How about a The Ocean Race thread?

[mad4it]

It says nothing, just bla bla. 

At least someone is talking about!

https://www.grottaglieinrete.it/it/ultimora-taranto-capitale-mondiale-della-vela-arriva-la-volvo-ocean-race-un-evento-incredibile/

Machine translated:

"An incredible event in Taranto strongly backed by Mayor Rinaldo Melucci and unanimously approved by the city council. An event that will bear the name of Taranto throughout the world. Well, I would say that this city is really at a turning point."

Thus the Councilor for sport of the Municipality of Taranto Fabiano Marti commenting on what was announced by the Mayor Melucci in the City Council that is: the Ocean Race in Taranto,

What is the Volvo Ocean Race:
The Volvo Ocean Race (formerly of the Whitbread Round the World Race) is a sailing competition around the world, held every three years. It takes its name from its current owner, Volvo. The Netherlands currently holds the record for absolute victories with three successes. The Dutchman Conny van Rietschoten is the only one to have won the race twice.

The regatta generally starts from Europe in October, and in recent editions has had 9 or 10 stages, with various in-port races in many of the cities of call.

The 2008-2009 edition of the race started in Alicante, Spain, on 11 October 2008. It was shot in India and Asia. The 2008-09 route covered almost 39,000 nautical miles (72,000 km), took more than nine months to complete, worldwide.

During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 starting in Alicante, Spain, in October 2011 and ended in Galway, Ireland, in July 2012, the teams raced over 39,000 miles in the world's most dangerous seas, touching Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, passing from Cape Horn to Itajaí, Miami, Lisbon and Lorient.

Each of the participants has a sailing team composed of 9 professional crew members who can race day and night for more than 20 days at a time in some stages. Each of them takes on different tasks on board the ship, and on top of these there are two sailors with medical training, a sailor, an engineer and a dedicated crew member dedicated to communications.

I'm not sure it says nothing! To me it confirms Taranto, Italy as the finishing port - that's big (so is the cheque by the sounds of it). Here's hoping the TOR announce the route sooner rather than later. 

More below: 

https://bari.repubblica.it/cronaca/2019/06/07/news/taranto_ocean_race-228161186/

 

[jack_sparrow]

Taranto is just pitching to have race end there. No host cities decided yet. 

 

[southerncross]

Mason says there are currently nine new IMOCA 60’s under construction and most of them have been earmarked for The Ocean Race. There is also the possibility of some older IMOCA 60’s being modified for the event.

In fact, there will not be much difference between an IMOCA 60 designed and built for the Vendée Globe and one built for The Ocean Race. Skippers will need to have an IMOCA 60 that meets all the requirements of the foiling IMOCA 60 box rule, including rig and appendages, but beyond that, they can make their own modifications. Many of these will likely be to the interior, where the boats will need to accommodate a crew of five.

https://twitter.com/sailmagazine/status/1137362393342861315?s=21

 

[Francis Vaughan]

With no course set yet it seems a bit premature to be locking in a design if you are intent on winning. I guess assuming the course will be much as last time is a reasonable bet, but if it isn't, your optimisation assumptions might mean the wrong compromises are made, enough maybe to tip the balance against a boat design that was playing with a fuller deck.

 

[Miffy]

With no course set yet it seems a bit premature to be locking in a design if you are intent on winning. I guess assuming the course will be much as last time is a reasonable bet, but if it isn't, your optimisation assumptions might mean the wrong compromises are made, enough maybe to tip the balance against a boat design that was playing with a fuller deck.

I'd imagine that no imoca programme building a new boat will jeopardize VG/actual imoca event performance for the "ocean race"

The "pitch" has been "it is another possible revenue stream whether via sponsor participating or chartering your boat out to another program"

Building a new boat for the "ocean race" is like investing in a formula 1 race car before the 2021 rules are even agreed upon. 

 

[jb5]

Mason says there are currently nine new IMOCA 60’s under construction and most of them have been earmarked for The Ocean Race. There is also the possibility of some older IMOCA 60’s being modified for the event.

In fact, there will not be much difference between an IMOCA 60 designed and built for the Vendée Globe and one built for The Ocean Race. Skippers will need to have an IMOCA 60 that meets all the requirements of the foiling IMOCA 60 box rule, including rig and appendages, but beyond that, they can make their own modifications. Many of these will likely be to the interior, where the boats will need to accommodate a crew of five.

https://twitter.com/sailmagazine/status/1137362393342861315?s=21

Nine new IMOCA....There are 8 VG focused new boats listed below.

