Volvo65 One Design

Volvo Ocean Race

Here is the tracker: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/dashboard.html

Team Vestas Wind leading- Mapfre second. Pretty tightly bunched.
From Scuttlebutt tonight:

Position Report (October 11, 21:53 UTC)
1. Team SCA, Sam Davies (GBR), 6220.9 nm Distance to Finish
2. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker (GBR), 2nm Distance to Lead
3. Dongfeng Race Team, Charles Caudrelier (FRA), 3nm DTL
4. Team Vestas Wind, Chris Nicholson (AUS), 3nm DTL
5. Mapfre, Iker Martinez (ESP), 3nm DTL
6. Team Alvimedia, Charlie Enright (USA), 3nm DTL
7. Team Bunel, Bouwe Bekking (NED), 4nm DTL

 

Volvo Ocean Race

Used to be in the "old" days when numerous designers and builders were still allowed in the game that a part failure on one boat was just that-but now with "one-design" boats taint necessarily so. And when they could have kept quiet about it Dongfang alerted everybody to the padeye failure. Just plain (good) luck nobody was injured.
Here is the video-keep an eye on the stb wheel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBL0w6K7rlM#t=29

 

That sort of failure could easily have taken a life. I'm sure there are some engineers and builders that are scrambling to figure out the source.

 

I read somewhere it appeared to be metal fatigue of the padeye. A big worry if it is.

 

Because this is one-design, are the teams allowed to make mods to strengthen these weaknesses? There were at least 2 boats that fractured sheet spreaders too. Are teams allowed to add some epoxy and carbon fibre to factory components to improve reliability?

Or, is it like driving a rental?

 

My understanding is that all of the teams have to approve the strengthening process and have the same modification carried out.

 

More details of what broke?

 

Team Vestas Wind hits shoal-will abandon at daylight

More here: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/8082_Volvo-Ocean-Race-Team-Vestas-Wind-statement.html

click-- Team Vestas light blue:

 

Volvo Ocean Race

Interesting interview with skipper of boat standing by:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFy8cKotMUQ&list=UUd-kj8ShMRRDKrONtkjVRgg

 

A lot is written here
http://sailinganarchy.com/2014/12/01/been-there/

but to put all the blame on the skipper and the navigator is not correct either
these boats are linked to
a - each other
b - the race committee
c - their own "base station"
with the HUGE amount of technology at ALL of these peoples fingertips everybody has a share in this disaster

when a child walks towards the fire,
we can't sit back and ask -
where is it's mother?

bottom line is that this is a terrible terrible tragedy

 

good one

http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/8104_Whats-next.html

"But one thing is clear. Vestas entered the Volvo Ocean Race with the ambition to promote even bigger and more important races – the race against climate change, against energy poverty, and against water scarcity. These are all races they, and we still must win, and Vestas will continue working hard to promote global action."

 

A Tale of Escape

From race headquarters: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/news/8107_A-tale-of-escape.html After reading it I can truly say its not much of a tale.........

 

Agreed

 

Volvo Ocean Race

Video-very poor-of the actual crash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoE51gme6no#t=183

 

Team Vestas Wind

Absolutely terrific video starting with the crash but somehow it sounds even more horrific than in the previous post. If you want to get a feel for what happened watch the whole thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBqsKqWIJ0I


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Another very good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gmnWEZCEiw#t=58