What's more impressive to you?

[flaming]

What\'s more impressive to you?

Winning the Vendee or winning the Global Challenge?

Is it the solo intensity of the Vendee, or the teamwork and close racing of the global challenge that impresses you more?
The high tech speed machines of the vendee, or the months pounding to windward of the global challenge?

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[jimi]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

No question for me, the Vendee.

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[Roberto]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

even participating would be very impressive



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[Goodge]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

I think it has to be the Vendee.

I wouldn't want to undermine the efforts of those on the Global Challenge but the standards are so much higher for the Vendee. You can't just pay your money and turn up after a few weeks training.

I have respect for anybody who has sailed round the world however they did it, but the Vendee is towards the top of the tree as far as I'm concerned.


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[StugeronSteve]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

I know that the competitors are pros, but it has to be the Vendee.

I sometimes wonder if the Challenge crews wouldn't get better value spending a few bob on therapy to cure their masochistic tendencies, rather than splashing out all that dosh on discomfort. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif



<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[aluijten]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

How about the ARC race then... ;-)

Many of those cross a ocean for the very first time. That would impress me.

A.

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[flaming]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

Agree taking part in the vendee more impressive than the global challenge, but what about winning it? From the pro skipper on each boat's point of view, got to be pretty impressive to mould a crew of newbies into a race winning crew in the really tough stuff? No technical advantages to call on, just your own talent.

At the start of the Vendee it was widely thought that there were maybe 5 or so boats capable of winning, at the start of the global challenge all of them were in there.

For me it's a tough one to call. I can more imagine myself as part of a crew than as a solo skipper, so the vendee has to be more impressive to me, but the competition in the challenge is so much closer.

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[StugeronSteve]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

Agreed, I'm full of admiration for all long distance sailors and have been following the Challenge progress daily. I really can't see me ever wanting to do any serious long distance stuff though.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[dralex]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

The Vendee is a huge trial of endurance- can you imagine not even having one spare pair of hands on such huge high performance boats. Imagine the times when everything hurts so much you just want to curl up in your sleeping bag for 24 hours, and then having the mental and physical strength to climb the mast, or change a dagger board. Imagine the stress of feeling the longer you spend not resting and actively driving the boat, the more of a chance you have of winning.

In my view, the Vendee is something I could never even dream of seriously attempting- the Global Challenge however would be possible given a year off and some cash. Respect goes to both races, but my highest respect goes to the competitors in the Vendee, not just the winner.

<hr width=100% size=1>Just enjoy it.

 

[Goodge]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

I see your point about the skippers on the Global Challenge. The better ones often go onto greater things ie Mike Golding and Conrad Humphries.

From an individual point of view if you were a crew on the Global Challenge it doesn't necessarily make you a good racing skipper I think the crews become too general in their sailing ability and are not making the crucial decisions about navigation, weather tactics etc.



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[Peppermint]

Re: As a skipper

The Global Challenge. Building a crew and getting the most out of them is the ultimate. Winning a one design race of any type is special.



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[snowleopard]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

no. i can't say the ARC is impressive. two or three weeks sitting in the sun, reading a book, catching the odd fish. what is impressive about the participants is having the determination to go instead of just talking about it.

for the vendee the participants have to put together a project and complete it on their own resources.

the challenge is tough but everything apart from the physical part is done for them.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

You can solve any problem if you throw enough money at it. That's why arc boats have grown and grown.

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[snowleopard]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

one circumnavigator was asked what he would add to his boat if he went again. the answer was 'another ten feet'.

the money is there so most people go for big boats, it makes for comfortable living which is what long-term cruising is about for most people, especially given the average age of participants.

incidentally the size is now coming down as boats over around 60 ft have been banished to antigua!

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[aluijten]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

Very much true, and I was just joking about it. However next year they will limit the size of the boats (although 18 metres is still way above my budget). Money is allways a point of discussion when it comes to what achievement has actually been delivered.

As said before, doing it instead of talking about it, especially on a limited budget is still impressive in my book.

Oh well, my biggest frustration with both races is that there is virtually no broadcast time for it in Holland. Hours and hours of football, but no sailing on the Dutch tube.

Arno

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[Becky]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

Hey, watch it! I decided to have a go at the ARC before I started to go out with Richard. It has required a lot of thought, planning, getting the money together, finding a suitable boat, and generally getting it set up to a suitable standard. And that is hard work. The fact that we may well go on to further oceans or 'just' complete the Atlantic circuit doesn't detract from the effort we are now putting in to get a boat as bullet proof as we know how. And believe me, it soaks up money.
But to return to this thread, the Vendee is for me akin to Formula 1 racing; a huge team providing all the pre-race back-up (admittedly some like Minardi, others more like Ferrari), so that the star helmsman(driver) can perform to his maximum ability, whereas the Global Challenge is a remarkable team effort, requiring all the skills of training, team selection, and leadership as well as a realisation of a dream for the entrants. Two different things altogether, but both something amazing for the participants to have achieved. I would love to be able to do either!


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[snowleopard]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

yes, i know what's involved in getting a boat to the start of the arc, i had to build mine first. but a couple of weeks trundling down the trades in the sunshine is a walk in the park compared to weeks of storm force winds and icebergs.

both the southern ocean races make great physical demands in extremely uncomfortable conditions but being the decision maker without a crew to bale you out makes great mental demands as well.

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[boomerangben]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

Its a bit like comparing Formula one with world rally. Totally different sports. Both impress me equally, but what does impress me more are those amateurs who against all the odds fullfill a dream and organise their own circumnavigation.

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[Brian_B]

Re: What\'s more impressive to you?

I agree, people who get out these are do it themselves are to be admired.
I've never understood why anyone would want to race round with the objective of getting back to the place they started as quickly as possible.
Especially going the wrong way round!
You may note the number of novice sailors on the Global Challenge. If they knew what they were doing they'd never join up.

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