2017 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

And all this angst about the supers... kinda odd for me to be so involved, because I don't believe that they should be racing with their powered hydraulics. I'm conflicted, because these boats are marvels of engineering and design talent... but I wish that talent was told to stop with the engines!

Yeah, I see it differently
I see them as an abomination of strap-ons trying to remedy inherant design flaws.

The true marvels of engineering and design talent are vessels that can do the same speeds with minimul fuss, dollars and crew.

. In February 2013, the radical multihull set a new record of 29 hours 52 minutes and 23 seconds for sailing the famous stretch of water between Sydney and Hobart. This passage record has now been ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. Over the 630 nautical miles, Team Australia averaged 22 knots and reached a top speed of 39.6 knots

Team Australia teamaus.net.au

[Pizzazz]

My humble view is that the 1 hr penalty was fair and WO should have done the 720. However, it was a small infringement relative to the magnitude of the race (it is an ocean race not a beer can race). Given that Sydney Hobart happens infrequently and the weather forecast was exceptional, it is unlikely that similar conditions will exist in the next few years. Thus the Comanche "fake" record will likely stand for a number of years (I know this was said last year as well) and to me it will always be tainted as the real record belongs to WO. Hence, it would have been totally cool, even if wishful thinking on my part for the Comanche skipper not to fly the flag.

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

My humble view is that the 1 hr penalty was fair and WO should have done the 720. However, it was a small infringement relative to the magnitude of the race (it is an ocean race not a beer can race). Given that Sydney Hobart happens infrequently and the weather forecast was exceptional, it is unlikely that similar conditions will exist in the next few years. Thus the Comanche "fake" record will likely stand for a number of years (I know this was said last year as well) and to me it will always be tainted as the real record belongs to WO. Hence, it would have been totally cool, even if wishful thinking on my part for the Comanche skipper not to fly the flag.

Lots of folks here seem focused on the competition between the maxis for line honors, but have apparently forgotten that this is a handicapped race and the real competition for all but a few is to win on corrected time, not line honors. How “cool” would it seem if Comanche let the foul pass without protest and that cost another sailboat the overall (not line honors) win? I don’t think “gaming” when to protest and when not to is a good idea. Too many unintended consequences that may affect innocent 3rd parties. If you’re pretty sure you get fouled, file a protest, and if you commit a foul, do your turns and move on. It’s simple and has worked

[clockwork orange]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Yeah, I see it differently
I see them as an abomination of strap-ons trying to remedy inherant design flaws.

The true marvels of engineering and design talent are vessels that can do the same speeds with minimul fuss, dollars and crew.

I agree, bit of a joke really. The new record set by 100ft boats is about 10% slower than the 60ft Team Australia's record. There are now 2 ORMA 60's and a MOD 70 in that part of the world. Going to see some records fall when they all get together in the coming year without resorting to motorsailing.

Steve.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Pizzazz

(it is an ocean race not a beer can race).

Same basic rules apply to all races.

Given that Sydney Hobart happens infrequently

every year

and the weather forecast was exceptional, it is unlikely that similar conditions will exist in the next few years.

True

Thus the Comanche "fake" record will likely stand for a number of years (I know this was said last year as well) and to me it will always be tainted as the real record belongs to WO

. No the real record belongs to Team Australia. The Race Record to Comanche,

[Suijin]

The skippers know the RRS plenty well enough to know the rules in situations like this, which is exceedingly common.

That said, knowing exactly what has transpired on both boats in these situations can be very difficult in the heat of the moment. People are yelling, distances can be hard to judge, and whether an opposing boat has dipped, headed up, depowered etc is not always clear. It’s often hard enough on 40’ boats. It can’t be anything but worse on 100 footers.

I suspect that there was a quick analysis on WO after the incident and the conclusion reached was that there had been no foul, regardless of whether their maneuver was intentional or not.

If you know you’ve committed a foul you take your penalty then and there as the alternative is almost always worse.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

In general I quite agree with this, and think that I have expressed that in posts above. Yet, I will always know that on the day, WO did it faster.

And all this angst about the supers... kinda odd for me to be so involved, because I don't believe that they should be racing with their powered hydraulics. I'm conflicted, because these boats are marvels of engineering and design talent... but I wish that talent was told to stop with the engines!

In truth, the big maxi multihull vessels are more interesting technically, and the feats of their sailors far more inspiring than these ego stroking money pits.

Jim

Comanche CAN be sailed in "manual" mode, which is why she has been able to claim some ( monohull) sailing records. Certainly they were using grinders to operate the winches in the race, although I assume the keel canting was engine driven.