Velux 5 Race

Glad it happens to the pros too.

We were waiting in Audiernne for a week in May for the storms to die down before crossing Biscay.

When we did eventually leave the course for La Coruna was bang on the nose so we made the decision to pull in to Gijon too. Just like the Hugo Boss glamour boy !!

Mind you we only saw 35 kts not the 50 plus these boys are getting.

I think RKJ know's its a marathon not a sprint. It would be funny if he got a result due to others falling apart. Just like Bullimore did in the Oryx Quest.
 
There was a lot of chat about that before the start. Its all very well doing 30plus knots in bursts (if thats that these things will do), but if you don't finish then its a bit pointless. I will be watching to see if experience wins out.
 
He reported by e-mail:

[ QUOTE ]
Rolled last night. Section of mast track bent. Cant remove all the screws so sail stuck. Heading Corunna but may take a day or two. Masthead instruments unserviceable but alarms keep going off. SatC still bleeping. Otherwise OK. RKJ

[/ QUOTE ]

Respect!

Rick
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

5 Oceans but only two competitors.

I appreciate nobody has officially retired yet but what happens if it goes down to 1?

This is a strange RTW race. Two thirds of the fleet haven't got out of Biscay yet !!

Do you think Velux are getting value for their money ?
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

Would you buy a Velux window that fell apart or leaked the first time it blew a gale?
What happened to "fit for purpose" and "seaworthy". There's something fundamentally wrong with these yachts.
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

[ QUOTE ]
... what happens if it goes down to 1? ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Precisely what happened when RK-J did the last solo RTW.

The conditions experienced out there on the edge of the continental shelf in 60 knots of wind are as bad as anything you'll meet in the southern ocean. The difference is that at this state of the race it's worth putting into port for repairs. The same problems in the southern ocean and they'd have to carry on, probably too slowly to remain competitive.
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

I am a Moboer i know a bit about sailing, what i do know is
that sailors like RKJ are a bit special, a breed apart if you
like. They are determined winners, read his account of
being "Knocked Down" by 70kts of wind!!!. Now he going
to get yacht repaired and carry on. So you carry on
criticising from the comfort of your armchair. There is
only one wrong fundamental thats you.
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

Hey, full respect to all of them.

Makes you wonder about the timing of the start though.

I believe everybody was happy to go but how much of this could have been avoided if the start was delayed.

Oh to have the power of hind sight
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

I'm not knocking RKJ or any of the other competitors at all. I fully recognise they are a breed apart and each and every one of them have my fullest respect. But are you trying to tell me that the first gale of a circumnavigation knocking out every boat is normal? Is this an unusual gale? An unexpected gale? Bollox!
The boats are not up to the job. The prospect of winning has taken precedence over survival in their design.
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

Glad you are not knocking the participants. Mike Golding on
Ecover is in the race, very tried and tested Man and Boat.
Read his account of Biscay!! words he used, Violent storm
unexpected! 70plus kts sea frightened HIM!, so powerful
it knocked lumps off his yacht. What sort of yacht can
stand up to those seas. Remember Mike and Ecover have
been round the world together. I think fundamentally the
yacht designs are ok, but there are times when you just
can't legislate for winds like that. But they are still going
after all Biscay can throw at them
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

Methinks an MAB would have a pretty torrid time in 70kts of wind.
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not knocking RKJ or any of the other competitors at all. I fully recognise they are a breed apart and each and every one of them have my fullest respect. But are you trying to tell me that the first gale of a circumnavigation knocking out every boat is normal? Is this an unusual gale? An unexpected gale? Bollox!
The boats are not up to the job. The prospect of winning has taken precedence over survival in their design.

[/ QUOTE ]

This has happened a few times in biscay recently with the open 60s. Fact of the matter is they are downwind boats. They fully expect to meet winds of 60-70 knots on a circumnavigation and are designed for such. However they expect to meet these conditions going downwind in the Southern ocean, not upwind in the first few days in Biscay.
All the damage we're hearing of is relatively minor in many ways, mainly sails. There have been no dismastings and no competitor has been forced to call for help. So in fact I would argue that the fleet has coped remarkably well with what has been described as a very nasty sea.
 
Re: Velux 5 Oceans, two competitors Race.

[ QUOTE ]
how much of this could have been avoided if the start was delayed.

[/ QUOTE ]
I would suspect that there are pressures from media/advertisers/sponsors etc that would make this extremely unlikely!
 
For comparison. Velux 5 oceans 2006.

[image]http://www.bymnews.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=328&pid=24983[/image]

1998 Sydney Hobart.

[image]http://www.radford-yacht.com/aspect1.jpg[/image]

I think they've faired quite well considering!
 
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