Report Monday November 18, 2024

The huge brass balls move of Jean Le Cam in his non foiling yacht is going to pay off for the next 36 hours as the strong Northerly (predicted clearly in the models 3-4 days ago) has materialized between western African and the Cape Verde islands. Now the majority of the fleet is going to likely be stuck in a growing ridge of high pressure in the mid Atlantic. How long is they key. Could be up to 48 hours in my estimation. Le Cam is off to the races now, he will not be becalmed again in the Atlantic. So for now it will be amusing to see a non foiling boat take the lead and likely retain it for most of the trip S to South Africa and into the southern ocean where many (perhaps most) of the foilers will likely break down.

The main pack of foilers do have amazing performance and the top 5-7 are really capably of ticking off the mileage when the condition are good. The southern ocean will be incredibly difficult for them as I fear they will be going to fast and the ride will be too violent. Time will tell.

Sean