VOR 2014-15 - Leg 1

JeronimoII

JeronimoII

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Now that the fleet is complete, I suggest to start a new thread for the actual race legs. The entrants one is 22 pages long...

Let's start with a prediction about the final standings in Gothenburg next summer (and in Cape Town):

1. Azzam (this is Ian's race to loose, I reckon. Star-line-up well funded)

2. Brunel (Bouwe has unfinished business with the race. Could well end first, but he has got some youngsters on board that could be a liability)

3. Campos (great sailors on board, but coming late and with the skipper expected to miss some legs. Too many handicaps to be able to win?)

4. Vestas (same as Campos, but actually with a full dedicated skipper. Could end up mixing my prediction. Crew unknown yet)

5. Dongfeng (the frenchies are extremely strong, but are short of crew with the unexperienced chinese...)

6. Alvimedica (first time youngsters...likely to struggle while learning)

7. SCA (somehow a surprise to see them fall back so fast in the RBI and the Canaries regatta...)

 
oioi

oioi

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i tend to agree with your form guide, however, I think differences between the top 4 will be very small.

I also think that any of the 7 can win a leg, and like any OD regatta, taking the overall win will be about consistency.

 
Icedtea

Icedtea

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I think you've got it mostly right, but I'd put Brunel or Campos ahead of Azzam- Walker has never seemed to be quite the Sailor Bekking or Martinez are, and both them of them have unfinished business with the race.

But I think any one of the four- Brunel, Azzam, Campos or Vestas could have it

 
P

Potter

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I would put Azzam at the top, with the crew they have. Bekking is the weak point in Brunel I think, though difficult to discount Capey.

Agree with the top 4. This could be a really tight race!!

 
D

DtM

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Agree with your top 4 for the first leg although I think Vestas could be very fast fresh out of the box

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Francis Vaughan

Francis Vaughan

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I think the last two races where we have seen the VO65's actually go head to head, has outlined just how critical the navigator is going to be. One mistake and you are out the back door; then as usual, the rich get richer as the race progresses. The first leg will also reward the crew's offshore experience but that advantage will diminish. I don't think we have a full list of navigators yet, but once we do, my betting will be firmly based upon that list, with all the other factors a clear second.

 
O

onimod

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Francis Vaughan said:
I think the last two races where we have seen the VO65's actually go head to head, has outlined just how critical the navigator is going to be. One mistake and you are out the back door; then as usual, the rich get richer as the race progresses. The first leg will also reward the crew's offshore experience but that advantage will diminish. I don't think we have a full list of navigators yet, but once we do, my betting will be firmly based upon that list, with all the other factors a clear second.
Click to expand...
SCA - Libby Greenhalgh

Abu Dhabi - Simon Fisher

Dongfeng - Pascal Bidégorry

Brunel - Andrew Cape

Alvimedica - Will Oxley

Campos - Nicolas Lunven

Vestas - Tom Addis

 
Presuming Ed

Presuming Ed

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Quite a meteorology cv.

http://www.rya.org.uk/britishsailingteam/meettheteam/pages/libby-greenhalgh.aspx

http://www.weatherwhiz.co.uk/cv.htm

Qualifications:

  • Met Office IFC and FCC courses (2004)
  • Masters in Applied Meteorology (University of Reading, 2002)
  • Bachelors Degree in Geophysical Sciences (University of Southampton, 2001)
Experience:
2007 to date: Skandia Team GBR British Sailing Team Meteorologist- including Beijing Olympics 2008, check out the team here

2010: Virgin Active Kite surf across the channel. Read more about it here

2010: Tour Voile for Sail Oman

2010: JP Morgan Asset Managemnet Round the Island Race - weather briefing brought to you with Raymarine. Check out the videos here

2009: BeNumber1 Land End to John O’Groats - charity ride supporting professional atheltes of different sports

2007: Nurberging 24 hour race

2007-2010: Commodore’s Cup, Fastnet, RORC offshore racing series, Cowes week

2004-2007: Met Office Weather forecaster

  • Training undertaken at RAF Odiham
  • Posted to MOD Aberporth and Outer Hebridies
 
P

Potter

Super Anarchist
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Didn't think you were meaning any offence.

I know that for the coaching team finding the right experience has been really difficult. Both Sam and Dee were trialled as Navigators, but it was decided that their experience was needed on deck more. SO I think it is now a joint role with Libby and Sam. Libby brings a wealth of different experience to the team especially on the weather front, but there is no female navigator who has the experience that those other names have (except perhaps Adrienne Cahallan, but she did not apply).

It has been made very clear by Brad Jackson that finding the relevant experience has been really difficult. The ability is there (whatever thetruth might say), but the experience is the thing that is lacking. Women just do not get the same chances to build experience outside of the VOR. After all, if you run a mini maxi, 52, MOD70, big Swan, or even a superyacht you are probably going to pick a sailor with experience and muscles...and that means picking a bloke in general. Plus, of course, most people get their mates on board.

 
M

MPH

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I guess the earlier talk about maybe sacrificing navigational prowess for faster drivers was false. All the boats have big name navigators on them.

 
mad

mad

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onimod said:
Francis Vaughan said:
I think the last two races where we have seen the VO65's actually go head to head, has outlined just how critical the navigator is going to be. One mistake and you are out the back door; then as usual, the rich get richer as the race progresses. The first leg will also reward the crew's offshore experience but that advantage will diminish. I don't think we have a full list of navigators yet, but once we do, my betting will be firmly based upon that list, with all the other factors a clear second.
Click to expand...
SCA - Libby Greenhalgh

Abu Dhabi - Simon Fisher

Dongfeng - Pascal Bidégorry

Brunel - Andrew Cape

Alvimedica - Will Oxley

Campos - Nicolas Lunven

Vestas - Tom Addis
Click to expand...
There's some big names there, be very difficult to make a call on who is at the top of the game from that list.

 
smackdaddy

smackdaddy

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I'm guessing a real battle between Vestas and Azzam - followed closely by Brunel and Campos. The others will be nipping at the heels.

But I am truly interested in watching SCA's progress. It's going to be a very interesting study in what the VOR really takes - and why.

 
GnarlyItWas

GnarlyItWas

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They do seem to be big name navigators, but it seems there is a lean towards navigators with shorthanded experience. I think Andrew Cape did the BWR and the figaro / shorthanded guys on Campos and Dongfeng. Seems to me to be that navigators will be needed on deck more than last time.

 
Sailbydate

Sailbydate

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Kohimarama
mad said:
onimod said:
Francis Vaughan said:
I think the last two races where we have seen the VO65's actually go head to head, has outlined just how critical the navigator is going to be. One mistake and you are out the back door; then as usual, the rich get richer as the race progresses. The first leg will also reward the crew's offshore experience but that advantage will diminish. I don't think we have a full list of navigators yet, but once we do, my betting will be firmly based upon that list, with all the other factors a clear second.
Click to expand...
SCA - Libby Greenhalgh

Abu Dhabi - Simon Fisher

Dongfeng - Pascal Bidégorry

Brunel - Andrew Cape

Alvimedica - Will Oxley

Campos - Nicolas Lunven

Vestas - Tom Addis
Click to expand...
There's some big names there, be very difficult to make a call on who is at the top of the game from that list.
Click to expand...
+1

 
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