The GGR race, discussion and news

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

The 'traditional' barnacle.... or picoroco... pic here https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/me...do-central.jpg
tastes like lobster and is rather yummy.....

And even crunchier than Captain Crunch in your brekkie bowl! Another food fad started by your local dental practice...

Jim

[Naughty Cat]

There have been a few references to the sailors receiving weather routing info. I thought that was glib until I learnt from another thread that Uku, and presumably others, have a radio support team able to get information to them. That surprised me a little but also makes some sense - they have power, they have SSB. Was this sort of ongoing support envisaged and is it monitored does anyone know? It does seem that, with the difference between the competitors essentially being the decision of whether to stay on the front or drop behind a storm system the quality of the radio support team would be the difference between winning and "just" being successful.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Naughty Cat

There have been a few references to the sailors receiving weather routing info. I thought that was glib until I learnt from another thread that Uku, and presumably others, have a radio support team able to get information to them. That surprised me a little but also makes some sense - they have power, they have SSB. Was this sort of ongoing support envisaged and is it monitored does anyone know? It does seem that, with the difference between the competitors essentially being the decision of whether to stay on the front or drop behind a storm system the quality of the radio support team would be the difference between winning and "just" being successful.

Could, if the the weather forecasts were accurate enough. Which they are not..

Teddy

[El Pinguino]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

And even crunchier than Captain Crunch in your brekkie bowl! Another food fad started by your local dental practice...

Jim

Best removed from the shell before eating......

[Snowpetrel]

Originally Posted by Naughty Cat

There have been a few references to the sailors receiving weather routing info. I thought that was glib until I learnt from another thread that Uku, and presumably others, have a radio support team able to get information to them. That surprised me a little but also makes some sense - they have power, they have SSB. Was this sort of ongoing support envisaged and is it monitored does anyone know? It does seem that, with the difference between the competitors essentially being the decision of whether to stay on the front or drop behind a storm system the quality of the radio support team would be the difference between winning and "just" being successful.

I think this is part of the stunning success of VDH vs the others. The difference in weather info was clearly obvious coming down the atlantic, when both VdH and Phillipe Peche followed the perfect line.

Everything except external routing is allowed over the SSB. So you just need a good radio and a good network of shore supporting radio operators in place.

I met Uku's shore support manager the other day. I got the impression she had the boat prepared for him, and Uku turned up a few days before the start.

[ahun]

Lessons were learned, and as a result of that experience in 70-knot winds and 15-metre seas, Susie has changed here storm tactics. “Every storm is different, and before this one, I used to deploy a drogue to slow the boat down. I don’t know why, but in that last storm, I simply towed warps and hand-steered to keep the boat stern-to and it seemed better. My tactic had been to let the boat sail though it, but that time I couldn’t.”

[Snowpetrel]

It's really starting to blow in Hobart now. Tapio is out in the midst of a very nasty system, Susie is anchored in Port Arthur and already having issues with dragging, a 35lb CQR really isn't up to it in these sort of conditions on a very hard sand bottom. Istvan made the smart choice to anchor in Southport. Apparently he has good anchoring gear, and he will need it.

[GILow]

All these guys at anchor in Tassie! It's making me green with envy. I should be there too!

[Snowpetrel]

Both Susie and Istvan will have caught plenty of rainwater while at anchor. We have had a fair bit.

Went out sailing today and it was a wee bit blustery. Smart move staying at anchor..

[Snowpetrel]

Susie has set off across the Tasman and Istvan is headed up to Hobart. Wind has eased off nicely.

[El Pinguino]

'At 1500hrs UTC 5th NOV. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede called GGR Founder Don McIntyre to advise that his Rustler 36 Matmut had been knocked down badly to about 150° which had damaged the connecting bolt attachment to the mast that holds all four lower shrouds. The mast was not in danger of falling, but it was not securely tensioned. The bolt has slipped 5cm down in the mast section and slackened the rigging..
..... He will then effect a repair that will allow him to hoist sail again and make for Valparaiso, Chile where he will make a permanent repair.'

Some one should tell him that it makes a lot more sense to make for Pto Montt via Boca del Guafo than Valpo/Vina del Mar....

[El Pinguino]

His present possy...
Hard southerly over a SW swell... mucky..

Montt is bottom right..

[GILow]

I don't get it...

I just watched Don's latest update video on Facebook, in which he discusses JLVDH's mast problems. In his presentation, he makes a weird remark about JLVDH choosing his mast, the extreme loads involved and, quote, "living with the consequences".

What the heck is he talking about? JLVDH SHORTENED his mast. Surely the fact that the darn thing is still vertical and attached is an ENDORSEMENT of JLVDH's decision making process. The shorter mast would have exerted LESS strain on the rigging.

And let's face it, everyone else in JLVDH's situation had their darn masts fall straight off. JLVDH still has a mast and can still use it to sail the boat.

The whole thing suddenly reeks of insurance concerns to me. For the first time I'm feeling a bit peeved by the GGR coverage.

Is there something I am missing?

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by GILow

I don't get it...

I just watched Don's latest update video on Facebook, in which he discusses JLVDH's mast problems. In his presentation, he makes a weird remark about JLVDH choosing his mast, the extreme loads involved and, quote, "living with the consequences".

What the heck is he talking about? JLVDH SHORTENED his mast. Surely the fact that the darn thing is still vertical and attached is an ENDORSEMENT of JLVDH's decision making process. The shorter mast would have exerted LESS strain on the rigging.

And let's face it, everyone else in JLVDH's situation had their darn masts fall straight off. JLVDH still has a mast and can still use it to sail the boat.

The whole thing suddenly reeks of insurance concerns to me. For the first time I'm feeling a bit peeved by the GGR coverage.

Is there something I am missing?

Sounds weird from Don..

[GILow]

More "I don't get it".

Don's just explained how he and/or the windvane manufacturer helped Susie to fix her windvane.

But she's not in Chitchester class according to the tracker. I thought external assistance automatically relagated you to Chitchester class.