There were 2 Chinese Teams. Ark323 a TP52 that had a collision just after the start and retired. Also Shuguang Haiyang, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i who seem to be on a leisurely cruise to Hobart, a certainty to take out the cruising division.
MB, surely it's more complicated than simple bad seamanship. If the guys pulling out were poor seamen, why did some of them win the Transat? Are people who do the two-handed Melbourne to Osaka truly crap seamen? Is Billy Ratcliff, an old-style S&S 34 sailor with 40+ Hobarts and a good finish in the tough '84 race, really a poor seaman?
If it's all about being a bad seaman in a bad boat and pushing too hard, why are cruising boats and boats that are probably not out there with any hope of winning also pulling out?
Whatever is happening out there, playing the "they are bad seamen and I know better" card probably won't get anyone anywhere in working it out.
I accept what you say. Not all retirements reflect poor seamanship. Winning a race on the other hand does not reflect good seamanship. These boats should be able to finish a race if sailed well. A 1998 S2H notwithstanding, far too many yachts can't finish this race in pretty average conditions. That means something.
Watched Ken Reid from another boat during a J24 regatta many moons ago
The guy has sailing ability out of reach of us mere mortals, and seems a real nice bloke !
He'll win !
i heard on the news that both comanche and r88 have lost their starboard daggers and rudders !!!!! it will be interesting when they have goabout to port tack !!!!!!
Can Ragamuffin pull back 35 nm and win it from here considering both Comanche & Ramblers damage?
Thoughts?
Go IMAGINATION. 2nd overall but still a way to go. Not bad for a 2003 odd Beneteau 47.7. Owned and sailed by the nicest family you could ever meet. Crewed with them quite a bit when in Sydney. Skippered this year by son Hamish. Wishing you success all the way guys!
My heart is with 2 boats. Wild Rose, currently IRC 4th division 1st place, and Kayle-Sailors with Disabilities on which is my good friend Kristi.
10:00 am, 28/12/2015, Ragamuffin 100, 60nm adrift of the leaders for line honours so I'd say that there's not much chance of it making ground on either Comanche or Rambler
A good friend of mine is sailing his last Sydney to Hobart in his 40 footer 'King Billy' which is currently showing as the handicap leader.
Just in case Bass Strait ends up as a parking lot for the tail enders, I have saved him a screen shot of the race results website:
Well done to the crew on Comanche ! to come back and finish with a broken rudder and dagger board is truly a great effort, and to win is incredible
you gotta love it !!!
David George suggested three day event two races each day Harbor challenge
A Big Plus one for that if it got off the ground
I think this may be the first race since about 1962 or earlier that hasn't had a single 30/31 footer in it, so it's great to see a small boat win. Well, actually it's always good to see a small boat win IMHO, but this time it's particularly important for the future of Australian ocean racing as far as I can judge.