Offshore Racing

François Gabart FRA and his team damaged one of their foils in a collision with flotsam or a whale today and had to abandon their record attempt. The report.

The calm before the storm ! In the South Indian Ocean, the leading group was slowed down. ----- Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif') is still in the lead, achieving just 10 knots. Sébastien Simon FRA ('Groupe Dubreuil)' 18 miles behind, has chosen a more southerly route crossing the flat zone. On the other hand, Yoann Richomme FRA ('Arkena-Paprec') and Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable') have lost a lot in the north. It remains to be seen who will reach fresh winds first. After passing the Cape of Good Hope yesterday, the women's group with Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF') 10th, just one mile ahead of Samantha Davies GBR ('Initiatives Coeur'), Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') 5 miles back, and Clarisse Cremer FRA ('L'Occitane') 40 miles behind Herrmann is chasing the top group. Today the bulck of the fleet will reach the Cape .... amidst a front with winds up to 40kn! A first for the 23-year-old Violette Dorange FRA ('devenir') ! Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is still 23rd, Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') continues to make good progress in 33rd place. Oliver Heer SUI (tut gut) continues to make good progress in 33rd place. ----- The race viewer and the reports.

With daily distances of around 800 miles, both trimarans are traveling rapidly toward the equator. At the height of the Cape Verde islands, both have reached the trade winds and will soon cross the equator. Compared to the record journey of Francis Joyon FRA ('IDEC'), both are 200 miles behind. The race tracker from 'SVR Lazartigues' and from 'Sodebo'.

The December issue of the World Sailing Federation's monthly video magazine features a report on the Annual Meeting and the honoring of the World Sailors of the Year. The Vendée Globe, the season opener of the F50 catamarans, the Middlesea Race, and the World Championship of the new RS Venture disabled class are also in the spotlight. ----- The report.

Inconsistent winds in the South Indian Ocean also led to position changes at the top yesterday: ----- This morning, Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif') is back in the lead, Sébastien Simon FRA ('Groupe Dubreuil') follows in second place 23 miles back, and Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') follows in third place 27 miles behind. The usual fresh westerly winds are only expected to set in on Wednesday and further accelerate the race. The chasers have lost more miles. The ‘women's group’ will pass the Cape of Good Hope this morning. In 10th place is Samantha Davis ('Initatives Coeur'), 1174 miles back, and 75 miles behind follows Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF') in 11th place. 12 and 30 miles behind are Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') and Clarisse Cremer FRA ('L'occitane') respectively. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is still 23rd, Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') follows in 33rd place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

With 694 miles in 24 hours ('SVR Lazartigue') and 674 miles ('Sodebo') respectively, the two Ultime Trimarans made good progress yesterday and are already approaching the Canary Islands after just under 2 days. However, Francis Joyon FRA ('IDEC') made even faster progress on his record journey 7 years ago and was 170 miles faster. ----- The race tracker from 'SVR Lazartigues' and from 'Sodebo'.

The fleet continued to stretch out yesterday, and the leading group benefited from good wind conditions. So far, only 9 of the 39 remaining competitors have rounded the Cape of Good Hope. ----- Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') is now back in the lead, followed only 3 miles behind by Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif'). In the chasing group, Samantha Davis GBR ('Initiatives Coeur') - in 10th place and now 1080 miles behind - has lost some of her lead in the ‘women's race’: Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team Snef)', in 11th place, is now 150 miles back. Just 7 miles behind the Swiss, Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') is now 12th, with Clarisse Cremer FRA ('L'Occitane') following 2 more miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') has moved up to 23rd place, Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') is now 33rd. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

12 hours after ‘Sodebo’ with Thomas Coville FRA, François Gabart FRA (SVR Lazartigue) also started his record attempt yesterday afternoon. Both Ultime trimarans are sailing briskly at speeds of around 30 knots (58 km/h), but are already some way behind the record set by the IDEC trimaran. The race trackers from Sodebo (with news and videos) and from SVR Lazartigue on which both trimarans are displayed.

Yesterday evening, the top quartet rounded the Cape of Good Hope. ----- The first to do so was Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif'), who took 19 days and 3 hours. This morning Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') took over the lead, only 1.5 miles behind him Sébastien Simon FRA ('Groupe Dubreuil') moved up to 2nd place. Charlie Dalin FRA is in 3rd place, 6.5 miles behind. Samantha Davis GBR ('Initiatives Coeur') leads the ‘women's race’ in 10th place, 738 miles behind, 250 miles ahead of Clarisse Cremer FRA ('L'Occitane') and Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team Snef') in 11th and 12th place. Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') is 13th, Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') remained in 25th place. Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') - now in 35th place - committed himself to science yesterday by deploying a measuring buoy. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Tonight, the ultime trimaran ‘Sodebo’ with Thomas Coville FRA and his team started their round-the-world record attempt in Lorient. This morning, ‘SVR Lazartigues’ with François Gabart FRA will also tackle the Trophée Jules Verne. A promising weather window should bring both of them quickly to the equator. 40 days of match racing around the globe ! The race tracker from Sodebo brings you all the news and videos at the same time. The SVR Lazartigues website should be up and running after the start. First reports on the Facebook page.

