Vendee Globe and Alex Thomson / Hugo Boss

Tomahawk said:
But how is it that he can discuss and plan repairs to the bow area with the shore crew?
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Because the rules allow for technical advice on repairs, but not on tactics as to when to slow down etc. Nor is onshore advice allowed on routing. They’re in their own with the one exception of ‘How do you suggest I mend this?’ They’re racing yachtsmen not marine architects and it’s a safety issue when all’s said and done.
 
Buck Turgidson said:
Looks like he hooked some fishing gear according to quotes in the DT.
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Perhaps just me, but I wonder whether Alex's damaged rudder is a blessing in disguise in that it avoided the untold consequences which would have followed his boat snapping in half in the middle of the Southern Ocean. Despite the "stronger than the original" bravado, I personally have doubts that his running repair will have been even close to as strong as the original and I bet his team does too -- they can't test it properly after all.

And what if more reinforcement is required elsewhere? Was the additional strengthening required prior to departure an indication of a design fault?

The Southern Ocean alone is no place to find out.
 
dom said:
Perhaps just me, but I wonder whether Alex's damaged rudder is a blessing in disguise in that it avoided the untold consequences which would have followed his boat snapping in half in the middle of the Southern Ocean. Despite the "stronger than the original" bravado, I personally have doubts that his running repair will have been even close to as strong as the original and I bet his team does too -- they can't test it properly after all.

And what if more reinforcement is required elsewhere? Was the additional strengthening required prior to departure an indication of a design fault?
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That's what I thought. Aren't those boats are built in autoclaves, not with a bit of epoxy slapped on?

Where can I put a bet on Le Cam? Not a betting man but I have a feeling ...
 
mainsail1 said:
Alex has already said that this is the end of this race for him.
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Does that also mean Frogmogman's above example of Mike Plant. ?

I would have thought that Alex would be up for that . All conjecture until he ties up In Cape Town
and can assess and possibly make satisfactory repairs. And, as mentioned, has the expertise to carry out the job of a professional shipwright .
 
Frogmogman said:
This is what American sailor Mike Plant did after receiving outside assistance at Campbell Island, New Zealand, in the first Vendée Globe. He carried on round in an unofficial capacity, crossing the line in 7th place, to a rapturous reception from the French public.

From a PR point of view, there could be more mileage in this for Hugo Boss than shipping the boat home from cape town.
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I suppose the upside is it could give him some more time to practice mast walking and diving off the end on full tilt. I loved that stunt. Pointless but fun ?
 
SaltyC said:
Sorry but, is it sensible to sail the Southern Ocean only being able to steer on one tack? I think Alex has proved he will 'go the distance' if it is safe to do so.
From memory Moitessier had a Gallic Paddy at Cape Horn when he couldn't win, threw the towel in and continued to a tropical paradise?
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You should read his book...I don’t think he had any idea who was in the lead and by that point didn’t care.
 
dgadee said:
That's what I thought. Aren't those boats are built in autoclaves, not with a bit of epoxy slapped on?
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And/or under vacuum where appropriate, carefully controlled conditions, and with computer specified multidirectional fibres to handle expected stress loads. I would also be concerned about the number of cracks which appear to have breached entire segments of the boats framework which indicates either a design fault, a beyond design-envelope stress load, or both.

Then there is the point that parts of the Southern Ocean are pretty inaccessible to rescue facilities whom routinely ask organisers to bear in mind the vast cost and time to effect rescues in some of its more far flung reaches.

For which reasons, discretion in this case may indeed be the better part of valour.
 
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Hugo boss sells clothes so their image is sort of winning ,slick well presented not necessarily interested in how a skipper can bodge up a repair and carry on ,may interest a company selling the idea of endurance,fighting the elements,maybe an insurance conglomerate
 
john_morris_uk said:
I’d be interested to know how many people on this forum have been in the Southern Ocean. I’ll put my hand up as one, but it was on HMS ENDURANCE!
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yes, Sydney/Wellington/Port Stanley. Max recorded gust 65 knots; but the grottiest bit was when we had an out-of-pattern bitterly cold southerly F8 mixing up the wave patterns.

She was a big heavy boat and we felt safe as houses.
 
mainsail1 said:
It really upsets me that Samantha speaks in French in her videos. She has obviously gone native.
I withdraw my support and will slink away into the sunset.
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The VG is a FRENCH race, I think Samantha lives in France. There will be tens of thousands of French following rather than a few hundred Brits, most of whom support AT and have no idea there are three UK women in the race, Sam Davis, Pip Hare and Miranda Merron.
 
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