Volvo Ocean Race

[powermzii]

Haven't seen anything on here about it.

Race has been going on for the last 3 or so weeks since leaving Alicante in Spain and the first boats are scheduled to be in Cape Town sometime tomorrow. The waterfront is really abuzz with anticipation with the support crews all here and the various team paddocks setup. Really is amazing to see the amount of advertising they are doing around here. Went to one of the exhibits today of a life-size mockup of the Volvo Ocean 65 boats they are using, i must say its rather snug in there. Cant imagine what it is like spending 3 weeks in that...

 

[powermzii]

First boats are just 55NM from CPT.

There is a livestream on the Volvo Ocean Race main site

 

[powermzii]

Just a few more minutes to go to landfall

 

[SauRoNZA]

It's quite a sight to behold.

I was there for the harbour start race on a small catamaran when they were here last in 2011 and I should be doing the same this year.

Great fun and highly recommended if you have the opportunity.

 

[powermzii]

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing has just won the first leg of the race. Congrats. Dongfeng Racing is in second and *currently* Team Brunel are third.

 

[powermzii]

Some pics from the Waterfront

 

[powermzii]

Yachts leave tonight for Abu Dhabi. 6 PM if you are keen to see them off.

Given all clear to race all the way unlike last time when they had to make a detour to avoid the pirates.

Some pics I took yesterday

 

[Frankie_Yale]

who's currently in the lead ?

 

[powermzii]

At the moment Abu Dhabi ocean racing is leading tha pack - see attached screenshot.

Vestas Ran aground on Sat evening thats why their status is suspended - no one was injured luckily

 

[Frankie_Yale]

Vestas Ran aground on Sat evening thats why their status is suspended - no one was injured luckily

ran aground? how's that possible?

 

[powermzii]

ran aground? how's that possible?

They are still trying to figure that out but comments from other boats' navigators were that the reefs don't appear clearly on the maps unless you are at maximum zoom over the specific area. Its possible that they just missed them honestly.

Charles had noticed this archipelago a few days ago. But it’s worth noting that it’s actually pretty hard to find. In fact, to see it on our electronic charts, you have to zoom right in on top of it. But how and why would you zoom into it if you don’t know it’s there in the first place?

- Yann Riou, OBR, Dongfeng Race Team

 

[Frankie_Yale]

that's really a massive setback. Do they have any regulations or rules to accommodate this? Or is it all part of the race?

They'll have to do some serious catching up , thats if they lost a lot of ground.

 

[powermzii]

They have some regs and procedures to deal with it - i am not familiar with all of them them myself but if they can salvage the boat they will repair it and re-enter at a later stage / leg. Last time round they had ships breaking all over (the masts especially) and on one leg 2 boats had to divert to alternate ports to be repaired. They resumed 2 legs later.

 

[Frankie_Yale]

They have some regs and procedures to deal with it - i am not familiar with all of them them myself but if they can salvage the boat they will repair it and re-enter at a later stage / leg. Last time round they had ships breaking all over (the masts especially) and on one leg 2 boats had to divert to alternate ports to be repaired. They resumed 2 legs later.

racing in it's true form -warts and all.

who are you putting your money on?

 

[powermzii]

lol @ warts and all

I met Ian Walker (Abu Dhabi) just before they left Cape Town a few weeks ago and that swayed me to supporting them.

Would also like to see the girls do well (SCA)

And you?

 

[Frankie_Yale]

SCA (not out of sympathy)

It would be nice to see them win or finish top 3 atleast.

But it's rough out there, they'll have to push very very hard.

 

[powermzii]

SCA (not out of sympathy)

It would be nice to see them win or finish top 3 atleast.

But it's rough out there, they'll have to push very very hard.

Yeah, and unfortunately they haven't had the rub of the green thus far...they make some bold choices but they haven't worked out for them yet - maybe its the experience of the other navigators showing them up

 

[Frankie_Yale]

maybe its the experience of the other navigators showing them up

think that could be the reason.

but let's not be pessimistic , things might just swing their way.

 

[powermzii]

think that could be the reason.

but let's not be pessimistic , things might just swing their way.

Especially with the teams all entering the doldrums now, essentially restarting the race..lol.

 

[Frankie_Yale]

Especially with the teams all entering the doldrums now, essentially restarting the race..lol.

what's the latest on the race? not getting any useful updates online.