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Les Sables d’Olonne awaits the arrival of a great champion, ready to join and celebrate what has been one of the most remarkable performances in the history of the Vendée Globe.
A ridge of high pressure, producing only light winds, seemed set to slow the victor elect, delaying his arrival until probably Sunday afternoon. The latest ETA, (at 1800hrs) is now reckoned to be between 1300hrs and 1800hrs GMT Sunday.
Foncia has slowed this afternoon, making 8.3 knots, while tens of thousands of Vendée Globe fans assemble in Les Sables d’Olonne, expecting to enjoy the arrival of the winning, record breaking skipper when he passes down the legendary canal to a hero’s welcome.
Enigma Yachts reveals its latest development for the stunning Enigma 34 day-sailer. Owners with low draft requirements can now opt for a specially-designed short keel version.
Draft is always a hot topic for performance-oriented sailing yachts.
Currently the design incorporates a lifting-keel which reduces draft from 2.2 metres to a more manageable 1.6 metres to deliver a great combination of maximum performance when racing and easy mooring once the race is over.
Mastervolt has added four new models to their ChargeMaster range of new generation fully automated battery chargers.
Complementing their larger ChargeMaster 2 and 3 Series, the new Series 1 range comprises two 12 Volt and two 24V chargers that are compact, light in weight and also easy and flexible for the installer.
The chargers are suitable for all types of batteries including deep cycle or starter wet batteries, absorbed glass mat (AGM), gel, spiral and Li-Ion.
What’s more, they are compatible with 120V or 230V AC supplies so can work anywhere in the World! Simply plug in and charge.
At 1000am GMT Michel Desjoyeaux had 246 miles to the finish to complete an historic second Vendee Globe victory, the first skipper do so.
Desjoyeaux had a cold front to deal with last night 45 knots of wind then later this afternoon and tonight he has a high pressure ridge to negotiate bringing light NE’ly winds expected to be around 6-8 knots. So, a slow final night for him until the wind starts veering to the SE around 2 am.
He has a choice just now: the quicker he goes in the next few hours, the shorter the length of time he will suffer in the area of light winds ahead but he sails further.
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All things being equal, nothing untoward happening and wind in the right direction Michel Desjoyeaux is expected to cross the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday morning.
After a brisk morning in favourable winds of 25 knots from the SW, Desjoyeaux was due to take one last test from the Atlantic as he passes Cape Finisterre, back across the threshold to the Bay of Biscay, an area which proved the graveyard for the hopes of no fewer than four Vendée Globe entrants less than 12 weeks ago when this great adventure started.
It has been confirmed by Roland Jourdain’s team that Veolia Environnement has lost her keel bulb.
The boat is being kept as stable as possible with the ballast in the bow and in the middle, with the centre of effort of the sailplan kept as low as possible. It is still unknown exactly where the damage begins, as it may be the joint between the bulb and keel or higher on the keel blade.
For the moment it is out of the question to heel the boat over to see as this would risk causing the IMOCA Open 60 to capsize. It is also impossible for Jourdain to risk diving because of the sea state.
Not a blue Monday but very much a Blue Thursday for Bouwe Bekking and his crew – as Telefonica Blue sailed out of the the fog, licking at the wall of the Olympic harbour in Qingdao, to take first place in Leg 4.
The big red and black monster was the next to burst out of the gloom and surge across the line, PUMA and Ken Read just over an hour and a quarter behind in second. Torben Grael and Ericsson 4 then picked up six points for third to maintain their overall lead, leaving each of the top three just 3.5 points apart.
Michel Desjoyeaux has his bow pointed at Les Sables d’Olonne and will soon have just three figures registering on his ‘distance to go’.
But the Foncia skipper has a testing few hours ahead as winds strengthen and a front passes over him this morning which could assault him with 45-50 knots gusts and squalls.
Yesterday evening, Desjoyeaux made his way straight through the middle of the Azores Islands; sailing downwind 13 miles from the coast of the main island of Sao Miguel, which he left to starboard.
It is with great pleasure that Forty Plus Four yacht brokerage announces its opening. Forty Plus Four has been formed by two, well known members of the industry. Chris Ibbotson and Marcus Munt, who have both previously worked for large international brokerages and have now joined forces to create their own “new brokerage”.
The pair have worked well together over the past few years and feel that they can bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and contacts to their new venture by continuing this strong team.