Only HB has had any real mention of the OR that I can recall.

Corum (Juan K) is supposed to be a 'versatile' design so maybe that one has some element of OR thinking but I really doubt it would compromise the main goal which is the VG.

I would not call that a fleet 'ear marked' or even vaguely committed to the OR at this point.

Number 9 i guess would be the other Juan K boat that hasn't a name, a published owner or builder as far as I know.  So its probably not fully funded. I think this is the only (potential) new boat really 'ear marked' for the OR, if it ever gets built.

8 skippers of a new boat: Beyou (Charal), Sébastien Simon (Arkéa Paprec), Charlie Dalin (Apivia), Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss), Nicolas Troussel (Corum), Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG Mori), Armel Tripon ( L'Occitane)and Thomas Ruyant.

 

[Chimp too]

I'd imagine that no imoca programme building a new boat will jeopardize VG/actual imoca event performance for the "ocean race"

The "pitch" has been "it is another possible revenue stream whether via sponsor participating or chartering your boat out to another program"

Building a new boat for the "ocean race" is like investing in a formula 1 race car before the 2021 rules are even agreed upon. 

Well Charlie Enright will be doing a TOR only design as will the other team with US backing. Both plan a no compromise TOR design as I understand it. If they push it and don’t just listen to their designer then they could develop a very different boat that would be streaks ahead of any VG design on TOR course. Wouldn’t be good for the IMOCA establishment.

 

[Chimp too]

All new VG builds are going to say they are “ear marked” for TOR as most if not all will be for sale by then. If a TOR team was looking, you wouldn’t want to count yourself out of cashing in already.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Mason says there are currently nine new IMOCA 60’s under construction and most of them have been earmarked for The Ocean Race. 

Bollocks.

 

[Miffy]

11th Hour Racing was rumored to have bought Hugo Boss - saying it is no compromise for the ocean race is like saying I bought a Indy 500 car and entering it to Formula 1. Hugo Boss is the most extreme VG trade winds sailing optimized boat. In any event like Middle Sea or Fastnet, it shows its compromises and loses out. 

 

[Chimp too]

11th Hour Racing was rumored to have bought Hugo Boss - saying it is no compromise for the ocean race is like saying I bought a Indy 500 car and entering it to Formula 1. Hugo Boss is the most extreme VG trade winds sailing optimized boat. In any event like Middle Sea or Fastnet, it shows its compromises and loses out. 

And will only be their trial horse whilst they design and build their raceboat. 

 

[PIL66 - XL2]

The boat choice seems worse and worse all the time.  Boats need to be cheaper and/or faster than IMOCAs.  Preferably faster because the race is fairly pointless otherwise.  One design trimarans is the way to go imo.

Yep.... My vote is to change the boat to Diam 24's..... that will sort out the men / woman from the boys / girls

 

[eastern motors]

Yep.... My vote is to change the boat to Diam 24's..... that will sort out the men / woman from the boys / girls

Someone was washed off the back of a monohull last go round.  Canting keels and Dali foils don't have great safety records either.

Course optimised IMOCA 60s will be very expensive, discourage low budget teams, and have low resale value.  

 

[staysail]

Bollocks.

Absolute!

 

[mad]

Maybe we should just wait until there’s actually an event? 

 

[10thTonner]

Maybe we should just wait until there’s actually an event? 

You think there will be one? 

 

[mad]

You think there will be one? 

Maybe for the V65 one designs, not really holding my breath for an Imoca style fleet.......

 

[jack_sparrow]

There is an argument that sending the V65's around again, even with crew restrictions, is a hand brake to Imoca teams getting hot and bothered about the race.

 

[jack_sparrow]

2021 is going to be a busy year

http://www.globe40.com/

 

[Miffy]

2021 is going to be a busy year

http://www.globe40.com/

Much healthier environment for small crew racing and IMO much more relatable class than VO65 or even whatever Anglo-slowboat class Don whats his name puts together. The sailing schedule tries to tick off all the major landmarks, stopovers are kept to a minimum and actually has sailing community & so the weather windows are kept reasonable.