There is a fair chance that within the 438,000 virtual Vendée Globe players, your rank does not answer your expectations. They are however other ways to refine and consider it. Anyone has alternative rankings, being at local, regional, national or world levels, between friends or within you sailing club; enjoy finding the one that suits you the best. Today, we’ve got the interview of the very famous motocross champion Jean Michel Bayle; and of course, we’ll have an update on the race and the powerful conditions in New Zealand.
As you certainly have noticed, you’re not alone sailing around the world. But, even lost in the crowd, there are other ways to assess one’s ranking. Thanks to the details you’ve provided during your registration, you‘ve been automatically affiliated to a town, district, country, your group of friends or even to your sailing club (if you’ve ticked it and filled out its data).
With these indications, you’ll have the choice of your ranking in the “podium” thumbnail. Almost halfway of the race, it’s a good way for some to regain impetus and discover new challenges. Please do not hesitate to have a look there, as you’ll probably be surprised.
A motocross legend in the Pacific Ocean’s bumps
Some sportsmen really leave their mark on their sport and Jean Michel Bayle is one of these. True champion and motocross legend, he has won almost everything and wore the colours of France on the highest podiums of the speciality. Although living in the Luberon, he’s also a sea lover and owns a Figaro Beneteau together with his ex-girl friend Alexia Barrier.
« It’s my second virtual Vendée Globe. I love this game and for me, it’s really a bridge between the virtual and real races. As soon as I log in, about three times a day (in the morning, at noon and in the evening), I have a look on the race forerunners to see how they’re doing. It’s a real pleasure to sail like this. I have started quite well with an option along Africa, but when I saw how the things were turning out, I quickly went to the West. I’m currently in the South, not far from the Ice zone, between Tasmania and New Zealand. I will soon hit the storm and I’m very glad to be at home in the Luberon and not on an IMOCA with 40 kts of wind. This game is really well done and for the former sportsman that I am, it’s true that the fighting spirit is always present. In my speciality, we unfortunately stop racing quite young, but I’m still working in these circles. It’s the same as for the sail: when one has a passion, it’s hard to drop out. I’m still ambassador for Honda and I’m also the sport manager of a motocross team. You see, one never really leaves his background. »
Meanwhile on the race…
The race is going on and it’s rather fast for the time being. Whether on the lead, in the middle or in the rear, everybody is enjoying conditions for good average speeds. The palm goes however to the group located in the North of the Tasmanian low who are engulfing miles in high gear. With winds from 40 to 50 kts and more than 25 kts average speed on the last 24 hours, the gaps are narrowing for the chasers but it’s still a long way to get to the race’s frontrunners. As we were reporting yesterday, they are currently along the Ice Exclusion Zone, heading to the NE. The local conditions are not as violent as in the West and all are enjoying a 25-16 kts westerly wind. By contrast, the gaps between Margael, in first position, and his pursuers are narrowing from 18 NM yesterday to 2,8 NM today for Hurricane who won one place. PhoshorIST is coming back in the Top 3 and is also 2,8 NM away from Margael.
At the present time, about 70,000 of you are sailing in the Pacific Ocean with almost 230,000 players still in the Indian Ocean.
If you happen to pass by the VR news boat, do not hesitate to leave a message; this vessel is the link between the players and the editors. As we already have told, the huge success of the boat does not allow us to answer all your questions. As news go by, we’ll bring you some solutions, advises, answers, and all this kind of things…
Source: Vendee Globe
