Route du rhum. The start tomorrow at 2 pm French time.

They were looking where weight could be saved - as part of the rules all boats have to carry a book of lights (a physical book not an Ebook), it's a thick book with lots of adverts in it. The boat managers job the next day was to go through and cut out all the adverts "It will probably save around 200-500g".

The same sort of obsessive weight saving goes on in the cycling world, and I wonder if it's mainly a psychological thing. How many of the people carrying half toothbrushes or titanium water bottle clips around have dieted as much as they could beforehand. For the real enthusiast there must be loads of body parts which could be lopped off surgically in the name of weight saving. Who actually needs two testicles or kidneys?
 
The same sort of obsessive weight saving goes on in the cycling world, and I wonder if it's mainly a psychological thing. How many of the people carrying half toothbrushes or titanium water bottle clips around have dieted as much as they could beforehand. For the real enthusiast there must be loads of body parts which could be lopped off surgically in the name of weight saving. Who actually needs two testicles or kidneys?

I think you are partly right on it being psychological. However, if you approach every aspect of your programme being sailing, cycling or what ever with a view to minimising weight then it really does start to add up.
 
Beggers belief that with all the electronic kit on board a boat like Sodebo that he can hit a bloody great container ship.
I know the closing speeds will be high but even so something is very wrong.
 
Yup it was KG, sorry (I was typing in the ads during Homeland) and yep he was 3KG over the minimum

The boat would have been weighed and that weight recorded, then everything added or removed is recorded and weighed. Replacing certain items mean the whole boat has to be reweighed. How much moisture was on board when she was weighed last time of course is an unknown.

They were looking where weight could be saved - as part of the rules all boats have to carry a book of lights (a physical book not an Ebook), it's a thick book with lots of adverts in it. The boat managers job the next day was to go through and cut out all the adverts "It will probably save around 200-500g".

On the minitransats they throw pots and pans overboard when there is no further use for them.
 
On the minitransats they throw pots and pans overboard when there is no further use for them.

Pots AND pans? You Lucky lucky.....

28628-Pontos_Winches-GSP_zps294272f7.jpg


..Jailers favourite are we? ;)
 
It seems that I am the only one truly amazed to see a 55 year old guy on a smaller trimaran beating all the younger guys some in bigger an faster trimarans. All right he is an incredible sailor but the age does not forgive and sailing solo a monster like that in bad weather is terribly physical. I confess that I thought that would not be possible. Just incredible!!!
I made a bigger post about that here:
http://interestingsailboats.blogspot.pt/2014/11/rr-nasty-night-with-big-seas-and-old.html
.
 
Grey Power is at her best off the wind, so carried a conservative sail plan for the beat to Ushant as the gains of pushing hard to windward are minimal when weighed against the risk of breakages.

Now freed, she's in her element. At the speed advantage she had over the rest of the Rhum Class fleet at 1700 this afternoon, I conservatively estimated a 5 position climb up the standings from 13th at the time to be achievable by 0900 tomorrow.

RKJ's daily blogs (brief to date due to the conditions) are available to read on either the Clipper Round the World website or Facebook page.
 
Last edited:
Just heard on the BBC Westcountry News that Conrad Humphreys, from Devon, has suffered a dis-masting, and therefore forced to retire.:distress:

Sorry Mr Snooks, you type faster than me!
 
Last edited:
Peyron, a 55 year's old skipper has been able to go out of that storm in one piece and is still leader but a bigger tri is recovering slowly. Will Peyron be able to maintain the leadership over a fast boat with a better routing? The race is about at the middle.
Another old timer, one that makes Peyron look young, is Sir Robin and he is now in rapid recuperation. He was 13th and is now 7th. That's truly unbelievable that the first winner of a solo non stop round the world race, back in 1969, is still racing and going fast. Cheers to him!!
The British Miranda Merron is also making a great race on the 40cloass. From the 22th passed to 8th and is only at one NM from the 7th.
Some videos and photos and more information:
Interesting Sailboats: ROUTE DU RHUM: DEMOLITION DERBY?

.
 
what is astonishing is that until a few weeks ago the maxi-tri Banque Populaire was to be skippered by Armel le Cleach' (2nd at last Vendee globe). Le Cleac'h suffered a hand wound and Banque Populaire suddenly had to look for another skipper.
They found Loick Peyron, which was registered for the race on another smallish boat.

A few training sessions, and there he goes: passed unscathed through a few tough days which decimated the fleet, now going for a possible win and possible new shortest time to complete the race. Surely not a novice, but hey, a new to you maxi-trimaran, and in a few weeks he's there upfront.. hats off :)
 
Top