Vendee capsize - Sanso in his liferaft

One minute he was fine and communicating with his team, the next he is capsized and takes to his raft.

Not confirmed but another keel failure?

Meanwhile JPD should do the last 1000 miles without his, and still come in fourth!
 
I think you can only assume it was keel failure. The VG website is saying his EPIRB's signals etc have been picked up, a flyby plane has seen him waving and a helicopter from Terceira (Azores) has been sent with ETA UTC 2300 this eve.. Hopefully, conditions will remain relatively calm and will enable him to be picked up. Even though we think we have 24/7 coverage, it must be bloomin scary for him out there. Here's hoping it all turns out well, and well done to Javier for getting as far as he did.
 
Mike Golding has lost a keel bearing and was taking on water. He appears to have fashioned some sort of repair. Rooting for him as probably his last RTW race and it would be horrible if he lost his keel or other major catastrophe. They are all amazing sailors.
 
Just seen this. What a shame for Javier. Would have been great to see a boat make it round without using any fossil fuels.
I wonder if there's any possibility of recovering the boat?
 
Just seen this. What a shame for Javier. Would have been great to see a boat make it round without using any fossil fuels.
I wonder if there's any possibility of recovering the boat?

Just seen what?
I haven't been seriously following the VG, but please don't tell me JPD is out with only a "few" miles to go?

Best wishes to Sanso.
 
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Just seen what?
I haven't been seriously following the VG, but please don't tell me JPD is out with only a "few" miles to go?

Best wishes to Sanso.

Don't worry, you're mixing up your Js!
Jean Pierre Dick has sailed for Les Sables and should arrive later today, missing keel notwithstanding.
Javier Sanso was a lot further South, still a great shame for him of course.
 
Don't worry, you're mixing up your Js!
Jean Pierre Dick has sailed for Les Sables and should arrive later today, missing keel notwithstanding.
Javier Sanso was a lot further South, still a great shame for him of course.

Ah, thanks!
Told I haven't been seriously following the VG :o
As already said, amazing sailors. Well done them all, especially "our lad". Coming on BBC Breakfast soon, with his wife and boy.
 
Mike Golding has lost a keel bearing and was taking on water. He appears to have fashioned some sort of repair. Rooting for him as probably his last RTW race and it would be horrible if he lost his keel or other major catastrophe. They are all amazing sailors.

Why do we say they are amazing when things go wrong. The sailor who need no help, gets there in one piece no fuss are realy the amazing sailor.
 
I think the reference "amazing" (certainly in my thread) relates to the fact that they have all set out to do the VG with all its rigours, and that some even overcome major set-backs, or become overwhelmed by them. I for one take my hat off to them all.
Said from the comfort of a warm and stable (well allmost) house.
 
Perhaps there should be a Constructor's Prize as in Motor Racing. Then perhaps the boats would be a little more able to withstand the rigours of the event.
 
Why do we say they are amazing when things go wrong. The sailor who need no help, gets there in one piece no fuss are realy the amazing sailor.

No, can't agree with that. (Speaking as a warm-weather cruiser.) "Boring" would be a better descriptor. I imagine such success would generate too few column inches to interest a sponsor much, too!

Mike.
 
No, can't agree with that. "Boring" would be a better descriptor. I imagine such success would generate too few column inches to interest a sponsor much, too!
Yup. To have a reality show touchy tragedy and tears are a must in scenario. First great publishing success was, after all, Alain Gerbault and his old rigging tearing :)
 
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If and it is an IF... he hit something...

There is an important story going on here that no one is talking about..

It seems that quite a few have been hitting things .. like what? containers or whales?

Is the ocean so full of containers that it is becoming a very dangerous place?
 
It seems that quite a few have been hitting things .. like what? containers or whales?

Is the ocean so full of containers that it is becoming a very dangerous place?
Boats made with one layer of cloth put onto some thin foam, and then going 20 knots... No need for a whale, really, any small fish will do. Or a tree branch, or an old crate, even bigger bottle.
Frankly, it's amazing some of them come back...
 
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Well done them all, especially "our lad". Coming on BBC Breakfast soon, with his wife and boy.[/QUOTE]


Talking of "our lad" Alex, the VG website says Hugo Boss has left Sables on passage for Portsmouth. Heading over for an "event" on Sat 9th. I've tried googling all the search terms I can think of to see what that event is. Anyone know? If Alex is going to be a Gunwhalf Quays, I fancy the idea of of popping round from Poole to welcome him home....
 
When I crossed the North Atlantic, 27 days I would say that on at least three occasions I heard something bouncing down the hull and I saw a number of parts of pallets similar size bits of floating bits. At 5 or 6 knots it not a big problem for my 15 mm Plus solid hull. At 20 plus knots it may be a problem.

It would be interesting to see if a designer would increase weight/ strength and hold back speed on the basis that you have to finish to win.



If and it is an IF... he hit something...

There is an important story going on here that no one is talking about..

It seems that quite a few have been hitting things .. like what? containers or whales?

Is the ocean so full of containers that it is becoming a very dangerous place?
 
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