GGR 2022

[shebeen]

That is the end for Simon, unless he is able to repair his windvane.
Here are the rules:
https://goldengloberace.com/the-rules/
View attachment 571147
So Simon can still be part of the event.
Kirsten Neushaffer will be leading in the Chichesterclass.
(Class with a one stopover, instead of non stop)
Or am I incorrect?

You are incorrect, Simon is still weighing up options so until he stops or requires assistance he is leading the full fleet. Unlikely he can hand steer all the way, but maybe he can MacGuyver a solution.

Here is everyone still in the running

 

[Kolibri]

I noticed it seems no one is running a Monitor this year. Perhaps due to Hydrovane being a sponsor or due to the failures in the 18’ GGR? Supposedly Scanmar “fixed” whatever failed last time, no link but seem to remember reading it.

Out of an interest in self preservation, can you provide any details on Monitor failures in the 2018 GCR? I carry a fair number of spare Monitor parts onboard when sailing off shore. It would be comforting to know that I have the right spare parts

 

[Your Mom]

You are incorrect, Simon is still weighing up options so until he stops or requires assistance he is leading the full fleet. Unlikely he can hand steer all the way, but maybe he can MacGuyver a solution.

Here is everyone still in the running
View attachment 571153

Waites will be removed from the list soon, as he isn't going to make the Hobart gate deadline and is opting against further relegation and delay to Voyager class. He'll continue on his own, independently from GGR, but won't be on the list anymore.

And Bagshaw is Chichester.

So the official GGR list is just the other 5... So Simon has to either find a solution on his own to try to retain the lead of that group of 5... Or take a repair and drop to Chichester with Bagshaw... Or just drop out. Tough call, I'm sure.

It'll be interesting to see how many of the other 4 get to the finish without dropping to Chichester or dropping out. Ian is ridiculously far behind the leaders, but if he just keeps plugging away, he may eventually have a podium spot.

 

[TheDragon]

When crossing the Pacific last year I broke both my windvane and my autopilot just north of the Galapagos. I let my boat steer itself for a week while I worked on fixing the windvane. She would sail on a close reach with the tiller left alone, just balancing the sails. But I could not get her to a reach without several bungy cords trying to balance the helm and that was unstable. I worked on sheet-tiller steering for several days without mastering it. So whatever Simon is doing, running at 5 knots without a windvane is impressive.

 

[OPAL]

Out of an interest in self preservation, can you provide any details on Monitor failures in the 2018 GCR? I carry a fair number of spare Monitor parts onboard when sailing off shore. It would be comforting to know that I have the right spare parts

Cannot recall any Monitor failures in 2018 GGR.

 

[DtM]

As usual, you are incorrect.

Directed at Shakel.

 

[oschonrock]

Cannot recall any Monitor failures in 2018 GGR.

View attachment 571248

Suzy's "safety tube failed twice".. the first time she handsteered, the seocond time she threw the JSD and lost the boat..
Was all about the safety tubes, I believe...
Hard to replace when you need to...
Was Are Wig's loss of control.. also due to winvane issues?

 

[Schakel]

As usual, you are incorrect.

Directed at Shakel.

I Quote myself:
That is the end for Simon, unless he is able to repair his windvane.

You are incorrect, Simon is still weighing up options so until he stops or requires assistance he is leading the full fleet. Unlikely he can hand steer all the way, but maybe he can MacGuyver a solution.

Here is everyone still in the running
View attachment 571153

Have you ever tried to repair a windvane MacGyver style?
But for the sake of Simon Curwen I hope you are right.
Shall we follow how it ends for Simon?
I will quote you @DtM ..

 

[Jambalaya]

I Quote myself:
That is the end for Simon, unless he is able to repair his windvane.

Have you ever tried to repair a windvane MacGyver style?
But for the sake of Simon Curwen I hope you are right.
Shall we follow how it ends for Simon?
I will quote you @DtM ..

No it is not the end for Simon. He can still win the event even without a windvane. It will be a huge challenge but he has a healthy lead and time to fiddle with things.

If he stops once he is likely to win Chichester given his lead

Knowing Simon a little he will not give up. He will keep racing and try and work out how to sail without the vane or fix it at least partially. I suspect he'll rather finish the event proper in 3rd than stop and win Chichester. He'll only stop if it's a genuine safety concern to carry on as is.

 

[Slark]

No it is not the end for Simon. He can still win the event even without a windvane. It will be a huge challenge but he has a healthy lead and time to fiddle with things.

