There is a lot of squally weather around here; no rain but a very shifty wind. I’m happy to be making a good speed to the north, sometimes at 005 or 345, depending on the shifts, and I have to admit that each time it is
more than 005 degrees.
The weather for the next few days is a little uncertain but right now it looks like I won’t be able to get around the high pressure that is forming to the west of Finisterre, and will have to go under it like the others. I hope the winds will become more stable from the east to make a good northern heading and that these windless holes that are still appearing on the weather models disappear.
I would like to send my most sincere congratulations to Alex for a really fast and intelligent race. I would also like to congratulate his whole team for their preparation and fine tuning of the boat.
I would also like to take this opportunity to say that Alex’s podium is proof again that the IMOCA class should stay as it is, after revising a few certain issues to reduce costs and increase reliability and safety.
IMOCA can’t become monotype boats; that is what the class 40, the Volvo or MOD classes are for. Seven years after its construction, after three round the world races, and various transatlantic crossings a boat has
arrived two days after the leaders and made the podium. I don’t think that kind of equality is possible with the monotypes, nor that kind of cost-effectiveness.
It would be better to improve what we already have in IMOCA, the only class that allows different boats under the same rule, and which gives us the opportunity to create new systems…The outriggers, dagger boards, canting keels, twin rudders, wing masts…or even ourselves on Acciona, pioneers in sailing around the world
without using diesel. All these ideas began with the IMOCA class and have contributed to the general development of the competitive sailing industry.
Making the IMOCA a monotype is a step backwards and this has been proven in this edition of the Vendée Globe 2012.
