ScottiE 174 Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Three rig issues on exiting the Southern Ocean, including one dismasting. Coincidence? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Changed 10 Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 It's a high ratio of problems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 I understand the sea state around the Falklands / East of the Horn can be steeper. I don't entirely understand the routing either, but it would appear the boats need to go to windward, or at least with the wind forward of the beam. Steep sea state and a need to go to windward will create impressive slamming, which will cause issues with the rig. Got to say though, Vesta is a cursed boat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 343 Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 They push bloody hard, might have something to do with it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkside 61 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Some interesting decisions to make right now by those with masts. Looks like a big passing opportunity Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Some interesting decisions to make right now by those with masts. Looks like a big passing opportunity Nothing 'potential' about the passing opportunities, Dongfeng have just sailed straight through Brunel. Either Brunel has some sort of issue, or they are in entirely different wind / sea state. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Different winds.... Huge difference in performance right now... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 https://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/raw/8727.html If you want to start an arguement about crew protection, check out this video of Akzo Nobel. Driver is double clipped at the steering pedestal, one clip in front, one clip to the side. Wave comes over and he gets knocked clean off the pedestal. On a separate wave, another crewman gets thrown off his feet, while just standing at the grinder (at the back of the boat). In the same video a crewman has broken his nose, so just re-sets it (before asking a crewmate if its sticking to the left or the right). All great watching, but I just can't understand why they can't provide protection for the crew. Especially the driver, its not like their job is not critical to keeping the boat on its feet. The driving pedestal is about half a meter off the deck. In NZ you'd need scaffolding around that... Crew are regularly getting washed down the deck. It is a common problem drivers are getting knocked off the wheel. There is no need for it. The modern multihulls have nice bucket seats and windscreens... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Totally agree. Boats are one design, so there would be no performance loss. It would be interesting to see how much drag was added anyway, compared to a wave sweeping the current deck design. These are not really great sea boats, the only reason they mostly survive the southern ocean is that they are not there for long due to their speed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex Elly 197 Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Several boats with mast track problems. And now a broken mast. Wonder if Southern Spars will retain the contract for the next race? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 There have been comments about the cold affecting the ductility of the glue holding the track to the mast, i.e. in the cold the glue becomes more brittle and prone to cracking. Recommendation was to use rivets in addition to the glue. It is certainly an aspect with one design, if one element of the boat does not perform to expectations, it can take out a large chunk of the fleet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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