If he stops once he is likely to win Chichester given his lead

Knowing Simon a little he will not give up. He will keep racing and try and work out how to sail without the vane or fix it at least partially. I suspect he'll rather finish the event proper in 3rd than stop and win Chichester. He'll only stop if it's a genuine safety concern to carry on as is.

Via GGR Facebook:

ENTRANT UPDATE:
🇬🇧 GGR 2022 - Simon Curwen has officially declared CHICHESTER CLASS and is heading up the coast to a port of refuge. Steering trails to sail downwind in moderate weather have proven difficult and to reduce risk of storm exposure through slow sailing, he will head with wind on beam or forward to ports north for repairs then rejoin the GGR once complete , round Cape Horn and sail to Les Sables d'Olonne soonest. #GGR2022

 

[Kolibri]

Via GGR Facebook:

ENTRANT UPDATE:
🇬🇧 GGR 2022 - Simon Curwen has officially declared CHICHESTER CLASS and is heading up the coast to a port of refuge. Steering trails to sail downwind in moderate weather have proven difficult and to reduce risk of storm exposure through slow sailing, he will head with wind on beam or forward to ports north for repairs then rejoin the GGR once complete , round Cape Horn and sail to Les Sables d'Olonne soonest. #GGR2022

Sad news! Simon appears to be a great guy and was sailing such an incredibly smart race.

 

[Jambalaya]

Well no sooner do I speculate than Simon decides he has to pull the plug.

 

[TheDragon]

Okay, so he was doing 5 knots trailing warps, understandable. Sad that this cost him the race, must rue the day he chose the Hydrovane, although if seems the wave was serious enough perhaps any windvane would have been destroyed.

 

[TheDragon]

Here is my McGyver repair of the 1/4" diameter stainless steel connecting rod between the vane and the rudder of my 25-year-old Pacific Windpilot, which broke near the left end, with the new replacement above it. That repair lasted 3500 miles from near the Galapagos to Fakarava in the Tuamotus in French Polynesia. End of thread drift.

 

[Your Mom]

Another factor in the decision... while it may be possible to balance the boat well enough off the wind to keep going without proper self-steering, he was eventually going to need to go up the Atlantic, presumably sometimes in light winds, shifty conditions, and upwind. Eventually, he was going to need some kind of proper self-steering. Once he concluded that he couldn't repair or jury rig anything proper, Chichester was probably the only realistic option. Bummer.

 

[trisail]

Here is my McGyver repair of the 1/4" diameter stainless steel connecting rod between the vane and the rudder of my 25-year-old Pacific Windpilot, which broke near the left end, with the new replacement above it. That repair lasted 3500 miles from near the Galapagos to Fakarava in the Tuamotus in French Polynesia. End of thread drift.

View attachment 571422

Good evening,
I'm glad to learn that your Windpilot served you well.

It's a good product run by a good guy. Peter Foerthmann, owner of Windpilot supplied both Abhilash Tomy and Jeremy Bagshaw, the two guys using Windpilots with a complete spare unit each, on the house, to take with in case of a breakdown.
I personally stowed the one away in a cockpit locker. Nice and light. Good bit of insurance on a race like this.

Regards.

 

[Joakim]

and upwind

I have zero experience with windpilots, but self steering is usually very easy to arrange upwind. I don't know about Simons boat, but my boats have self steered upwind (or any direction between close hauled and beam reach) very well with just one rope from the tiller to the windward (e.g. to stanchion wire).

This needs a bit of pressure on the tiller and thus some wind. About 6 knots have been enough for my boats, but these boat have so little sail area that they may need more.

Reachin and running have been much more difficult and I haven't found any solution for that except an autopilot or hand steering.

 

[Your Mom]

Looks like Waites is going to get some pretty extreme wind soon... Hope he gets through it ok.

 

[Your Mom]

Ouch... Bagshaw couldn't fetch the Bounty Islants, which apparently they are required to leave to starboard, so he had to tack onto starboard tack in 30+ kts... I hope he gets a windshift soon so that he can resume sailing in the correct direction.

Another example of racecourse requirements written in a dry office back home that perhaps were meant to improve safety, but in fact add constraints that can be detrimental to safety. i'm sure he'd rather be eastbound on a reach, and then get some northing in later when the wind isn't blowing from the north.

 

[tama_manu]

Ouch... Bagshaw couldn't fetch the Bounty Islants, which apparently they are required to leave to starboard,

Right, ouch again, after tacking Bagshaw still is aiming just about directly at Bounty Islands, or maybe below, needs to tack again or come up. It would be just a shame if difficulties with sighting and dead reckoning could cause an old timey collision.