Coville's 'Sodebo' Near-Flip Video

[Gator81]

Couldn't believe this wasn't posted already, but did multiple searches and couldn't find it. Apologies if it's a repeat.

Having myself flipped catamarans in every direction it's possible to flip one, but certainly never anything like this 105' trimaran, I literally felt the terror of impending disaster as I watched this video.

French sailor averts disaster at start of global speed-record quest

If that link doesn't work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP-67...eature=related

[boatman61]

[Factor]

Its cool, they sailed on and are ahead of RTW schedule last I looked.

[boatman61]

I don't dispute its cool... but I still got the 'Pitchpole Pucker'........

[perchance]

Come on dear, let's go for a nice day sail. I promise I won't scare the hell out of you.

[hummingway]

He didn't look in panic. I thought he handled it very well. That's a speedy vessel!

[Factor]

They are pushing the envelope, they are trying to be right at the edge, they are trying to circumnavigate in 48 days or less. Its always going to look scary. I think its fantastic that we have these guys out there setting the agenda and designing gear and systems that we will one day find useful as cruisers.

[delmarrey]

I think I'd go with a little bigger mainsail and less genoa. Obviously, not enough positive buoyancy up forward. What are they going to do in big seas? IMHO

I'll stick with a Cat or Mono.

[beowulfborealis]

That is one beautiful boat. From what I understand, that center hull is designed to do exactly what it did in the video, it submarines, and then stabilizes the boat, preventing a capsize. Looked like it worked perfectly in the video.

[Gator81]

Pitchpole pucker, indeed!

I was expecting to see the boat come up with the port ama broken, or missing. At that velocity, water is damned hard. Skip across the top all you want, but what digs in breaks off. That he skated through it amazes me. And remember, he's solo, which I suppose in that rig means no "rail meat". It will be worth watching to see how he does, trying to cover - what? - 500 miles a day for nearly two months?

[Khagan1227]

*GREAT BALLS OF FIRE*

That baby was haulin' A$$!!

I can't imagine him keeping that pace for that long...

[Gator81]

Coville now past the half-way point, as of 26-Feb-2011. (Edit for spelling only.)

Currently about 2 days behind the record pace.

"Fully focused for the past 28 days and sailing at an extreme standard since leaving Brest, Thomas is continuing to attack “whilst trying to strike a balance on a daily level and keeping to the same pace day after day of around 20 knots, and the same output with about the same number of miles each day, namely around 500”. "

Sodeb’O Voile - Toute l’actualité du Maxi Trimaran Sodeb’O - Actu - News

[Gator81]

NEWS : Sodebo has crossed the finish line!

After setting out on Saturday 29 January at 11h07'28'' (GMT) on the solo round the world record attempt, the skipper of SODEBO crossed the finish line off Ushant today, Thursday 31 March 2011 at 12h15 (GMT) after 61 days, 7 minutes and 32 seconds at sea. Thomas Coville took 3 days, 10 hours, 43 minutes and 26 seconds longer than Francis Joyon on IDEC in 2008 (57d 13h34'06'').

This, after a collision with a whale that damaged the starboard ama.

Sodeb’O Voile - Toute l’actualité du Maxi Trimaran Sodeb’O - NEWS : The Round the World in 5 Acts

How draining it must be, after two months of straining every muscle and brain cell, to accomplish such a feat, and yet come up short of the record. An amazing achievement, none the less.

[hummingway]

Around the world in 60 days by sail. I shake my in wonder. It's quite an accomplishment.