With the favorable conditions in the South Atlantic, the leaders will pass the Cape of Good Hope at midday today. A flat zone off Cape Town pushes the fleet far to the south. ----- Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif') is now leading with a 17-mile advance over Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable'), with Yoann Richomme FRA ('Arkea-Paprec') also making up some ground 31 miles behind. The second chasing group is led by Smantha Davis GBR ('Initatives Coeur') 678 miles behind in 10th place. Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') is 11th. Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Tean SNEF') has improved to 12th. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is now 25th, and Oliver Heer SUI (tut gut)[/URL] follows in 33rd place. ----- The race-tracker and the reports.

This morning the fleet is already on the approach to the Cape of Good Hope, which should be reached on Saturday. The conditions are still perfect: yesterday it was Sébastien Simon FRA (Groupe Dubreuil) who improved the 24-hour single-handed record to 615 miles, which corresponds to an average speed of almost 26 knots (48/kmh)! Simon FRA is now in 2nd place, 21 miles behind the still leading Charlie Dalin FRA (macif). Thomas Ruyant FRA (Vulnerable) is still in 3rd place - 31 miles behind - and can keep up with the high pace, as can Yoann Richomme FRA (Paprec-Arkea) in 4th place, 51 miles behind. The first chasing group has fallen back a little: Samantha Davis GBR (Initiatives Coeur) is already 550 miles behind in 10th place, followed 20 miles behind by Boris Herrmann GER (malizia) in 11th place. Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Team SNEF) tore her biggest headsail yesterday, but after an extensive recovery she is now sailing briskly again and in 13th place in a close duel with Clarisse Cremer FRA (L'Occitane), who is sailing 2 miles ahead of her. Alan Roura SUI (Hublot) is now 27th, 1470 miles behind, Oliver Heer SUI (tut gut) was able to improve to 33rd place, his gap is 2000 miles. The race tracker and the reports.

Code Orange for François Gabart FRA and his 'SVR-Lazartigues team', which means a start within 72 hours is possible. A suitable weather window for the start of the round-the-world record attempt of the Trophée Jules Verne is emerging on the weekend. The record stands at 40 days and 23 hours. The report.

Yesterday, the leading group continued progressing rapidly in the low-pressure system. The fleet has now split into two, with the first 18 being able to pull away a little. ----- Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif') is still in the lead and can utilize his speed advantages in these conditions. Only Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable'), 46 miles, Yoann Richomme FRA ('Arkea Paprec'), 57 miles, and Sébastien Simon FRA ('Groupe Dubreuil'), 64 miles behind can keep up. The chasing group, on the other hand, has lost further distance: Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') is 11th, 447 miles back, and Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF'), still 13th, now 464 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is now 24th, 1413 miles in arrears. Oliver Heer SUI ('Tut gut') follows in 36th place, already 1681 miles behind. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

The 24-hour solo record was beaten three times yesterday. In the end, Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') held the new record with 574 miles. ----- The fleet stretched out at the front: Charlie Dalin FRA ('macif') is now 50 miles ahead of Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable'), with Yoann Richomme FRA a further 10 miles behind. Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF') is still 11th, her gap has grown to 318 miles. Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') follows in 13th place, 349 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') moved up to 23rd place, Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') is 36th. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Best conditions for the top group off the coast of Brazil: Leader Charlie Dalin FRA (macif) came close to the 24-hour record yesterday with 530 miles in 24 hours. An area of low pressure off the coast of Brazil ensures that the conditions will continue until the Cape of Good Hope. 47 miles behind Dalin is Thomas Ruyant FRA 2nd, a further 10 miles behind is Sam Goodchild GBR in 3rd place. Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Team Snef) is also still in the leading group, in 11th place she is now 180 miles behind, but should catch the fast train to Cape Town today! In 13th place, 259 miles behind, Boris Herrmann GER (malizia) is also hoping to remain in the low pressure. Alan Roura SUI was able to improve to 27th place, 758 miles behind. Oliver Heer SUI (tut gut) crossed the equator tonight and is still 36th. The race tracker and the reports.

