Vendee Globe 2016

Vendee- Alex(Hugo Boss) Collision!!

A little more here: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/16303/thomson-suffers-damage-on-train-ride-south

This was pointed out by someone else: as of now Alex has zero lateral resistance when on port tack since the tip portion that replaced the normal daggerboard is gone. Damn shame.

 

Ocean racers using foils need some way to spot obstacles ahead and just under the surface- a version of this system will be mandatory technology before long:

http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/navigation/forward-looking-sonar
First of all, why is Interphase sonar worth having? Its value while coastal cruising and beyond is indisputable if for no other reason than its ability to detect semisubmerged shipping containers invisible to radar and the naked eye.
---------------

 

It would seem to be very desirable for everybody, but isn't it a very big ask at the moment?

I've no real idea of the state of the art, but a quick google came up with a PBO 2016 review of devices aimed at small boats, and running up in price to £7500; the best range was 100 metres. And I don't know how they deal with smaller floating objects hidden in the waves.

Even if the range was a mile, at 25 knots, and with an audible warning, Alex would have to wake up and get out of his bunk pretty snappy to be in with a shout of avoiding an obstacle. Unless, of course, the sonar links to a collision avoidance autopilot function.

 

Ocean Going Foilers

I didn't even know that such a system was available at any price or speed. The fact that it is means it won't be long before a practical system for highspeed sailboats is available. We're at the very start of the Vendee and we have at least two boats out as a result of collisions. I can't think of a greater impediment to the development of ocean going foilers! There really must be a solution!

 

I quite agree - theres a pretty clear need for such a system - for racing, recreational and commercial use!

 

Vendee

Trackers:
-- http://tracking2016.vendeeglobe.org/hp5ip0/


-- http://tracking2016.vendeeglobe.org/gv5ip0/

 

Vendee

More on Alex and some of the other guys here: http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Vendee-Globe-–-Thomson-suffers-damage-on-train-ride-south/149779

 

Vendee

Alex video : https://www.facebook.com/AlexThomsonRacing/videos/1588711397809573/

 

Time to rig the spare? Or maybe bit of DIY foil making....

TBH with growlers (yet to come) and other stuff like whales, plus all the other detritus in our oceans you have to expect a bit of damage. Be interesting to see how many other 'foilers' suffer on this whirwind tour of the globe. Impressive speeds so far and PRB is doing well for a non foiler.

 

Yes, m'dears, mother nature is a ***** -

 

259 metres would have taken just 23 seconds more.

 

Vendee--Sleep Deprivation

Interesting article: http://www.worldcrunch.com/tech-sci...-round-the-world-sailors-start-to-hallucinate

 

The broken foils were a concern early on. Perhaps future races will allow them to bring a spare or make them stronger yet. There's only so much you can do though. Hitting an object of any respectable hardness or mass can take a boat out of the race. There's a lot of debris in today's oceans so it's simply luck to come out unscathed. The Southern Ocean will also bear its teeth shortly so this will get more interesting. Let's hope the equipment failures are minimal.

On the sleep deprivation, this is par for the course in any ocean race. If you don't manage that you'll grind yourself to bits in due time.

 

A sonar detecting system for debris sounds good but in reality if it gives many false positives it would get switched off and racers would just take their chances.

 

http://http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aerLK7fFGII/VMp-ECo0wKI/AAAAAAAA0fY/4tl_GQOMYhE/s1600/IMOCAFoilsparVPLP.png
It is a function of continuous submerged beam. Even a relatively beamy boat or multihull requires a fairly narrow lane of clear water to pass safely. The DSS stabilized canter needs a comparatively enormous swath of clear ocean.

It's remarkable how many more things I get hung up on in the foiling A Cat than I used to in the non foiler.
SHC