Tough Bites In The Southern Ocean

The events of the Volvo have been showing the true talents of these men. One can not just sail the boat and man the grinders. They dig deep and do all that and have the versatility of a seamstress, engineer, builder, creative problem solver, medic and certainly forgetting a few skills.

Meanwhile they do all this under the most extreme circumstances. It was terrible news for the boys of Green Dragon who limp on with a broken boom.

Guo Chuan/Green Dragon Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

The lovely il Mostro has suffered serious damage not once but twice. I've scowered and no pictures as of late but a short video bit from the boat.

Vendee Peace, for now.

The 'solo kids" are entering into the Doldrums where for us at home, always an interest to see who will make it into the Trades first:


Lots of reading out there for those who enjoy a good salty tale or two...cheers

Tasty Tuesday

Today's "bites" show the VOR Boys are still in two groups but all heading for the same "line", which on the screen looks to the eye like a finish, but we know, far from it...


However, the last night could have been a finish for the Puma folks:

"Last night sucked. OR it was great……if you are a boat builder or a sailmaker looking for work. Yikes. The proverbial "you know what" hit the fan when we got about as vertical in a sailboat as you ever want to be going down a big dark wave that sort of snuck up on us."

The rest of Kenny's email will have you on the edge of your seat...

The Vendee folks have a little bit off everything and as they sneak closer to the "center of the earth", we'll have flash backs of the VOR counterparts just weeks earlier...

The most nerve wracking news is from the VOR folks as the teams play in the Southern Ocean, making way to their scoring "line" before heading up for India. Amongst VOR fans there is daily chatter about the VOR's website, the media coverage or lack there of. The Ararchy East Coast editor had a chat with Knut Frostad (CEO) about the race. Worth a read through, Knut does explain the why's to a few things concerning the site but not-so-much.

One can respect the "gaps in technological understanding" from country-to-country and how HD may not even be available for all, meaning the HD video is useless to them. Or the hope to have something in place for the beginning but "will be" in two months. It is all one big learning experience. I think we all get that.

It still pains me to work with the site...but keeping faith it will get better and better but it's not the media coverage that pains me, it's basic "web site design" stuff...just hate it when one gets lost after they navigate from the home page. The "web glitz" to make it pretty...ok ok...I'll go get another cup of coffee and get on with my day.

Cheers!

Offshore Nibbles

"It's all gone so quickly...I've completely lost track of time...So we're Sunday today, are we? For me there are no more days or weeks.. The days simply tick by with the arrival of each new weather chart and the scheds." ~ Yann Eliès (Générali)

From Vendee:

Inside, outside? Through the middle or around them? To the east or west?

The Cape Verde islands block the route to the Equator and whilst it will be this afternoon that the strategic choice is revealed, the decision will have been ruminated upon for a while, based on experience, the latest weather charts, and even the punishment inflicted upon Marc Guillemot in the Canaries.

Getting stuck for hours on end more than 100 kilometres from an island that is only 3200 m in altitude, while the trade wind was blowing above twenty knots, Safran just proves that the disturbed patterns in the wind shadow can stretch out a long way leeward of the island.

Read On...

I still fancy the Vendee tracker of the VOR's but in general what fun it is to have all these screens open tracking little triangles dance around the globe!

Cape Town: Offshore Haven

It has been a thrilling day in Cape Town as first Beluga Racer took line honours to win Leg 1 of the Portimão Global Ocean Race, followed three hours later by Desafio Cabo de Hornos. ~ Portimao Global Ocean Race



It's about to turn cold again, here in the Northeast (we've been spoiled with warmth.)



But the frost-bite sailing has commenced and there is a pumpkin pie fresh from the oven, taunting my senses...how are the two related? They are aren't, except a warm piece of pie after Sunday frost-biting rocks!

That will be all the biting and nibbling for this weekend!

Weekend Bite: Vendee Fun

Time to get out of bed, check back in with the VOR later but catch up on some Vendee Scoop and "The Life of Brian Day 6" caught me eye...

Getting Dialed In: Vendee Style

The human body is fantastic and amazing. This piece from the Vendee site was an interesting read for those who wonder "how they do that?!?"

"When The Adrenaline Slows" read on...

Vendee Is A Blast To Follow

It was a rocky start to the 2008 Vendee Globe, but they have me eating words. Their website, tracking and daily "boat news" has my complete attention over the Volvo layout. I say that cautiously, sincere admiration for the people behind the Volvo media. Though, I'm sorry guys and gals, it pains me to use the site.

The VOR tracking, for the amount of time it takes to load has nothing on the Vendee's tracking:


I love this tracking for one key reason: weather overlay! You can zoom in and out, track your favorite teams (mine are BT, Safran and Roxy.)Pair this with their short news reels on the main site, which are well written and mixed with commentary and short emails from the boats. Would video and more photos be cool, of course. However, no media crew on this program! One of the impressive traits for a Vendee/Barcelona Race Team: ulitimate "Jacks" and "Janes."

These solo sailors are quite the personality!

Ok, well...this time next week there will be plenty of reading to do from the VOR and Vendee and will spend less time watching the latest 6PM news clip explaining the state of our troubled economy.