Volvo Ocean Race 24 hour record

[Scott B]

Anyone else following the Volvo Ocean race? Ericson 4 just beat the 24 hour record by covering 600 miles in 24 hours. That's an average of 25 knots. Previous record was 562 miles. Not bad considering their in a storm with up to 40 knot winds and 8 metre seas as they head to Cape Town.

 

[Ross]

Anyone else following the Volvo Ocean race? Ericson 4 just beat the 24 hour record by covering 600 miles in 24 hours. That's an average of 25 knots. Previous record was 562 miles. Not bad considering their in a storm with up to 40 knot winds and 8 metre seas as they head to Cape Town.

That can't be fun ! exhilarating perhaps but several days of sailing in those conditions has to be a young man's sport.

 

[Jim Seamans]

Was reading that earlier today

I believe Ericson 3 was running with the spinnaker up in 40 kts of wind. Damn I start thinking about hauling mine down when the wind starts going over 7 kts.

Speed Freaks:dance:

 

[Stillraining]

I believe Ericson 3 was running with the spinnaker up in 40 kts of wind. Damn I start thinking about hauling mine down when the wind starts going over 7 kts.

Speed Freaks:dance:

And its not uncommon in up to 50 in that race..I know hard to imagine isint it.

 

[Ross]

And its not uncommon in up to 50 in that race..I know hard to imagine isint it.

I understand that those boats get an almost complete refit at each stop. They are only slightly stronger than an egg shell.

 

[sailingdog]

and you don't have a crew of 15 or so working on your boat either... Besides, getting your barge up past hull speed would require a hurricane.

And its not uncommon in up to 50 in that race..I know hard to imagine isint it.

 

[Scott B]

Ericson 3

Quote from Ericson 3 "caught" with the spinnaker up


’Pitch black, absolutely no visibility’
Ericsson 3’s watch captain Richard Mason reported in an email that they “were in a squall for four hours and it was pitch black, absolutely no visibility at all. I couldn't see the waves and no horizon and we had everything from 19 to 46 knots of wind …”
They had the fractional spinnaker up at the time, and Mason reflected … “we were caught with our pants down. There was never a chance to get the damn thing off! It was pretty much survive or die! And, we survived.” I was wondering yesterday who might be trying to hold the fractional spinnaker in the marginal conditions – now we know.



Green Dragon dropped to 4th from 3rd after stopping their boat dead


“There was a deafening crunch and the boat went from 25 knots to a virtual standstill. Neal McDonald, who was helming, smashed the wheel and everyone else fell over. The crew inspected the hull, foils and keel for damage and all seems fine, apart from a huge vibration which cleared itself



It looks like they get some time inbetween legs to do repairs to the boats, although the next leg starts Nov. 15 from Cape Town. There are a few "In-Port" races in Singapore, Rio and Boston.

 

[Cappep]

Vovlo Racing

I am trying to find the races on TV. The last series I managed to record most of the action but can not find any coverage for this series.

Does anyone know who is covering the races?

Charlie

 

[Scott B]

You can get updates here http://www.volvooceanrace.org/

and video here http://www.volvooceanrace.tv/page/Home

 

[Larry3525]

25kts??? Mine doesn't go much faster than that on the trailer. Yes been following the Volvo right from the start. First started with the Whitbread back in '97. It keeps me going in the cold winter months.