RTIR - Time lapse film at the Needles...

[l'escargot]

At about 17 seconds it looks like a yacht with a black kite hits the Varvasi...

 

[rwoofer]

If it is the black kite boat I think it is, it look to far south of the needles. The Varvasi is pretty much on the line from the needles rocks.

 

[l'escargot]

I thought it looks a bit far over but it certainly looks as if it hits something:

 

[emsworthy]

Looks like another boat with a blue spinnaker, possibly a Sunsail f40, hits something at 44 secs. There's an abrupt halt and a lot of twizzling about trying to drop the kite!

 

[BlueChip]

Mark the screen at that position when the first one hits and replay the video, there are lots of yachts later that suddenly show a change of course violently at the exact same spot.
Could be coincidence but it looks like many just touched the wreck with their keel.

 

[newtothis]

Mark the screen at that position when the first one hits and replay the video, there are lots of yachts later that suddenly show a change of course violently at the exact same spot.
Could be coincidence but it looks like many just touched the wreck with their keel.

and at at 0.59 it looks like a mobo comes in and sits over the spot to warn off others.

 

[benjenbav]

All the best people have hit the Varvasi

Amazed there's anything left of it.

 

[Simes]

Terrific bit of video, really enjoyed it. Thanks

Simes

 

[SteveTibbetts]

Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed that. Where did the needles disappear to at 1:20? Looks like they must have drifted away!

 

[Ripster]

Enjoyed the film - fascinating. Thanks for posting.

 

[pmagowan]

Is there any reason why there are a billion boats or is that just the way things are down there? Nice film BTW

 

[l'escargot]

Is there any reason why there are a billion boats or is that just the way things are down there? Nice film BTW

Just the way it is on round the island race day - 1600 odd boats all set out within about an hour and a half. Some take less than 3 hour, some take 12 or more...

Film courtesy of http://wightpod.co.uk/

 

[pmagowan]

Ah, so it is not an average day. I was beginning to think you mainland Southerners were a flocking species.

 

[Laura Nineham]

I was on the boat that snuck through the needles next to the one with the black kite. I missed all the drama, but the guys I was sailing with saw the yacht hit the wreck!

 

[Seajet]

As hitting the Varvassi - probably the boiler - is becoming a bit repetitive and can't always be a jolly jape - sooner or later there will be a tragedy -, why the hell isn't there a warning buoy on it ?

Such a thing could be placed just for the RTIR.

I haven't taken part in the race ( but have sailed around on my own ) - do the race instructions give a precise location of the wreck so one can enter it as a place to avoid by GPS ?

I do mean race instructions rather than charts, as the race notes would make things more obvious.

 

[l'escargot]

As hitting the Varvassi - probably the boiler - is becoming a bit repetitive and can't always be a jolly jape - sooner or later there will be a tragedy -, why the hell isn't there a warning buoy on it ?

Such a thing could be placed just for the RTIR.

I haven't taken part in the race ( but have sailed around on my own ) - do the race instructions give a precise location of the wreck so one can enter it as a place to avoid by GPS ?

I do mean race instructions rather than charts, as the race notes would make things more obvious.

I would think the people who hit it are the ones who know exactly where it is and take the risk of cutting it fine - there is plenty of information available on how to miss it and the vast majority of boats do miss it.

 

[Giblets]

I seem to recall that some years ago the wreck was buoyed for the race but people still hit it so the organisers gave up!

 

[Seajet]

I seem to recall that some years ago the wreck was buoyed for the race but people still hit it so the organisers gave up!

Giblets,

thanks; just goes to prove the saying ' you can't help some people ' !

Andy

 

[flaming]

I've been inside, outside and hit it.

Even when you've been through before it can be really deceptive just how fast that tide runs. I'd been through the gap 3 times before we hit it. Overall I think the risks outweigh the potential gains unless you really think you're in with a shot of the overall race win.

And when they buoyed it with an inflatable mark clear of it to round as a mark of the course one year an early boat hit the mark and cut the anchor chain. The following boats had to chase the mark half way to Poole....

 

[Seajet]

"The following boats had to chase the mark half way to Poole" ...

Flaming,

I'd love to see a video of that !

Well apart from a wreck marker buoy and / or giving the position, will anything prevent racing Lemmings from hitting it ?!