Poignard
Well-Known Member
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sailing/46246667
An example of fine sportsmanship as he blames no one but himself.
An example of fine sportsmanship as he blames no one but himself.
Rotten bad luck for Alex Thomson
- Thread starter Poignard
- Start date
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
Well he was in a singlehanded race.................pushing the limits of safety too far for himself and anybody unlucky to be in his path.What is wrong with two handed racing,far tougher test for the boat ,safer for other users of the sea and better a race where something can be shared.
TQA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2005
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- 6,815
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- Carribbean currently Grenada
Setting a course on the autopilot that intersects with the island of Guadeloupe and then going for a kip is many things.
Rotten bad luck is not one of them.
Rotten bad luck is not one of them.
mainsail1
Well-Known Member
Can you imagine? Speed 30 knots and the only person onboard is asleep.
I do worry about whether this is a reasonable thing to do. The contestants may accept the risk but what about the poor sod cruising along minding his own business on starboard tack who may get hit?
I do worry about whether this is a reasonable thing to do. The contestants may accept the risk but what about the poor sod cruising along minding his own business on starboard tack who may get hit?
Roger52
Well-Known Member
I imagine he thought the watch/alarm would wake him up in good time. He had a good wind angle to keep his speed up so he could change course well before the island. He has made it clear that he only has himself to blame.
Wansworth
Well-Known Member
There muck it up for everybody else!
Seajet
...
I have nothing but admiration for Alex, even if he doesn't win a lot of major races in future - and I'm sure he will - I think he has a serious place in sailing history.
I do think Mainsail 1 has a good point though; the days of Sirs Robin Knox Johnston and Alec Rose plodding along at 6 knots are over, the modern things are more like an exocet.
Until a reliable high performance radar with a very loud alarm and maybe autohelm over-ride is available, I think there's a great deal to be said for the two - person crew argument, and that would still be very tough with that sort of workload and fatigue.
I do think Mainsail 1 has a good point though; the days of Sirs Robin Knox Johnston and Alec Rose plodding along at 6 knots are over, the modern things are more like an exocet.
Until a reliable high performance radar with a very loud alarm and maybe autohelm over-ride is available, I think there's a great deal to be said for the two - person crew argument, and that would still be very tough with that sort of workload and fatigue.
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BigJoe
Well-Known Member
Not sure if Hugo Boss's autopilot follows a compas cource, I beleve its relies more on wind
Spyro
Well-Known Member
I think on something that advanced it would be either
Malish
Well-Known Member
The poor sod also has a responsibility to change course in order to avoid a collision
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
How can you run aground when you are 70 miles out in the Atlantic, but then he says he hit it.
BigJoe
Well-Known Member
Agree, however, they want to drive the boat at optimum speed
alant
Well-Known Member
The "poor sod" might only be doing 5knts, what chance of getting out of the way?
RichardS
N/A
Providing that Alex is transmitting AIS then 5 knots or 50 knots doesn't really make much difference at 30 miles out. :encouragement:
Richard
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
Providing Mr Fiveknots has an AIS receiver........
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
He wasnt.
RichardS
N/A
Seajet
...
And is also awake, one might argue he has more reasonable excuse to be asleep gently trundling at five knots...
capnsensible
Well-Known Member
