Syney to Hobart yacht returns with "electronics failure"

[William_H]

Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

I am probably showing my ignorance here of modern ocean racing but the yacht Targe' a maxi of I imagine about 80 ft long retired shortly after starting the race reportedly with electronics failure. Now I know journalists often have no idea of what they are talking about btu I can't imagine pulling out of what must be like a million dollar campaign for a failure that killed everything. Surely someone in the crew of 12 or so would be able to cobble together the essential electronics like autoposition reporting, or surely someone had a satelite phone considering a major sponsor of the race was a satelite phone company. Surely also handheld GPS were carried. Has sailing come so far that we are so dependant on wind instruments? www.rolexsydneytohobart.com.au has some info for the armchair sailors. happy new year to all and thanks for your company on this forum will

 

[BrianJ]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

William,
I think its a case of the yacht taking water...will try and find out for you..
BrianJ

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

...leading to an electrical problem which disabled the canting keel (or so it is being said?)

John

 

[William_H]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

For those UK folks this boat was called "Wild Oats" and led Australias team to victory in Admirals cup this year and is 60 ft long . Thanks Brian and John that would be a good reaso to go home.

 

[Viking]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

Noboby on board now how to use a sextant? James Cook did have 'electronic' to find Ozz. But it seem 21 Century Ozzys can find an island just off their own coast? pitiful!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

Especially see the sense in Targe retiring now that in the news video we can see how unstable Skandia is in the seas with her keel disabled. Hope Skandia is not lost now that they have taken the crew off - and then Konica Minolta our home town boat, out too with damage /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

John

 

[BrianJ]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

John,
Ones heart has to go out to Grant Warrington and crew.. a tough decision... would you have stayed with the yacht ??? till a tow arrived. Or if you were another yacht in the race would you have offered to quit and take Scandia in tow... ?????
I think I would .. but you have to have been out there I guess. Still not the first time I have towed a yacht half way back to Auckland from Fiji after " the bomb" !!!!
Guess all bets are off now and we still buy each other a beer as neither of our boats finished.
BrianJ /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

Having seen the video of her laying right over onto her side when broadside to the seas I think I would quickly have become Ships_Rat and been the first off!

Very nice looking police launch that took them on board.

John

 

[Birdseye]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

[ QUOTE ]
Noboby on board now how to use a sextant? James Cook did have 'electronic' to find Ozz. But it seem 21 Century Ozzys can find an island just off their own coast? pitiful!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesnt look like it was nav problems alone, but sextant? What a load of old fashioned tosh. You cant work out things like VMG on a sextant, and without that sort of data there is no possibility I would have thought, of winning a professional race. Cant win, why continue?

 

[BrianJ]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

John,
I said what I said without knowing the rudder had fallen off.. now have egg on my face...
A real shame.
BrianJ

Have been out on the Bay all day, we have the National and World Hobies here .. first day cncld .. to rough, today not so bad ,15 + kts,boy do they move.
Reminds me of the days when I used to race 16'Mosquito Cats ( about 100 years ago)

 

[Romeo]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

"and without that sort of data there is no possibility I would have thought, of winning a professional race. Can't win, why continue? "

ah, the Paula Ratcliffe thread again, she was getting to the stage where she was having difficulty staying upright and steering too.

 

[Tia]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

As someone who has sailed as a crew member on Skandia I have to say that my heart goes out to Grant with regard to the decision he made to leave his boat. His directive was given with the best interests of his crew in mind. From speaking to friends who were racing not too far behind, the sea state was horrid and most crews were simply trying to get their own boat into safer waters, the idea of another competing yacht simply sailing over and getting a tow line on is ludicrous given Skandia's size, the prevailing conditions and the fact that her keel at the time was fully canted to starboard. (and of course all stripped-down racing yachts would carry towlines sufficiently strong enough for the job wouldn't they?)
The Sydney to Hobart has always and will always have the reputation as being one of the toughest ocean races in the world and for good reason. As a racer I think it's heartening to see that skippers are still putting the wellbeing of their crews first and foremost. Grant and Ludde Ingvall (Nicorette) have also spoken out about their concerns with regard to safety when it comes to the technology these present-day super maxis are spawning. Let us hope that skippers heed these prudent words or else we may be seeing far worse photographs than 16 crew jumping into liferafts with a police launch and helicopter standing by.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

Tia, I understand that they now have her under tow, do you have any information as to how that is going?

John

 

[William_H]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

While we are on the subject congratulations must go to the British crew of " Aera" winning overall on handicap. Congratulations and well done on what was a horrid race. (as usual) We like to let the poms win against the ozies sometimes other wise they wouldn't come back. will

 

[Tia]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

John, Her mast was in pieces and dragging under the boat, presumably as it disintegrates under tow it will drag all staunchions etc and deck fittings with it (If they are still there). Grant has gone on record to say that (optimistically) that he will have her refitted in time for Skandia Geelong Week (Australias largest yachting regatta) but as this starts on the 21st January I can't see that happening share his optimism but can only hope that I see her there. Her mainsail was lashed to the boom but all other sails were stowed in her forepeak and could presumably be inside as the passageway from bow to galley/midsection is not all that large. Grant had already commissioned a new keel which was to be fitted after the race but it remains to be seen what condition she arrives in at Flinders Island. Her repair bill is expected to be $2 million (aus). Basically from my understanding the yacht is trashed and will need to basically be rebuilt from scratch... Unfortunately we won't see her racing in the near future, and if we do, it will be a totally reconfigured boat (with a lot of attention paid to her canting keel design) !!!

 

[Ships_Cat]

Re: Syney to Hobart yacht returns with \"electronics failure\"

Thanks for the update Tia. Very sorry to hear the damage is now so extensive and certainly sympathise with Grant (especially as I am told there has been alot of personal sacrifice on his part).

My own boat (cruising) lives in Wellington so I like to follow how Konica Minolta is getting on and doing that causes one to follow Skandia as well, by default!

All the best for the New Year

John