Volvo65 One Design

So far every attempt to introduce a one design round the world series at elite level has flopped. Be interesting to see if this one comes off.

 

An interview on Sail Racing Magazine with Bruno Dubois director of the Dongfeng team in regards to their VO65 program.

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/editors-blog/1mjw062sr6m29bmad20lhdgeplwodi

 

Sail Racing Magazine have been busy on the VO65 interview front. This time they speak to Nick Bice on how the Volvo shared maintenance facilities will work.

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/e...ice-how-the-new-vor-shared-services-will-work

and a interview with Sophie Ciszek of the SCA team

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/editors-blog/?format=rss

 

Agree. Can't See it.

The previous boats. Did each syndicate have more than a single boat testing programme before the race.?

OC

 

Abu Dhabi and Team SCA are going to race in the upcoming round Britain and Ireland race.

http://www.sailracingmagazine.com/editors-blog/53vp5dil7kkjup70ppp5s5zkup542a

 

Do they have a 2 boat campaign each. Do you know.

Oc

 

As far as I know only one boat per team.

 

Well that was quick. Jack be quick.

Yes I know they have been training on a training Boat.

From the news.

"Global hygiene and forest products company SCA, is due to take delivery of their Volvo Ocean 65 race boat later this month. The team has secured the second boat in the new One Design Volvo Ocean Race fleet and they will be carrying out sea trials in at the end of this month. "

It would appear they have have a 2 boat one design programme. YES .


Observation.

The new design was supposed to be to reduce costs.

The new design with the bow spit is actually longer. If they embark on a two boat one design campaign, plus Composite materials have leapt up in price over the last few years. I hear stories that it is the military buying up all the carbon fiber, or the windmill manufacturers buying all the epoxy and
foam, or some other reason.

Accordingly would it be fair to say the new design actually costs more than the 70's boat. The 70's boats are still sailing and fast. The 70's I assume did not have a two boat campaign.

Some spin to justify the change perhaps.

Quote ::

Going one design.
A: I knew this was a bold decision but from the moment we made it,


OC

 

There are no two boat teams as that would be a waste of money as exchanging performance data or sailing within 2 miles of each other is prohibited by the rules.

And yes it is very much cheaper to operate the current Volvo 65 relative to what a 70 would have cost if the 2014 edition were a continuation of the previous Volvo races.

EDIT: Sailing within two mile of each other during practice is prohibited during practice. The rule obviously does not apply during racing.

 

Are you sure.

Lastest news;

"Team SCA: All women crew.

The team will continue its two-boat testing program as this has been very successful to date and allows the coaches to further develop the training programs.


From hundreds of applications some 35 women have been invited to take part in month-long trials at the team’s base in Lanzarote, Spain. Each candidate has to go through a rigorous training and physical program as well as sailing on board the team’s Volvo Ocean 65."

35 crew engaged for the two boat campaign. Additional crew expenses.

Boats cost more as the price rise on carbon fibre continues to rise as per above posting.

Sailing within each other only applies to different teams. I don't think it applies to the same team with a two boat campaign.

But perhaps you can copy paste the rule that would nullify my statement

OC.

 

Is your arm broken or something? You could eliminate a lot of speculating by reading the rules book and NOR. I copied and pasted it for you here.
5.2 TESTING, TRAINING

5.2.1 Participants shall not engage in two-boat testing involving 2 or more Boats before the
Assembly Date.

5.2.2 Boats shall be considered to be testing if at any time they:

(a) Exchange or compare performance data gained while they have been sailing with one (1)
or more other Boats.

(b) Are sailing in a similar direction within a range of 2 nautical miles of another Boat.

5.2.3 All Participants including through the assistance of third parties, shall not share or exchange
performance information. This restriction shall not apply to performance information which
may be gleaned without assistance from other persons or entities in formal or informal
competition as permitted in NOR 5.2.5 (a) or otherwise as permitted in the NOR. NOR 5.2.5
(b) or (c) does not prevent a supplier disclosing improved methods or technology developed
by the supplier provided the information is disclosed to all Participants at the same time.

5.2.4 When Boats are reported to be in breach of NOR 5.2.2 the report will be sent to the IJ and
may result in a hearing.

5.2.5 Position monitoring equipment will be installed by the OA and shall be remain on board the
Boat. Once installed it shall remain powered on and shall not be modified or removed except
by or with the prior written approval of the OA. The OA may use the information received from
the position monitoring equipment to verify compliance with the Rules or for developing and
testing tracking or other OA software. A Participant wanting to turn their position monitoring
equipment off must apply in writing to the OA; the answer will be posted on the Noticeboard.

5.2.6 The following will not be considered two-boat testing; when;

(a) Participating in races, which have been approved by the OA, the OA may impose special
conditions on those Participants that compete, these are:

(i) Fastnet Race 11th August 2013

(ii) Cowes Week 2014 2nd – 8th August 2014

(iii) Sevenstar Round Great Britain & Ireland Race 10th August 2014

(b) A Participant has received written permission at least 14 days in advance of any race,
sponsor/publicity or other event in which more than one Boat or Boats may take part; any
permission may contain special conditions.

(c) Taking part in organised training sessions where multiple Participants can and will
participate any such training sessions must be approved in advance by the OA, the
approval will be posted on the Noticeboard.


Trust me when I tell you that the cost of the carbon is chump change relative to the overall cost of the campaign. The savings are huge in all other phases of the design, build, and racing of the 65 OD compared to the old Open70 rule.

 

By the way...I think that in the article you quoted the author was talking about the Volvo 70 they were using as a training boat. It would not qualify as a trial horse in this case.

 

Possibly.

Two boats testing usually refers to similar boats, design. sails etc. Well it has in the past.

How are they going to compare data against an old 70 for example.

Article.


http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/team-sca-adds-two-more-women-to-the-crew-for-volvo-ocean-race

Otherwise perhaps,

(c) Taking part in organised training sessions where multiple Participants can and will participate any such training sessions must be approved in advance by the OA, the
approval will be posted on the Noticeboard.

OC

 

I can see that you are determined to believe otherwise but I can assure you that there are not two 65s trialing against each other. They used the 70 to help get their footing on this type of boat as only a few of them have ever been on a 70. I doubt that they ever set foot on the 70 anymore as that would actually be a waste of valuable training time now that they have a 65.

 

Bouwe Bekking of the Brunel team talks to Vsail about the Vo65 and the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race.

http://www.vsail.info/2014/01/19/bo...o-about-team-brunel-and-the-volvo-ocean-race/