The speed race towards the Cape of Good Hope has begun in southerly trade winds, and the wind forecasts promise a fast race. ----- The quickest (25 knots) was Charlie Dalin FRA ('macif'), who was able to extend his lead over Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable') to 31 miles. Sam Goodchild GBR ('Vulnerable') is in third place, 40 miles behind. Still in the leading group is Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF') in 10th place is now 82 miles behind. Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') has moved up to 13th place with a deficit of 178 miles. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') advanced to 29th place, 579 miles behind. Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') is 36th 658 miles back, and he will cross the equator today, for the first time! ----- The race tracker and the reports.

The leading group was only slowed down briefly in the Doldrums. In the southerly trade winds, the foilers accelerated to 20 knots and had already crossed the equator. A speed race to the south now follows, with at least 2 days on a half-wind course in ideal conditions. The fleet is close together, the first 12 are just 80 miles apart. ----- Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable') leads by just 4 miles ahead of Charlie Dalin FRA ('macif'), Sam Goodchild GBR ('Vulnerable') is 8 miles behind in 3rd place. Also in the leading group is Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF'), in 9th place 49 miles behind. Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') is in the first chasing group in 14th place, 128 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is still 31st. Oliver Heer SUI follows in 36th place. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

The leading group accelerated massively in the trade winds yesterday: Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') set another 24-hour solo record with 551 miles - average speed 23kn (40km/h)! This morning, however, the leaders have now reached the Doldrums, and leader Sam Goodchild GBR ('Vulnerable') is traveling at just 4 knots and should soon be replaced by Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable'), who is trying his luck further west and making good progress at 17 knots. Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF') has moved up to 6th place, 22 miles behind. In the dense midfield is Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') in 16th place, 122 miles behind, while Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') has moved up to 31st place, 272 miles behind. Oliver Heer SUI ('Tut gut') is in 36th position, 456 miles back. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Now in the trade winds, the foiling Open 60 can show off their qualities: In flat water and moderate winds of around 20 knots, they are chasing southwards at 30 knots. ----- Sam Goodchild GBR ('Vulnerable') is back in the lead, Sébastien Simon FRA ('Groupe Dubreuil') follows 42 miles behind, and Charlie Dalin FRA ('Macif') has moved up to third place, 58 miles back. Jean Le Cam FRA ('Tout commence en Finistère') dropped back to 11th place, with Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team SNEF') right behind in 12th place, 122 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') and Oliver Heer SUI ('Tut gut') follow in 34th and 36th, respectively. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

François Gabart FRA and his team have been on stand-by in Lorient since Monday to wait for a suitable weather window for their round-the-world record attempt. The record is 40 days and 23 hours, set in 2017 by Francis Joyon FRA and his trimaran 'IDEC'. ----- The report.

Jean Le Cam FRA (tout commence en Finistère) back in the lead! Yesterday, Jean Le Cam FRA was the first to reach the trade winds and accelerate: This morning he is ahead by 48 miles. The next hurdle now is to find the best passage through the Doldrums. South of the Cape Verde Islands, Le Cam is heading west. The first chasing group with all the favorites has also reached the trade wind zone this morning. Among them is Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team Snef'), 117 miles behind in 11th place. Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') follows in 23rd place, 211 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') has lost a lot (320 miles behind) and is now 31st. Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') follows in 36th place. ----- The race tracker and the news.

Another change on top yesterday: in the lead is Sam Goodchild GBR ('Vulnerable'), one of the first in the western group to turn south and continues to benefit from good winds - still - as today, he will reach the flat transition zone to the trade winds. Sébastien Simon FRA follows in second place 38 miles behind, and Thomas Ruyant FRA ('Vulnerable') is already 70 miles behind in third place. Yesterday's leader Jean Le Cam FRA ranked 4th with a 96 miles backlog, currently in the doldrums on the extreme east of the course, is not far from the trade winds. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') has dropped back to 8th place, Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork Team Snef') has improved to 14th place, 166 miles behind. Among the day's losers was Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia'), who dropped back to 30th place, 266 miles off the leader. Directly behind him in 31st place is Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut'). ----- The race tracker and the reports.

