Vestas 11th Hour Racing unloaded and waiting to start the trip to Auckland for repair ahead of the start of Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race on March 18, 2018 - photo © Facebook.com
Dear Mags
Resumption of normal broadcasting, as it were, returns once more to your screens. Yes. After a hiatus that was probably a bit longer than planned as the new system got honed, your Sail-World newsletter is with you once again. Now if you happened to have been forwarded this, but you'd really like your own copy in the future, then follow this link to the newsletter section and complete your details. Henceforth, you'll have your very own copy waiting for you in your inbox.
And talking of back, here's a wee tale to get into. One was called Team Vestas Wind, the other is Vestas 11th Hour Racing. Both had prangs, albeit under totally differing circumstances, at the opposing ends of the boats too, in consecutive races, and with different Skippers and crew on board. Both got/will get back on the water PDQ as it turned out.
So you might even say, God help the sponsor. Yet that is not really the intent of this piece. It is merely to point out that the experience afforded to the VOR team has come in handy this time. That is to say that the Boatyard know how to effect repairs, and also retain the OD nature of the craft, and therefore fleet. Something that is very important, even though this is the last lap this fleet will undertake in anger.
The inherent strength and seaworthiness is also of critical importance, and to that end, note that the 'old' Vestas that climbed on top of the Cargados Carajos Shoals at 19 knots, is now running around the planet, and soon to make New Zealand as Turn The Tide On Plastics. Say no more, right!
It is now apparent that the 'new' Vestas was doing around 20 knots on a reach, with all the creaks, groans, wind noise, and spray that this entails, when it likely ran up and over the local fishing vessel. A collision that regrettably resulted in one fatality. Making statements past that seem unwarranted, especially as it is all now part of an official investigation. So for Vestas 11th Hour Racing it is a case of both the piece from Persico Marine and the hull itself have arrived in Auckland and work is well underway, with the damage being cut away, and the preparation begun to sew it all back together.
Aussie Nick Bice, the Manager of the VOR Boatyard, said, "Whilst the repairs to Vestas 11th Hour Racing are an unfortunate repercussion following an unfortunate incident, there is one thing we are always ready for. It is the unimaginable, and this is such a case."
"Fortunately we know these boats very well, and we have great suppliers who are always at the ready. The repair itself is well on track, with the new bow section having been built at Persico Marine, and meeting the boat in New Zealand after being shipped there. The team in New Zealand are doing a great job, and we will see the team back in full force on the Hauraki Gulf soon."
So now it is not so much as a tack, as it is a case of grind on. Turn The Tide On Plastic, yes the 'old' Vestas, reported seeing a yacht with no sign of life, as they barrelled on in a beam reach to NZL as part of the current leg of the VOR. Skipper Dee Caffari and crew were some 1400nm East of the Philippines and in sight of Brunel when, "... we saw another yacht close to our track. We looked through the binoculars, as there was no sign on the AIS software, and contacted race control.
"We called on the VHF with no response, and race control confirmed there was no active SAR (search and rescue) in the area. Our onboard reporter sent up the drone for a closer inspection, and to get some identification for the vessel."
"We collected some images and sent them back to race control, and they confirmed the vessel was the abandoned, Sea Nymph." Well I'll be. For here is the very vessel that garnered international notoriety only last year when two women and two dogs were taken off Sea Nymph by a Taiwanese trawler (and later the US Navy) some 900nm SE of Japan. They had been on their way to Tahiti from Hawaii, after a whole five months of being AWOL (as it were). Now they used flares and radioed for 98 days, but never was there a mention of an EPIRB, hence the notoriety.
So how poignant it is that it should be TTOP to find her. What a conundrum too! Caffari added, "She was sitting pretty low in the bow and her mainsail was washed over the side but the rest of her looked like she would make a nice cruiser. We discussed salvage rights for a while, and estimated that the race director would not give us redress if we towed her to Auckland while racing."
"So there she sits a hazard to shipping, a risk to islands, reefs and atolls and slowly not going anywhere. We are grateful we saw her during the day, as this could have been a very different story had we come across her at night. She was floating stern to us with no lights, or signal being given out, there is no way we would have seen her."
"I just hope now we have given authorities the position there is a chance for salvage, or for scuttling her to prevent a far worse disaster in our oceans. We are asking you not to litter the oceans with plastic, and here we have a whole yacht floating aimlessly in our oceans!" Point is, of course, why didn't Jennifer Appel, and Tasha Fuiava scuttle her on their way off or get towed? An eco disaster for sure, but way better than another prang!!! Alas, given the EPIRB issue I think we know why...
Right then. News time. Here are some gems for you to review. We have information from the Volvo, the Clipper, Vipers, Heaven Can Wait, the 18s, Youth Match Racing, Crown Series Bellerive from the River Derwent, SuperFoilers, Adelaide to Port Lincoln, Finns, 1m RC yachts, Jon Sanders returns after his historic lap, Raymarine unveils new product, Seabin, Marlay Point, the Moth gets sent out the lounge room window, Etchells, and certainly there is much, much more.
Remember, if your class or association is generating material, make sure we help you spread your word, and you can do that by emailing us. Finally, keep a weather eye on Sail-World. We are here to bring you the whole story from all over the world...
John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS
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