Sydney To Hobart 2015-2016

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

Maybe. This isn't real bad, waves don't look so big, but bear in mind the boat is 100 feet long.

God that looks uncomfortable.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

It's a fair way off just yet, but it's looking like the race is going to start in fresh northerlies, and cop a belting southerly change on the way south.


https://www.windyty.com/?2015-12-26-....405,156.401,6

Yep, could be an interesting race.

Heavy going predicted for the early stages of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race - MySailing.com.au

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

There seem to be two events going on here: a media event for the maxis and a sailboat race for the rest of the fleet. The great unwashed may have a fleeting interest in the maxis, and could give less of a crap about t he sailboat race.

to me, it is a sad commentary that the big clubs that sponsor and put on the event(s) have allowed this to happen. It reeks of bread and circuses.

A further comment: while no one wants to see loss of life or property in a race, the requirements for participating have become so overwhelmingly complicated and expensive to meet that there are bloody few "regular sailors" involved any more. Those of us who regularly ply the very same waters manage without such oversight, as did most of the competitors before 1998's sad events. But then, we are not racers, and our sense of self preservation is still intact!!

Jim

Whilst I agree with your sentiments, this years race has again record numbers..

And the 1998 race proved that the oversight must be responsible and competent. Or people can die.

[donradcliffe]

Sydney, Australia (December 21, 2015) – A weather forecast for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race issued early today was ringing alarm bells to the point today where Iain Murray, the tactician aboard Bob and Sandy Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI, suggested the start of the race might have to be delayed if it proved correct.

A perfect year to have 10 multis do a "shadow race". If they all survive and finish, it would destroy the CCA's argument that they aren't safe.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Sydney, Australia (December 21, 2015) – A weather forecast for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race issued early today was ringing alarm bells to the point today where Iain Murray, the tactician aboard Bob and Sandy Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI, suggested the start of the race might have to be delayed if it proved correct.

So the supermaxis as well as being motorboats aren't safe to put to sea in conditions that supertris are belting round the world at 30 plus knots. Says a lot really. CYCA gave up the unsafe argument after a few journos questioned them about the tris being in far worse waters for far longer.

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Whilst I agree with your sentiments, this years race has again record numbers..

And the 1998 race proved that the oversight must be responsible and competent. Or people can die.

6 people died, and I don't think the CYCA had much to do with it one way or the other. 3 died in a life raft after there beautiful old timber boat sank, they were in a long keel heavy displacement mono, it sank, they were in a life raft, and as many have said, if a life raft is the answer its a very bad question. One had a heart attack, one fell off the back of a boat and another drowned in the upturned hull of a rolled over boat.

[JPA Cate]

Compared to 1998, almost everybody who sails, coastally in Australia, has internet access, unless they're too far offshore. Even in 1998, Melbourne Radio had already announced the met bureau's updated opinion of the frontal passage that was expected, albeit on the day of the event.

There was then and there is now no way on earth CYCA can be responsible for individual skippers' decisions. They have no control, realistically. While I agree that it is tragic that so many lost their lives, and the story of the men from the Winston Churchill referenced above was particularly sad, yet it is still the responsibility of the skipper to look after the welfare of himself and his crew. Interestingly, many of the slower boats that year, experiencing the weather as they went further south, did [and some turning back to do it] did come in to Eden and wait for conditions to moderate, which the rules allow as long as they don't go ashore.

I do not think all the extra equipment and oversight now required was a logical response to the events of the '98 S2H. I think the real lesson is that sometimes people make bad judgments and pay the price for it, which is sad, but not a really good reason to place additional burdens on the skippers who reacted responsibly.

Ann

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Sydney, Australia (December 21, 2015) – A weather forecast for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race issued early today was ringing alarm bells to the point today where Iain Murray, the tactician aboard Bob and Sandy Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI, suggested the start of the race might have to be delayed if it proved correct.

A perfect year to have 10 multis do a "shadow race". If they all survive and finish, it would destroy the CCA's argument that they aren't safe.

