Pre GGR event entrant collision with Bulk Carrier. HOW?

I think it was the RYA that ran a poll many years ago to find the most useless things you could have on a yacht. The top three were Pool Table, Garden Shears and a Royal Navy Officer.

There's a solution to the pool table issue:
Gyroscopic pool table for yachts and superyachts -

One ship I was on set up a putting green in the bar. The ship's rolling helped hide my lack of skill, apart from one very memorable occasion when it made a wayward shot go in the pint pot.
 
I guess it has limited use when actually on board, but I admit I have carried one for 'going ashore' on occasions, especially in the tropics.

Perhaps it having 'some use' is why umbrella was switched for Pool Table in the later incarnation. But whilst the debate is umbrella or pool table, garden shears or lawn mower, there seems no debate that RN officer has a place on the list.
 
I guess it has limited use when actually on board, but I admit I have carried one for 'going ashore' on occasions, especially in the tropics.

Perhaps it having 'some use' is why umbrella was switched for Pool Table in the later incarnation. But whilst the debate is umbrella or pool table, garden shears or lawn mower, there seems no doubt that RN officer has a place on the list.
Well that’s the punchline... I wonder if there is a similar joke amongst plane owners concerning RAF officers...
 
I guess it has limited use when actually on board, but I admit I have carried one for 'going ashore' on occasions, especially in the tropics.

Perhaps it having 'some use' is why umbrella was switched for Pool Table in the later incarnation. But whilst the debate is umbrella or pool table, garden shears or lawn mower, there seems no debate that RN officer has a place on the list.
Well I would say the debate is frankly rubbish probably spread by people who don't know much themselves in order to boost their fragile egos.

:rolleyes:
 
Thanks. Followed the last race and rambert the incident that resulted in his spine injury and rescue. Quite a guy and full respect for having another try.
As you say he is hugely experienced. But 5h1t happens....
True...5h1t happens...and the thing with yotties... is avoiding one can put you on a collision course with another....yotties seldom look at the big picture
 
........... Both have AIS and presumably the GGR yacht will have more than one collision avoidance system as it is intended for solo sailing.
.....
I haven't check the specific rules, but the GGR is not keen on any tech aids. I think GPS is banned, so presumably a cockpit plotter with AIS display is also banned.
Doesn't stop from looking ahead, but suspect most of the basic safety kit most of us use is not allowed. (One of the many reasons I personally think the GGR is a bonkers event)
Don't know if the GGR transmit AIS position, which might have helped ship see them.
PS The GGR does seem to be on a mission to reduce the fleet of Rustler 36 yachts still afloat :oops:
 
Great to see Abhilash Tomy back in this race and hope he gets the damage sorted. To supplement flaming's post above, not only did he suffer serious injury in the last GGR, as a result he had titanium rods in his spine and had to learn to walk again after the accident. Aside from that it's great to see someone in a well-publicised race who isn't from the usual suspect european and north american countries.
 
Last edited:
I haven't check the specific rules, but the GGR is not keen on any tech aids. I think GPS is banned, so presumably a cockpit plotter with AIS display is also banned.
Doesn't stop from looking ahead, but suspect most of the basic safety kit most of us use is not allowed. (One of the many reasons I personally think the GGR is a bonkers event)
Don't know if the GGR transmit AIS position, which might have helped ship see them.
PS The GGR does seem to be on a mission to reduce the fleet of Rustler 36 yachts still afloat :oops:
I too have reservations about the GGR. What on earth does not using GPS prove? That's only the start re my issues with the race though.
 
I know nothing about it. Just bugs me that everyone thinks that if you are in the navy you are a world class sailor.
Have to say I would have assumed a commander commanded ships - but I've just checked and it seems that is not the case, in fact I think he was possible a pilot?

However entry to the GGR requires 12000 miles under your belt, and is by invitation only so I don't think the issue is whether he knew how to sail or not.

The wee yacht operating to International Rules. Bulk carrier operating to Might has Right Rules.
If they had been doing so there would have been no collision - the Stand on vessel should take avoiding action if the giveaway vessel has not.

