The Ocean Race 2023 leg 2: Cabo Verde to Capetown

[Chasm]

Reminder that Malizia still has the live dashboard. In case 1h updates are too slow.

 

[Schakel]

Indeed, right away there were accounts about that aspect (btw I find interesting that IMOCA class appears neglectful towards the truth).

I keep in mind that the TOR record is 601nm.

600 divided by 24 is 25 knots.
These boats are over 25 Knots.
Might be a world record. We will see.

At least it's a world record for the Imoca's.
Close to nautical miles for a monohull in 24 hours.
Interesting point is: when do you measure it?

 

[noaano]

At least it's a world record for the four crew Imoca's.

ftfy

 

[Your Mom]

The 558 NM will not be official, as the boat did not carry the necessary equipment for a WSSRC approval (old memory from Charal statement).

So we know if the current fleet qualifies for WSSRC approval?

 

[noaano]

So we know if the current fleet qualifies for WSSRC approval?

Quite frankly, the rules are kinda ridiculous.

They require advance notice, and advance payment of the fee, which is not a token amount, but fair chunk of cash.

This makes all ad hoc records while racing etc not kosher, so I guess the whole WSSRC is a bit of joke. Or does everyone bend the knee and submit for record attempt before the race like its normal thing to do?

"At least one month's notice is required for an intended attempt, accompanied by the appropriate fee."

BTW, where does the fee go?

And as if this fee was not enough:

"The person or organization making the record attempt is responsible for the legitimate expenses and remuneration of the WSSR Commissioner and any assistants. This must be paid before any record claim can be considered."

Maybe there is an exception for the 24h record though, hard to say as the rules are quite messy:

"(Other than for the 24 hour and Intermediate records) all fees to be expressed in GBP and shall be settled before the start."

 

[dg_sailingfan]

BREAKING NEWS
Watch THE OCEAN RACE Leg 1 Highlights & Documentary TODAY 19.30CET/1.30pmET for US Nerds on Eurosport!



2pm ET on TOR YouTube Channel for the people outside of Europe.

 

[TheDragon]

Yeah, that makes more sense...Not something they did last time AFAIK, and there is far less Race Organisation involvement this time, so I would guess not.
I have found AIS to be really odd. I now operate a tiny Uncrewed Vessel, and sometimes we get AIS ranges of 10-20 miles and sometimes just a couple. I know it is affected by atmospherics, as well as mast angle and battery supply.

My AIS on my little boat showed boats out to 30 nm, although for some reason the max for the alarm was 6 nm.

 

[Schakel]

Quite frankly, the rules are kinda ridiculous.

"(Other than for the 24 hour and Intermediate records) all fees to be expressed in GBP and shall be settled before the start."

Well, there you have it.

 

[noaano]

Well, there you have it.

It seems so - so why exactly was Charal 558nm not kosher then??

 

[Schakel]

It seems so - so why exactly was Charal 558nm not kosher then??

Exactly.

 

[noaano]

Exactly.

Exactly why? They did not want to exactly pay the fee?

 

[dg_sailingfan]

I have to correct some people here who were suggesting the Teams would receive Hourly Updates just like we have in the Tracker. That is certainly not the case.
Per Race Director Phil Lawrence Teams will receive 6 Hour Updates.
The 1-Hour Tracker Updates is just for Fans to follow the Race better.

 

[Schakel]

Exactly why? They did not want to exactly pay the fee?

I have no insight in their story. It's between WSSRC and Ocean Race managment.
Gives them a place on the map of world ocean racing doesn't it?

 

[Nixon]

Very unlikely, as they have certified AIS transponders with internal firmware you cannot mess with.

These transponders emit AIVDM/AIVDO sentences, which any of their standard nav instrument displays and chart plotters / sw has an ability to display.


Also very unlikely, as they are constantly visible on AIS as we speak. I have seen them every time I took a look.

Also as per IMOCA rules:

"C.7.2 NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

One active AIS and navigational software that displays AIS targets and a masthead antenna.

(i) A certificate of conformity for the AIS installation dated less than a year old shall be submitted to the CM to obtain a MC. The details are described in the measurement protocol.

(ii) The AIS shall be Class A or Class B+."

Whatever the transponder or antenna, I find it impossible that minimum stated, class b+, would have range less than the binoculars on youtube film. I think they clearly can see each other further than visual sights. Minimum 15-20nm if not 25nm.

Only possibility would be tampering with the antenna somehow, but that would be grounds for protest as it clearly is against being confirmant as the class rules require.

Do the class rules talk about accessing a web site that gathers AIS data via satellite? Is that forbidden?
Are there general internet access restrictions, or is any access allowed?

 

[noaano]

I have to correct some people here who were suggesting the Teams would receive Hourly Updates just like we have in the Tracker. That is certainly not the case.
Per Race Director Phil Lawrence Teams will receive 6 Hour Updates.
The 1-Hour Tracker Updates is just for Fans to follow the Race better.

But you can see the public tracker page open many times onboard a boat on youtube videos - if it was forbidden they would not be so open about it?

 

[noaano]

Are there general internet access restrictions, or is any access allowed?

Interesting question. I have found the IMOCA rules and old OR rules, but not the current ones, they must be hidden somewhere...

 

[Chasm]

On the noticeboard for the race. (Link at the bottom of the website.)

 

[noaano]

On the noticeboard for the race. (Link at the bottom of the website.)

Thanks.

AIS is settled then:

"The AIS shall remain powered on and transmitting at all times while Racing."

Communication:

"All satellite communication to and from the boat shall be made using the Inmarsat service. Alternative satellite systems may only be used in an emergency if the Inmarsat service is not available"

IMOCA class rules allow remote routing nowadays, and the router naturally has access to 24/7 positions of all the boats, so that would make it a bit complicated. Is remote routing allowed in this race? I guess not, otherwise why bother routing onboard, I have yet to find the definite answer on the rules.

 

[JeronimoII]

But you can see the public tracker page open many times onboard a boat on youtube videos - if it was forbidden they would not be so open about it?

exactly. All teams have continuous communication with the shore base (via WhatsApp, email, and the likes). These are supposed to be controlled, but no one does. So...

 

[noaano]

exactly. All teams have continuous communication with the shore base (via WhatsApp, email, and the likes). These are supposed to be controlled, but no one does. So...

It seems so, and if encrypted like whatsapp or any app nowadays, could not really be even in theory.

Would still be interesting to see what the rules say - in this context them pretending to search for the other boats with binoculars seems a little... hmm funny.