Vendée Globe Day 2 morning update: Sorel in the South leads as fast foilers punch West
by Vendée Globe 8 Nov 2020 23:39 PST
9 November 2020
Racing on a more southerly routing than the faster latest generation foilers which are already 50 miles further to the west, Maxime Sorel is race leader on the morning ranking of the first full day of this Vendée Globe. Sailing his daggerboard 2007 V and B -Mayenne, 2017 Transat Jacque Vabre Class 40 winner Sorel has veteran Jean Le Cam on his tail.
The group of leading foilers are into the veering 15-20kts SW'ly wind which is heading them as they approach a front they should reach later this morning. They are sailing a lower angle than the pursuing non foiling boats. Led by Jérémie Beyou (Charal) with Nico Troussel (Corum L'Épargne) less than 1.5 miles behind they had a busy first night at sea in an unstable breeze which rose and fell meaning there was little time to rest.
Meantime Fabrice Amedeo reached Les Sables d'Olonne around 0100hrs this morning and struggled initially to hold on to the buoy in 20kts of wind with a swell running and waves. A shore-team member Milena Schoenal bravely climbed the mast but was unable to sort the hook problem because the boat rolling so much in the swell, and so Newrest Art & Fenêtres is due to return to the race dock in Port Olona on the tide at around 0700hrs. Amedeo expects to repair and return to the race course on the afternoon tide.
In 18th place this morning Thomas Ruyant reported from LinkedOut early this morning that he had had a small problem with a sail which had unfurled itself causing him to lose miles.
"In the middle of the night, I had a little technical problem which caused me to lose about fifteen miles. I was under J2, a furled up sail jumped off its hook and it did a little collateral damage. It is nothing serious and I will deal with it as soon as conditions permit. It's a bit of a shame because I was in good contact with Nico (Troussel), Jeremie (Beyou) and Armel (Tripon). But that's okay, there's still a long way to go! So far (at 4:30 am TU) I've only managed to get two hours of sleep. I will try to take a few short naps while waiting for the wind to ease a bit to tackle my small repairs. The start of the night went very well, we had some quite fast phases, then lighter phases where the wind was not very stable."
Small technical problems seem to have been common through this first night though Beyou, Troussel and Armel Tripon (L'Occitaine) seem to have held a good pace. Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS is 19th, Charlie Dalin (Apivia) 17th.
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