Island Time 1,313 Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Agreed Sabre, he's headed into the southern ocean. Although he did go pretty well into that cyclone, which is likely what broke it.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addem 121 Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 Are these the same engineers who said “it’s strong enough” before? the rapid changes in forces between the foil section and bow section on those foiling boats must be mental at 20knots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank 185 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Addem said: Are these the same engineers who said “it’s strong enough” before? the rapid changes in forces between the foil section and bow section on those foiling boats must be mental at 20knots. It must be a real head scratcher to model the load cases for these boats, there would be so many variables to account for. I would imagine the instantaneous loads from slamming into waves could at times be horrendous, like hitting the boat with an outsized sledge hammer. Its amazing they last the distance at all, its a real tribute to the designers engineering skills. Many years ago a colleague related a story whereby Boeing sales reps were touring the world visiting prospective customers for the 787 dreamliner. Since there was a lot of suspicion about an all carbon fibre airframe they took a sample piece of the fuselage on tour so they could show how strong it really was. Customers were given a sledge hammer and invited to hit the structure as hard as they liked. One asian airline had a giant who didn't say much but was there just to swing the hammer, apparently it just bounced off ! with a satisfying "ping" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vic008 17 Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 Watching the Frenchman's video,my understanding of what he said, is that since they fly so much, therefore the aerodynamics are different. I thought a foil designed for air is identical to one operating in water. What say you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muzled 140 Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 Excellent interviews with Tracey Edwards on the daily roundup. What a legend she is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
splat 57 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 Hugo Boss has now damaged the starboard rudder... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chariot 244 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 You can have all the experts in the world but it doesn't garauntee success Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 16 hours ago, splat said: Hugo Boss has now damaged the starboard rudder... He's out. Withdrawn. DNF. Heading for Cape Town. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Its all on in the Vendee, PRB skipper has activated PLB, in liferaft. Jean Le Cam almost got him (got in sight of him) but lost him. Race control has diverted FOUR boats, now doing a grid search... Only report from PRB is that he was "taking on water". Sounds like the boat has sunk... Hope it pans out OK. The others can't find him currently. 5 m sea, VHF / AIS MOB signal is easily blocked. Possible issue with trying to do a pick up with foils sticking out. Once of the diverted boats is a non foiler... https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/20687/four-vendee-globe-skippers-are-in-the-zone-to-help-in-rescue-of-kevin-escoffier 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Some additional info. Might need to hit google tranlate https://www.ouest-france.fr/vendee-globe/vendee-globe-ce-que-l-on-sait-du-naufrage-de-kevin-escoffier-7067749 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chariot 244 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Would be bloody hard trying to get him on board in those conditions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
180S 20 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 5M seas would be a challenge alright ! I assume LEC did’nt get close enough to throw a rope, or it was unsafe in those seas to tether the raft without being able to transfer KE ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
180S 20 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Excellent news, LEC has KE aboard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Good stuff. So race control haven't spoken to either skipper, but saw Kevin onboard via video link, before the video link died, or was killed (maybe for a bit of privacy) Vendée Globe race director Jacques Caraës outlined, “We sent Jean back to a position received by the CROSS Gris Nez, the position sent by the onboard EPIRB distress beacon. Météo France's drift simulation also delivered a trace. Jean set off at OOh15 UT (1h15 French time) on our request to reach this point at reduced speed. He found no one at the given location. He then resumed its journey southeast for three quarters for between 45 minutes and an hour - an hour. As he was making headway at 1.5 knots in a 20-25 knot wind under very reduced sail (3 reefs in the mainsail and no engine), he disappeared from the screen when suddenly we heard him talk. We no longer saw anyone. Then, a few minutes after 1:06 UT or 2:06 French time (time at which he had precisely to retrieve Kevin on board), Jean went back down to the chart table and then we saw Kevin arrive behind his back in a survival suit. They both appeared fit seconds before the video cut. He is fine. Everyone is well. They are recovering! https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/20690/news-flash-kevin-escoffier-rescued-by-fellow-vendee-globe-competitor-jean-le-cam Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B00B00 330 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Wow it sounds like PRB actually snapped completely in half and went down really quick. Total structural failure of epic proportions. He mentions that they had recently added 200kg of extra carbon reinforcement to make it stronger. These foiling boats are pushing some boundaries pretty hard. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 He said 4 seconds. Had enough time to send one text. Saw the bow sticking up at 90 deg... In 2009 the then skipper of PRB rescued Jean le Cam. Now JLC has rescued PRB... It's his 5th race, he's 61! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clipper 375 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 From all I have read, JLC did an amazing job of finding the raft. Sounds a bloody awful fold up and lucky escape. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex Elly 268 Posted December 2, 2020 Author Share Posted December 2, 2020 Could the same thing have happened to Alex Thomson if he had continued? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,313 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 of course! Anything can happen to any of them. A few engineering issues to work out yet it seems... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 42 minutes ago, ex Elly said: Could the same thing have happened to Alex Thomson if he had continued? An almost certainty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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