Earthrace sunk

DTIM

DTIM

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The ex earthrace boat, now operated by the conservation group Sea Shepherd appears to have been sunk in a collision with a whaling vessel.
Sorry dont know how to link to the news item!
 
I am not suprised. They bought it as a fast intecept vessel sepcifically to get in between whalers and factory ships.

I only hope it hasnt cost the life of one of their well meaning but niave volunteers.

The organisers need to take a long hard look at what they are doing and how hey do it. Their seamanship, if nothing else, is bloody aweful.

News report here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/06/2786732.htm
 
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Whitelighter said:
I am not suprised. They bought it as a fast intecept vessel sepcifically to get in between whalers and factory ships.

I only hope it hasnt cost the life of one of their well meaning but niave volunteers.

The organisers need to take a long hard look at what they are doing and how hey do it. Their seamanship, if nothing else, is bloody aweful.

News report here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/06/2786732.htm
Click to expand...

Yea.. I think if I wanted a vessel to challenge whaling ships, it would be something a bit tougher than this...
I dont know anything at all about Japanese whalers, but I m not sure they are a bunch of lads I would care to iritate too much ;)
 
In case anyone didn't spot it, there's a link to a video of the crash on the report that Jez links to above. It's not entirely clear, but seems to show that the whaling boat is on course to pass close to the Earthrace boat, but not over it, so they can fire water cannon at them. Earthrace then seems to apply power and drive directly under the bow of the whaling ship? As I say, it's not clear, see what you think.
 
Nick_H said:
In case anyone didn't spot it, there's a link to a video of the crash on the report that Jez links to above. It's not entirely clear, but seems to show that the whaling boat is on course to pass close to the Earthrace boat, but not over it, so they can fire water cannon at them. Earthrace then seems to apply power and drive directly under the bow of the whaling ship? As I say, it's not clear, see what you think.
Click to expand...

Agreed it is not an accident as such, Earth race appears to maintain forward momentum 4-6 knots and the wake does not show any change of course.

At the end of the video earth race seams to have astern propulsion .
The whaling ships wake can be seen at the end and shows a sharp turn to port to avoid the collision.
 
I'm not surprised it has been sunk. When they bought it I couldn't think of any use they could have for such a lightly-built vessel other than for it to be sunk in a publicity-generating collision.
 
Person on helm might not have been able to see because of spray from hose pipes very difficult to look towards fire hose.Would considerably imping on spatial awareness.

edit : it looks like the whaler is on a more than a slight turn to starboard when it hits .
 
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When they bought it I couldn't think of any use they could have for such a lightly-built vessel other than for it to be sunk in a publicity-generating collision.
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That's one mighty expensive publicity stunt! There's no way anyone would insure them, so it'll be out their own pockets.
 
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Nick_H said:
In case anyone didn't spot it, there's a link to a video of the crash on the report that Jez links to above. It's not entirely clear, but seems to show that the whaling boat is on course to pass close to the Earthrace boat, but not over it, so they can fire water cannon at them. Earthrace then seems to apply power and drive directly under the bow of the whaling ship? As I say, it's not clear, see what you think.
Click to expand...

I agree Nick. Earthrace definitely applies much power 3-4 seconds before impact (not merely "maintain momentum" imho as Daka suggested), and since she only had 3m chopped off her bow you gotta conclude that if had she not applied power she wouldn't have had her bow run over

(Bit rude of the whale ship to leave her stbd quarter cannon on so that the Earthrace crew got cannoned AFTER the crash :-/)
 
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Nick_H said:
That's one mighty expensive publicity stunt! There's no way anyone would insure them, so it'll be out their own pockets.
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How much did she cost? She'd have been a white elephant to the previous owners after having completed the round the world trip, so I'd guess they didn't negotiate hard.
 
Hurricane said:
Or maybe the "power on" just before the crash was an inexperienced last minute attempt to swing the bow round and out of the way.
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.. or if they have a helm station up top (not sure if they do or not), maybe the water cannon operated the throttles, or pushed someone onto them, or disorientated the helmsman?
 
DTIM said:
The ex earthrace boat, now operated by the conservation group Sea Shepherd appears to have been sunk in a collision with a whaling vessel.
Sorry dont know how to link to the news item!
Click to expand...

Ha, ha, ha. What stupid idiots these Sea Shepherd twats are. Doubtless they bought Earthrace for top dollar just because somebody told them it runs on lentil juice without thinking whether it was suitable for ramming whaling ships. Doubtless also these same people would piously lecture us about our carbon footprint when the carbon footprint of their operation must be collosal. Anyone got any idea where they get the cash from for their silly antics?
 
jfm said:
I agree Nick. Earthrace definitely applies much power 3-4 seconds before impact (not merely "maintain momentum" imho as Daka suggested), and since she only had 3m chopped off her bow you gotta conclude that if had she not applied power she wouldn't have had her bow run over
Click to expand...

In agreement after second look.
Initially I had thought the surge in speed was due to impact but have to agree it looks like a surge in speed into the ships bow followed by a second surge in speed as the Earthrace bow was caught under the ship.

Did they stop and pick them up or leave them in the water to swim home, now that would have been a bit rude.
 
That is so sad, as she was an amazing boat - it certainly does appear in that video as if the Sea Shepherds were behaving like lemmings - totally mad.

I am surprised that she sank - I was thinking they might have had a water tight bulkhead in that long pointy bow - or maybe the bow got ripped off aft of the bulkhead.....

More about the boat, and some photos, on her designer's website at http://www.lomocean.com/projectdetail.php?id=11
 
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