I too have reservations about the GGR. What on earth does not using GPS prove? That's only the start re my issues with the race though.
It proves you can sail a boat the way they used to be sailed with sextant, compass and dead reckoning. I think there is merit in that. It proves that many of the things we are "sold" as being essential might not be. AIS is permitted but not required. The rules on what is in/out are a bit arbitrary: self tailing winches are OK, as are furling headsails - neither of which would have been on Suhaili unless I am mistaken; LED lights and refrigeration are OK, electronic wrist watches and kindles are not; cassette players are OK, CD players are not. Rules on cameras are really confusing - its marketed as "film cameras only" but the rules say some drones may be permitted (presumably as it gets the organisers great footage!). I can think of better ways to make the same point.
 
What on earth does not using GPS prove?

I also have a concern that the GGR is a cynical money making venture based on a boaty LARP. Not helped by having a category for boats which are a Joshua replica you buy through the company running it. That being said, different boat races test different skill sets. Some are about sail trim, helming and position tactics. Some have weather routing as a major factor. Non GPS sailing makes position fixing skill and weather estimation based on observable factors part of the competition. You can say “but what use is that when we have satellites?”. Fair point, but what good are discus and javelin when ak47s exist or 5000m running races when we have electric scooters.
 
I too have reservations about the GGR. What on earth does not using GPS prove? That's only the start re my issues with the race though.
It proves you don't need GPS to navigate.

I have reservations about those who moan about the race. I guess some people are not born to push boundaries and have excitement in their lives.
 
It proves you can sail a boat the way they used to be sailed with sextant, compass and dead reckoning. I think there is merit in that. It proves that many of the things we are "sold" as being essential might not be. AIS is permitted but not required. The rules on what is in/out are a bit arbitrary: self tailing winches are OK, as are furling headsails - neither of which would have been on Suhaili unless I am mistaken; LED lights and refrigeration are OK, electronic wrist watches and kindles are not; cassette players are OK, CD players are not. Rules on cameras are really confusing - its marketed as "film cameras only" but the rules say some drones may be permitted (presumably as it gets the organisers great footage!). I can think of better ways to make the same point.

I think there is a lot of merit in the idea of the race. I too find some of the restrictions / not restrictions a bit bizarre. Imagine doing that race but leaving your digital camera behind....

But still... 15 people think it has enough merit to be on the start line by the looks of it....

Of course the less restrictive "run what you brung" Global Solo Challenge has 37 entrants 2 years out from the start....
Global Solo Challenge, Single-handed, Around the world, Non-stop
 
You can say “but what use is that when we have satellites?”. Fair point, but what good are discus and javelin when ak47s exist or 5000m running races when we have electric scooters.
There's a lack of equivalence in that argument.
In the earlier part of your post you make my point for me........

"That being said, different boat races test different skill sets. Some are about sail trim, helming and position tactics. Some have weather routing as a major factor."

Yes I think that's test enough really. Astro Nav doesn't add anything significant enough IMO. I wonder if the sale of GPS watches accelerates before the race.......
 
Have to say I would have assumed a commander commanded ships - but I've just checked and it seems that is not the case, in fact I think he was possible a pilot?

However entry to the GGR requires 12000 miles under your belt, and is by invitation only so I don't think the issue is whether he knew how to sail or not.


If they had been doing so there would have been no collision - the Stand on vessel should take avoiding action if the giveaway vessel has not.


It proves you can sail a boat the way they used to be sailed with sextant, compass and dead reckoning. I think there is merit in that. It proves that many of the things we are "sold" as being essential might not be. AIS is permitted but not required. The rules on what is in/out are a bit arbitrary: self tailing winches are OK, as are furling headsails - neither of which would have been on Suhaili unless I am mistaken; LED lights and refrigeration are OK, electronic wrist watches and kindles are not; cassette players are OK, CD players are not. Rules on cameras are really confusing - its marketed as "film cameras only" but the rules say some drones may be permitted (presumably as it gets the organisers great footage!). I can think of better ways to make the same point.
I would say that singlehanded sailing is a mindset more like ?golf? than team football
You push yourself and you stand on your own feet and take full responsibility and if all goes well, a quiet satisfaction at another voyage well signed off..
Corinthian .
Turning off the helm driving consol electrics and nav aids and teasing a navigational position out of a fleeting glimpse of a celestial body would fall into that mindset.
( I still have my first gps a Garmin 50) and it was placed promptly into a waterproof Tupperware with ‘ to be used in emergencies ‘ writ on the lid. Mostly to remind myself not to take push button sailing for granted…
Each to their own
It’s gonna be a good GGR..
 
Top