[November 28, 2000 - 3:36:48 PM]
The ideal course: theory & observation
analysis by Philippe Jeantot
In the first Vendée Globe back in 1989, no-one had sailed this
course. The skippers started with absolutely no reference
point. In order to trace in theory the ideal route before the
start, we had at our disposal only the pilot charts (upon which
the force & direction of the wind over several years are
mapped at every 1 degree).
The knowledge of these weather systems was minimal then.
For this edition the observation and validation on the race
course of these theories conceived on land could be given with
more precision. Each Vendée Globe, such knowledge is
refined. And so today we have arrived at a theoretical route
based on both logic and observation. In order to establish a
ranking, which takes into account the shape of such a race,
one has to, on this ‘ideal course’, put in ‘milestones’ or way
points, from which we can count the distance to finish. We
calculate the miles to go by counting the distance of the boat
to the next way point, which we then add to the distance from
points, from which we can count the distance to finish. We
calculate the miles to go by counting the distance of the boat
to the next way point, which we then add to the distance from
this way point to the finish line.
Taking into account the shape of this race, we have placed 36
way points, which are either marks of the course, obligatory
points of passage, boundary markers in the Southern Ocean
or simply guiding points for making the best route. The
theoretical route is 23896 miles long. Until this day, all of the
skippers have stayed pretty much faithful to this route.
The ideal course in the Southern Hemisphere is paradoxically
near to identical to the shortest route as well. Thanks to the
Westerly winds which will be behind the boats, the shortest
route shaves past the way points, which mark boundaries to
stop the fleet from descending further South.
The definitive rules for the Southern Ocean
part of the race are as follows:
The skippers must leave:
1) Antartic leave to starboard
2) Heard Islands leave to starboard
3) Following GPS points: leave to starboard
4) A point which is situated at 50°S, between 85°E & 95°E,
5) A point which is situated at 57°S, between 150°E & 140°W
(modification : Appendix n°1 in Race Rules),
6) A point which is situated at 57°S, between 125°E & 115°W,
7) A point which is situated at 57°S, between 72°E & 62°W.
8) Cape Horn leave to port
During the tour of the Southern Oceans, the rule will be to stay
in the North of the centre of the low pressure systems, which
go from West to East, in order to benefit from Westerly winds
and sail in downwind conditions.
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