Sydney-Hobart 2015

The latest channel 7 update still shows commanche way out in front off ulladulla but the change is hitting them now. I am in east gippsland and the front has left here now and the sun is out again . So by morning the fleet should run into nicer conditions.

 

Wild oats retired with torn mainsail.

 

Loyal is out.

 

Sh 2015

Just checked the tracker and Rambler is out front-I was startled to not see Wild Oats and now I see she retired. Damn!

 

its the S2S race now, first back to CYC bar..

 

Sh 2015

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Apparently Comanche is still in it after breaking a rudder? Rambler should have it made now......
List of retirements:
http://www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/news/2015/day-1/southerly-buster-causes-havoc/

The main on WOXI must be really damaged beyond repair-can't imagine they wouldn't try to fix the damn thing?

 

Sh 2015

Vimeo replay of the start plus an apology for the start not being broadcast internationally: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/news/2015/pre-race/rolex-sydney-hobart-race-start/

 

Something I wasnt aware of -
"To do this, the CYCA equips each boat in the fleet with a Yellowbrick tracker, that automatically updates the yacht's latitude, longitude, course over ground and speed over ground - and transmits that information via satellite to a land station. From there, the data is transferred to the website,......."

I wonder what the trackers cost and if other yacht races would benefit from the use. eg - Melbourne to Hobart, Launceston to Hobart.

 

Clear sky and light breeze this side of the paddock this morning r watson. Whats the weather doing on your side.

 

There was something in the prerace brief about trading the brick in for a case of beer at the finish. Can't see anyone objecting to that.

However, both the boat trackers and the website software seem to have been glitchy. Compared the Vendi globe tracker, it basically stinks. And the selection ribbon on the right doesn't work properly. Course tracks and race replays on the tracker would be nice.

Comanche has begun cutting into the lead.

Edit. The track function is running now, but there is a large time lag between the finely spaced data and the current position. That's okay, I can see the point in that.

 

Comanche's going to have to build a lead before the wind dies. In the Fastnet, Rambler was only 4 min behind her after 600+(?) miles.

 

IchBan doing very well for a whole lot shorter boat

 

Sh 2015

Video interview with the skipper of Wild Oats about last night:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-27/'it-could-be-anyone's-race':-mark-richards/7055394

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Comanche has caught Rambler and is going much faster....
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UPDATE--Comanche is doing 14.3 knots and Rambler 6.2-hope they don't have trouble! 9:42-Rambler back up to speed...

Go 88!!!

 

"the sail is trashed - It's a $200,000 sail." Gulp.

 

No wonder they weren't carrying a spare one - if that's really all that was wrong.