Our Mate Alex Thomson’s Races

[Giles]

That would be one fast mackerel…...And if one did hit, all you'd land would be its lips.....

[Giles]

Vendee Globe 2020 starts in approx 2 hours.  Come on Alex, bring it home this time (ffs)…..

https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en

[Giles]

40 minute delay to the start…..

[hajduk]

Was reading few articles these last days about the Vendée. Race extremely popular in France.
The latest generation Imoca monohulls display incredible potential. Full carbon. Flying over the waves, they could allow the Vendée Globe time to drop below the 70-day mark[emoji15]Amazing!!
Now the skippers can check quasi everything from inside the boat. In the cabin totally hermetic/closed. Lot of electronics devices.

Envoyé de mon iPhone en utilisant Tapatalk

[Giles]

If you have any interest in sailing, the Vendee or Alex, you must watch this…

[Giles]

https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/2020/11/09/alex-thomsons-final-words-before-his-departure-in-the-vendee-globe/

[A Former User]

This was an excellent documentary. Turned it on and couldn't turn it off. Really well made

[goosehd]

Seconded.  Outstanding video and the best of luck to Alex.

[bryaneidins70]

That was bloody brilliant.

What an amazing guy.

[Giles]

He's in the lead heading for Storm Theta at approx 18 knots.  Does not look likes he's going to blink.  Balls of steel….But please Alex, don't break the bloody boat again.....

[goosehd]

Thanks for the update.  The last I had checked, he was in 2nd place with a 10nm separation.  If you get a chance you should watch his update vlogs on the vendee globe site.

He looks like he’s having the time of his life.

[Giles]

Go here:

https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/race/

You can see all sorts of info, including his sleep (or lack thereof) patterns, etc etc etc

[Giles]

For example….Effectively real-time....

https://www.alexthomsonracing.com/the-hub/boat/

[goosehd]

Ok.  I did and that is so cool!

How anyone can sail solo in such varying conditions (conditions that could destroy the boat and the occupant) for 70 days is a testament to the determination, genius, and a bit of madness of the skippers.

[goosehd]

@Giles Did you ever get to board his latest boat?  How big is that living quarter?  I find it interesting that he is racing from below deck.

[Giles]

I have not been on this one.  As you probably know, he broke it big time sailing the 2-handed Transat Jacques Vabre last year, so he has not had it on the water nearly as much as he needed to.  The last thing he needed was a rank amateur getting in his way when he was trying to learn how to sail it.  So, I don't know how big it is, but he does not need a lot of space.  But I do know that when he gets back, his lower body will be emaciated from lack of decent exercise (does not have a lot of room for jogging in there), it takes him a long time to get back into decent physical shape.

If he brings it back, I'm def going to have a look around.

[Giles]

That's why he has a sealed cockpit - he does not like getting wet….

[goosehd]

I read a book about sailing in the southern ocean and would completely want a sealed cockpit down there.  High winds, unmeasurable swells, crazy temperatures, and the fact that the nearest land mass or help is days away.

I really do respect those guys and think that they are participating in the worlds most dangerous sport.

[Giles]

Dee Caffari used to have her offices close to ours….

Go to 2:20.  When this happened the nearest other human being to her was in the space station

[Giles]

@goosehd

Here is a discussion about the cockpit concept….

And here is some seriously great footage of the old Higo Boss (we have part of that mainsail as an awning at the office now)....