Vendee Globe rescue in the Southern Ocean

[Jock-san]

Originally Posted by Ilenart

The Navy came out yesterday in a statement that they estimate the cost of rescuing Elies at AUS$4m (AUS$998,000 per day for the 4 day operation)... and the majority would have been incurred regardless of whether the rescue was made.

Well, exactly. $4m, broken down how ? Mostly pay for the crew, I guess. Do they include 5 days' worth of depreciation of the ship ? And were they otherwise planning to give everyone the time off, and mothball the vessel instead ? How much fuel would have been used steaming around near Oz, rather than going to the south and back ? Or did they break $4m worth of kit, just from going into stormy latitudes ? You have to love the way the press reports values like this without even a nod to analysis.

Back in the UK, there's an uproar over 'expense to the taxpayer' every time there's a mountain rescue - but the mountain rescue teams who make the vast majority of the rescues are all volunteers, climbers rescuing fellow climbers and doing it entirely by choice, and unpaid. (They'll make gruff statements about the preparation and equipment of their 'fellow climbers', yet do the rescues every time).

There's a case to be made for yacht racing to cover its costs, and Oz stands out for bearing a disproportionate share of RTW yacht racing rescues. Who bears the biggest burden of rescues over all seafaring - yachting sport, recreational yachting, merchant and military marine ?

I'm glad to hear Yann Elies is safe.

[sailingdog]

Lovely Canadian workmanship I see...

[xort]

Originally Posted by Ilenart

The Navy came out yesterday in a statement that they estimate the cost of rescuing Elies at AUS$4m (AUS$998,000 per day for the 4 day operation). They again stated that they would not seek to recover any costs, and the majority would of been incurred regardless of whether the rescue was made.

That means that most of the $4m was routine cost of operation and not a result of the rescue. So what's the big deal?????

[sailaway21]

Of course there is the matter of fact that we fund our navies to produce SAR situations for our enemies not practice them their own selves. (g)

[WheresTheBrakes]

does anyone have the coordinates of the rescue ????

[sailingdog]

I bet the Navy does...

[flyingwelshman]

Originally Posted by WheresTheBrakes

does anyone have the coordinates of the rescue ????

Latest Position : 48 55 0S, 122 22 59E

You can see the position of the fleet here: VENDEE GLOBE - 2008/2009

It doesn't look like Hatfield is in need of rescue: he is heading for Tasmania or Melbourne

[WheresTheBrakes]

awesome !
thanks for the links !!

[Ilenart]

When I got back to the the yacht club yesterday these two boat were sitting at the customs & refueling jetties.









Ecover broke it's mast and apparently Temenos has keel problems. Impressive looking yachts.

Ilenart

[Valiente]

Impressive in many ways, but perhaps a millimetre beyond adequately designed and built.

A sailing pal and myself were discussing this the other day and agreed that it doesn't matter how many of these boats are damaged or how many skippers are injured or even killed: if ONE boat makes it back in one piece, the design will be "a success" and the next race will try to shave another 100 kilos out of the boat.

I wonder if you deliberately beefed up an Open 60, would you get a stronger boat that might sail fractionally slower, but might survive a knockdown with less damage?