Vendee Globe - the Real Race

[MysticGringo]

Instead of wading thru the other vendee glove thread that's mostly about the virtual racing in order to find commentary on the actual race, I thought I'd start a new topic that doesn't involve the virtual race. Mods, if that's not cool, feel free to delete this.

So, Kito has retired due too "being hit" by a trawler and his team is implying the fault is with the trawler not having AIS on. It seems they are placing all the blame on the trawler, however the areas of damage seem to imply that Kito ran into the trawler.

Naturally a singlehanded race like this means there's no possible way to keep a proper watch the whole 3 or 4 months. I kind of feel that immediately placing the blame on the trawler in this situation is entirely premature and probably not entirely correct.

What are the rules about running AIS? Obviously if you have it, you should run it... but what are the rules?

[monte]

I think his quote re AIS was taken out of context. They cant blame the trawler for not having AIS on.
The regulation requires AIS to be fitted aboard all ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages, cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and all passenger ships irrespective of size. So the trawler isnt required to have it.
It would depend if the trawler was under way or not who is the stand on vessel, but it would seem obvious Kito didnt see the Trawler as his speed was around 16k and I havn;t seen a Portuguese Trawler doing over 8k,
Bummer for Kito though to be out so early. I guess that coast will be the most traffic they will see in the race so a lookout is pretty imperative. Not to mention its littered with fishing pots.
I noticed one of the skippers said he slept well and it was too dark to see so no point staying up, and his autopilot was working well. This implies he is more worried about being able to hand steer to go fast than keeping a lookout. I thought that was a pretty funny comment.

[sinbad7]

Mystic Gringo..

Quite agree,good idea,was´nt my intention to use the thread for virtual race.
However,does´nt matter,we now have two separate threads thanks..

Yea I was reading the remarks by that skipper,thought it was a bit early to think
about sleeping below,leving the boat without command in these heavily trafficated
waters. I would not think about sleep until I was well out in the Atlantic and away
from the shipping lanes,or other participants for that matter,until the cluster of boats
had spread out sufficiently as not to present any danger of collission.

Perhaps the captain of Kito was also having an early cat nap?

Tore

[DeepFrz]

My understanding is that they sleep for 15-20 min. periods, get up and check everything and then sleep. They train to get into that mode well before the race.

[deckofficer]

I would like to follow the race but can't figure out how to update this page.
Vendée Globe 2012-2013 - Tracking

[Sulaire]

I think the problem may be that the vendee boats are doing around 20 kts, and us mere mortals potter along at around 5-6 kts.

When i single hand i also do the 20 min check 24/7, BUT i have a radar on 24/7 with protection alarms set up at 5 miles and 2 miles. AND AIS transeiver.

Do the vendee boats have radar? Not sure, but at 20 kts they would need a zone around 10 miles, which near coast will be a constant pain!! My boat will only go about 1-2 miles in 20 mins, theirs will go 6 or 7!

Love the vendee and full respect to all who sail in it, would hate to see any health and safety meddlers get involved, so overall i think we just need to accept that sh%t happens at sea . I am in awe of these guys and girl!

C.

[DeepFrz]

I believe that page is only updated 4 to 6 times a day but I can't remember where I saw that so can't verify. They do update it with video links though.

[MysticGringo]

Originally Posted by sinbad7

Mystic Gringo..

Quite agree,good idea,was´nt my intention to use the thread for virtual race.
However,does´nt matter,we now have two separate threads thanks..

Yea I was reading the remarks by that skipper,thought it was a bit early to think
about sleeping below,leving the boat without command in these heavily trafficated
waters. I would not think about sleep until I was well out in the Atlantic and away
from the shipping lanes,or other participants for that matter,until the cluster of boats
had spread out sufficiently as not to present any danger of collission.

Perhaps the captain of Kito was also having an early cat nap?

Tore

No worries, I figured that wasn't your intention but that's what happened. The virtual race is cool, but I think a separate place to talk about the actual race was needed.

The latest I saw in regards to Kito was that he kinda took a bit of blame, yet said he wouldn't have been able to see them if he was keeping watch anyway, this was relying on AIS for his lookout. He does a good job of taking responsibility.

That has to be a horrible feeling, spending all those months preparing, then to retire in the first few days from something probably avoidable.

[DeepFrz]

Macif has what looks to be a radar dome on the mast. It could be something else I guess. I also note that the boats don't have wind gens. any more (maybe the green energy one does).

Edit: This slideshow shows a nice shot of Macif's electronic set up.
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/slideshows.html

[Deepdraft]

What's up with the outriggers... New stay design?

[monte]

exactly Sul

[DeepFrz]

The outriggers have been around for the last 2 races at least.

[monte]

yes it does have a wind gen DF
They're spinnaker poles DD

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

I believe that page is only updated 4 to 6 times a day but I can't remember where I saw that so can't verify. They do update it with video links though.

From that page the boats haven't moved for two days.

[monte]

The page works DO, shows boat speed/position etc,. It opens in a new window, maybe you need to enable popups