A race in a class of its own! The first week of racing at the Vendée already exceeded all expectations: Regular lead changes, record speeds, a compact fleet in which even the non-foilers kept up, inconsistent winds with many options for strategic attacks ! This morning Jean Le Cam FRA (Tout commence en Finistère) was still in the lead with his conventional Open 60. In the meantime, he has also reached the flat transition zone to the trade winds in the far east. Also sailing to the east of the fleet, Alan Roura SUI (Hublot) has moved up to second place, just 13 miles behind Le Cam! The former leaders, on the other hand, are sailing in the far west in fresh northerly winds, but are not making any progress towards the equator and are far behind in the classification. Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Damien Séguin FRA (Groupe Apicil) has moved up to 9th place (58 miles behind), Clarisse Cremer FRA (Occitane) is the best ranked woman in 10th place, 76 miles behind. The 23-year-old Violette Dorange FRA (Devenir) has moved up to 15th place, ahead of Boris Herrmann GER (Malizia - 18th place). The winners of the day also include Oliver Heer SUI (Tut gut), who has moved up to 20th place 169 miles behind, two miles ahead of Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork Team Snef) in 21st place. There are likely to be numerous changes of position again today. Who will reach the trade winds first ? Louis Burton FRA (Bureau Vallée), who was sailing in the top group in the west, reported structural damage with cracks in the deck, it is questionable whether he will be able to continue the race - the report. The race tracker and the reports.

As expected, there was an upheaval in the classification yesterday when the doldrums zone was reached: ----- Jean Le Cam FRA (Tout commence en Finistère) was able to get around the leading group in the doldrums in the east along the coast of Morocco and is also the only one sailing at a speed of more than 10 knots this morning. Gian-Carlo Pedote ITA ('Prysmian') is in 2nd place, 7 miles behind, Benjamin Ferré FRA ('Monnoyeur') is in 3rd, 25 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') has made a huge leap to 4th place, 29 miles behind. Samantha Davis GBR ('Initiatives Coeur') is now the best classified woman in 6th place. Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Team Snef') has dropped back to 17th place, 77 miles behind. Oliver Heer SUI (tut gut) was able to reduce his deficit to 156 miles and is now 31st. Jean Le Cam FRA is the only one trying his luck in the south. It remains to be seen who will be the first to reach the trade winds. The weather conditions are still very unusual. ----- The race tracker and the reports.

Maxime Sorel FRA was the first to retire from the Vendeés Globe yesterday: He injured his ankle and could barely walk. He also damaged his rig, and repairing the halyard swivel in the masthead was beyond his capabilities. The report.

After passing the Canary Islands, the fleet has reached a flat transition zone and the leaders have moved closer together. ----- This morning, Sam Goodchild GBR led 17 miles ahead of Nicolas Lunven FRA ('Holcim-PRB'). Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') is now in 3rd place, 43 miles behind, while Justine Mettraux SUI (Teamwork/Team SNEF), who overtook Boris Herrmann GER (Malizia, Rang 9), 9th place, yesterday, is also in the leading group 57 miles behind. ----- The race tracker and the reports. Instead of the usual trade winds, a larger, flat transition zone awaits today....the cards are being reshuffled!

The fresh aft winds made for a fast race yesterday again. ----- Nicolas Lunven FRA ('Holcim-PRB') even set a new 24-hour single-handed record with 546 miles, moving to 6th place. This morning the fleet is about to pass the Canary Islands, for once in the north where the wind forecast is better: The northerly winds should hold out until the trade wind zone. The leaders are still close together: Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea)' leads this morning by 2 miles from Charlie Dalin FRA ('maci'f). Sam Goodchild GBR ('Vulnerable') is now 6 miles behind in 3rd place. The chasing pack moved a little closer: Boris Herrmann GER ('Malizia') in 8th place is now 45 miles behind, Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Groupe SNEF') follows in 10th place 57 miles back. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') is now 26th, Oliver Heer follows in 34th place. ----- The Race-Tracker and the Reports.

In the meantime, the leaders have passed Gibraltar in fresh aft winds. While there are stronger winds out in the Atlantic, the IMOCAs sailing close to the coast are benefiting from flat water. ----- The leaders are still close together: This morning Yoann Richomme FRA ('Paprec-Arkea') has taken the lead, followed 6 miles behind by Charlie Dalin FRA ('macif'). The lead is likely to change again in the day: Nicolas Lunven FRA ('PRB-Holcim') has sought his luck far to the west, has moved up from 26th to 7th place and is still travelling 5kn faster than the competition. The winners of the past 24 hours also include Boris Herrmann GER ('malizia'), now in 8th place, 67 miles behind, and Justine Mettraux SUI ('Teamwork/Groupe SNEF'), who has reduced her deficit by 30 miles and is now 11th, 85 miles behind. Alan Roura SUI ('Hublot') follows in 26th place, 186 miles behind, Oliver Heer SUI ('tut gut') is in 35th place, 235 miles behind. ----- The race tracker and the reports.