Orange 2 - update

[Sybarite]

After 17 days at sea they are 3.5 days up on Steve Fossett's time having averaged 22.4 knts from the start. The lead is 1792 nautical miles....!! The last 3 days they averaged 27.1 knts.

If one could extrapolate they would be heading for a tour of about 50 days.

John

 

[tcm]

incredible stuff

yes, this is truly jaw-dropping stuff innit. Soon, it seems ellen will be the slowest rtw multihull yachtsperson of the year. But a long way to go yet...

 

[Chris_Robb]

TCM

Why are you so anti what Ellen has achieved? Virtually everthing you say is true but is - how shall I say it - not exactly fair to what she has achieved. I know some of her recordings sounded pretty dismal - but that is hardly surprising given what she was going through.

Anyway - if you say anymore I shall bring up the subject of the boat you wrecked of which you were Master a few years back. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Neraida]

Re: incredible stuff

Err, only difference being that Ellen did it on her own. This monster is 120 feet and is crewed by 14 people. Bit of a difference no?

 

[BrendanS]

Re: TCM

[ QUOTE ]
Anyway - if you say anymore I shall bring up the subject of the boat you wrecked of which you were Master a few years back.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooh! this sounds fun, bring the subject up anyway! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[LittleShip]

Re: TCM

I dont know about this either, come on lets have it out in the open??? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[tcm]

Re: Chris Robb

I'm afraid that the subject is a little more complex. I think ellens achievement is great, excellent - she prepared and set out and did what she planned to do.

But I'm not alone in distancing myself from the populist idea that one must be either be imbued with 100% hero worship for her or alternatively - as you say - you're "anti". It seems that only these two options are on offer in a shallow, simplistic New-Labour, War on Terror, "for or against" media-driven world.

I think Ellen has indeed made an achievement in breaking the record. It was evidently tough for her, but her dogged determination and skill in ocean racing got her through the tough bits and she made up when things when right. That's good stuff.

But she followed an established path, had full financial backing, had emotional and technical support in abundance all just a phone call away. For these and other reasons it's not the same sort of achievement as others who went around with nearly (or actually) no help at all, and in not-specially-designed boats. It's not the same achievement as being amongst the first to complete a particular trip, when it wasn't even known if it was possible. It's not the same achievement as sailing around whilst being shot at or torpedoed, as even unsung wartime seamen had to do.

Secretly, somehow, I even feel uncomfortable at the fact she's beaten the record. Partly because it was so soon after Joyon set it, and partly because she had such finiancial advantages to beat the record by a wider margin - as Joyon did with far fewer resources. Of course, that might be a bit unreasonable - as records come closer to a limit of what is possible, so the hotly-contested records will be beaten only by a narrow margin, and that's how the athletic etc records are now. But I somehow think that a loner will take Orange II around alone and on current form might beat ellen's record by a week or more. Maybe we're just on the cusp of this solo rtw thing changing from a grand endeavour to a sprint, and i'm being too romantic. But the large margin won by Joyon and the tiny margin achieved by EM over the then-existing records is perhaps a measure of their relative achievements in this regard.

For all the reasons above, I draw back from the unhesitating "hero worship" that attempts to draw parallels betweem ellen and other more longstanding heros.

It's a pity that with all these computers and modern technolgy we actually have less time and inclination to consider such issues rather than more.

Nonetheless - I still say "well done Ellen" and would have liked to be around at Falmouth (apart from the queues and the crowds!)

ps: reading your post again i'm not sure if it was serious q with softness added later, or just a prod? Since you went down (i think) to falmouth i praps the former?

 

[tcm]

link

http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com

 

[iangrant]

A voyage for madmen

read a voyage for madmen chaps..no instruments live linked to the internet on that one...

Is that the kind of race we maybe should be looking at again I wonder? If so don't count me in!!

Ian

 

[tcm]

Re: A voyage for madmen

too right. There's nowhere for us to write them nice emails. However will they manage?

 

[Neraida]

Re: Chris Robb

[ QUOTE ]
But I somehow think that a loner will take Orange II around alone and on current form might beat ellen's record by a week or more

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think that's possible on a yacht like Orange II. Maybe if someone designed a maxi catamaran that could be single handed efficiently around the world or indeed for any respectable distance, however that would surely overtake B&Q in terms of cost and technology by a long way and could be like comparing B&Q to Suhali, maybe?

 

[Chris_Robb]

Re: Chris Robb

No - it was a serious question - and a good answer from you. Trying to compare Srobins 300 day round the world crawl with Ellens sprint - they are so different.

Obviously the huge sponsorship deal she had enabled her to do it with just about all imaginable support. Still a great acheivement - but I understand where you are coming from.

Oh sorry about that other thread!!! - I forgot the master was high on LSD as well!

Chris

 

[tcm]

Re: Chris Robb

NOT forgiven about that. I am in a right mess over there!