Assuming, of course, that every mono survives and finishes. How often does every boat finish the race?

Delaying the start might be sensible, and good seamanship. I bet it doesn't happen.

[Jim Cate]

Delay the start???? Good grief, mate, think what it would do to the TV scheduling!! Lets keep this in true perspective: if the sponsors don't get enough air time the world will come to an end (meaning that the money will dry up)!

Jim

[Polux]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Sydney, Australia (December 21, 2015) – A weather forecast for the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race issued early today was ringing alarm bells to the point today where Iain Murray, the tactician aboard Bob and Sandy Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI, suggested the start of the race might have to be delayed if it proved correct.

A perfect year to have 10 multis do a "shadow race". If they all survive and finish, it would destroy the CCA's argument that they aren't safe.

I don't see nothing special, just 30k upwind. Near Sydney and than conditions will improve. A lot worse on the Atlantic, were the weather has been terrible.

Recently a Open 60 solo sailed was abandoned near Açores. The skipper sustained injuries while trying to solve a problem on the rig (broken pelvis, broken ribs). The rib (from a Portuguese Navy boat) that went to rescue him capsized and they were all fished out safely by an helicopter.

Paul Meilhat sauvé : le récit et la vidéo du sauvetage - Vendée Globe 2016

Paul Meilhat was second on the Transat Saint-Barth / Port-La-Forê, they got on the way 50/60k winds and 8m waves. All other boats made it safely. The boat is being recovered.

[44'cruisingcat]

Forecast now does look better than a few days ago.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Factor

6 people died, and I don't think the CYCA had much to do with it one way or the other. 3 died in a life raft after there beautiful old timber boat sank, they were in a long keel heavy displacement mono, it sank, they were in a life raft, and as many have said, if a life raft is the answer its a very bad question. One had a heart attack, one fell off the back of a boat and another drowned in the upturned hull of a rolled over boat.

You should read the coroners report - these deaths did not need to happen. They occured because of incompetence on the organisers who stuck their head in the sand and responded, 'it's up to each vessels captain to decide'.. well, not when it's an organised race, no! theres a duty of care which was ignored.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Compared to 1998, almost everybody who sails, coastally in Australia, has internet access, unless they're too far offshore. Even in 1998, Melbourne Radio had already announced the met bureau's updated opinion of the frontal passage that was expected, albeit on the day of the event.

There was then and there is now no way on earth CYCA can be responsible for individual skippers' decisions. They have no control, realistically. While I agree that it is tragic that so many lost their lives, and the story of the men from the Winston Churchill referenced above was particularly sad, yet it is still the responsibility of the skipper to look after the welfare of himself and his crew. Interestingly, many of the slower boats that year, experiencing the weather as they went further south, did [and some turning back to do it] did come in to Eden and wait for conditions to moderate, which the rules allow as long as they don't go ashore.

I do not think all the extra equipment and oversight now required was a logical response to the events of the '98 S2H. I think the real lesson is that sometimes people make bad judgments and pay the price for it, which is sad, but not a really good reason to place additional burdens on the skippers who reacted responsibly.

Ann

I can't disagree more with your post Ann, and I don't normally find my self disagreeig with you

The Coroners report into that race was a very sensible finding, despite the fact that one of the key organisers was lieing throughout his testimoney. Whilst a skipper on a boat has the ultimate responsibility for his boat and crew, a skipper needs to rely on sound information coming to them. That didn't happen. In addition, information from the bureau of meteorology was also not passed on. Information that warned of a catasrophy building. The very true saying that the 'skipper has the ultimate call' is still true, but in a 'race' there is a duty of care and in 1998 the organisers did not recognise that duty of care at all.

[44'cruisingcat]

So you reckon that on entering a race, a skipper's responsibilities are passed on to someone else?

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

So you reckon that on entering a race, a skipper's responsibilities are passed on to someone else?

If your replying to me, where on earth did I suggest that?