SLAM ETNZ Deck Hoody: WAS €120 | NOW €50 - Order yours today! Ideal Xmas gift for America's Cup fans! Get your souvenir hoody on the America's Cup champion! Posted on 7 Nov
Vendee Globe: 'Crazy Kiwi' racing on renewables
Conrad Colman plans on repeating his 2015/26 feat racing without the use of fossil fuel In the 2016 Vendee Globe, Conrad Colman became the first competitor in Vendee Globe history to finish without using a drop of fossil fuel during his circumnavigation. He plans on repeating the feat in the upcoming Vendee Globe race. Posted on 30 Oct
CBGTG_summer24_digital_728x90 BOTTOMPredictWind - GO! exec 728x90 BOTTOMC-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOM