Have you seen?
How Galway Docks
Are supposed to look
in just six months time?
Click on the link below
for a virtual tour:

Fri 12th Dec - 18:00 hrs GMT
OK folks ... the VOR is back on ... the boys have all had time to make repairs and rest.
10am tomorrow, Saturday, sees the start line in Cochin, India ... destination Singapore.
I may be back here later on tonight to give you the high-lights on the lead up to tomorrow.

Mon 1st Dec - 14:30 hrs GMT
All have crossed the finish line in Cochin, India, all but Team Russia. They got parked up, in no wind, for quite a while and are still some 440 miles out.
1st place ERT4, then 2nd TeleBlue, 3rd ERT3 ... the battle for 4th was tough and no one saw this coming ... TeleBlack snuck through and got 4th just infront of 5th place Puma, 6th was Delta Lloyd, followed by 7th Green Dragon.

Sun 30th Nov - 19:30 hrs GMT
Ok the first two yachts are in ... Ericsson 4 and TeleBlue take 1st and 2nd ... Ericsson 3 is on her way but still 79 miles out. The battle for 4th has been intense with the Dragon, Puma and Delta still on each others heels ... Puma (122 miles to finish) has just taken advantage, 3 miles ahead of the Dragon and Delta another 6 miles back. Then TeleBlack 9 miles behind.
Team Russia are still parked up some 583 miles from finish.

Sat 29th Nov - 17:00 hrs GMT
This leg is coming to a close. ERT4 went off the radar this morning at about 4am, with about 130 miles to finish, when the winds dropped right off. I guess they didn't want the rest of the fleet to know what was happening with the weather.
They came back out of "Stealth Mode" at 4pm this afternoon, with 36 miles to go ... just as TeleBlue went undercover, also I guess to keep the fleet behind from knowing how they are struggling.
ERT3 have got a bit of safe ground between them and the next little bunch ... Green Dragon, Puma and Delta Lloyd are all looking at each other and just about getting back up to speed. It's all on for these three to see who'll actually get 4th place.
Just 40 miles behind them is TeleBlack, slightly more west, and up to speed. Then Russia is still in the lighter airs.

I reckon Ericsson 4 could be accross the finish line by the time of the next position report at 7pm. TeleBlue should be back on radar at 4am and close to the finish. The rest we'll have to wait and see ... some time tomorrow evening.

Fri 28th Nov - 23:00 hrs GMT
Ok the Doldrums has had it's toll on all ... except ERT4 who are powering ahead . Then TeleBlue picked up the wind next and are safely in second place.
The rest of the fleet though are in the hot zone ... ERT3 were the first of the next bulk to catch the breeze.
Delta, Dragon and Puma are within sight of each other ... hoping for a way out soon. Further west is TeleBlack hoping for the better too, but I'm not so sure. While Russia is licking it's wounds afterr the gamble they took to the east which didn't pay off.
Tomorrow should see the leaders taking the pole ... the rest will have to wait a while.

Wed 26th Nov - 00:30 hrs GMT
In my opinion there hasn't been alot to talk about for the last couple of days ... But hey, it's about to get exciting again.
Watch the fleet closely today and tomorrow ... the Doldrums are now in play !!!

Sun 23rd Nov - 21:00 hrs GMT
I'm not going to say much this evening either ... I'm not posting any video clips either.
Last night the yachts all fell off the wind for a while and the leaderboard changed a bit .. also TeleBlue (I think) had to stop for 45 minutes to repair a broken daggerboard. All yachts seem to be up to speed again and back in the breeze .. making their plans on how to tackle the up-coming doldrums ... it seems there is a small window of oppertunity .. but who'll make it work?
Leaderboard: the Ericson yachts still have the lead, almost side by side (20 miles apart) with only 2 miles difference to finishline ER3 leading then ERT4, Puma has 3rd now and only 2 miles behind them is TeleBlue. Then our Dragon with TeleBlack, Russia and delta Lloyd behind them.

Sat 22nd Nov - 19:45 hrs GMT
Not much for me to say tonight. The yachts are all enjoying the calmer and warmer weather, time to dry everything out and make repairs .. with a bit more comfort.
The lead yachts ERT 3 and 4 seem to have got a bit more speed than the others at the moment and both have put another mile between themselvs and our Dragon and Puma, in the last 3 hours , making the gap 40 miles.
Puma have shortened the gap on our Dragon from 13 to just 10 miles in the last 3 hours.
Teleblue is just 4 miles behind the Dragon.
Russia, Teleblack and Delta Lloyd taking up the rear.

Here's a little video clip from the owner of the Russian yacht ... he's also their bowman:

Fri 21st Nov - 20:00 hrs GMT
The next three video clips pretty much say it all for today. First is Green Dragon on their 3rd place across the scoring gate line ... the next two are about the piracy concerns coming up.
... ...

Tonight my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this (in reverse order this time):
Delta Lloyd further southeast of the fleet but still going strong ... still getting the best 24hr runs today.
Puma is sitting on top of TeleBlue, both close to Green Dragon ... but our Dragon has a slight edge on them both.
Ericson twins at the front ... 60 miles seperates then east to west ... but only 4 mile difference from finish.
ERT3 has the lead but ERT4 is gaining.

The lastest Video "Episode 4" is now on the left hand column ... see it here before it goes on TV ...
I don't think Episode 3 has been aired on tv yet either. Something is being shown on SKY tonight and on TG4 tomorrow.

Thurs 20th Nov - 23:50 hrs GMT
Well the panic moments seem to be over, the fleet have all crossed the scoring gate ... with our own Dragon in 3rd.
All yachts are headed more northeast towards the finish line (just less than 3000 mile away).

Interesting point: Puma and Dragon, both seriously wounded, seem to be able to fly well with clipped wings.

All yachts now sailing in medium winds ... rather than the "Roaring Forties" with gusts up to 50 knots.
Puma is going well, they even turned back from the safer conditions to punch the gate for a while ... I'm guessing they have repaired the broken back bone of the yacht (no official reports found yet) ... although I don't think they had enough repair material left, after already repairing the bow ... They may have actually went for the good old "Bolt it togethar" method. We'll have to wait and see.
Also the Dragon doesn't seem to have repaired their boom yet (also no official reports found yet) ... but they are sailing well. They did say they found a way to sail down wind "Jury Rigged" pretty good ... while waiting for the winds to settle, to make repairs in warmer climates for the glues to cure better, before attempting to sail up-wind.
Necessity the mother of invention ... yup, I can go with that ... I believe our Dragon even took on a method of sheeting the mainsail (without a boom) taken from catamarans (oh no, how low can you go ... not really, I'm a fan of cats). But they do seem to be learning how to sail without a boom pretty well.
Well I just don't know ... yet ... again we'll have to wait and see.
The ones to watch at the moment are Russia and our Delta Lloyd ... they are still in the slightly stronger winds but they are gaining, from behind, on the fleet.
Tonight my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this: And it is pretty much just like the "leaderboard" reports again. The Ericson twins are 1 and 2, that's ERT3 actually ... followed by 4, then Puma and Dragon (yes the two winged birds), the Tele twins Blue and Black, then our Delta Lloyd and Russia equal placings.
Less than100 mile between first and last at the moment ... and all to play for.
Oh, Delta Lloyd have clocked the highest 24hr run in the last 3hr report ... they are like-ing it now. Go Ger's team.

The only thing to add at this stage is a video clip that just came on-line recently ... but it's dated back to monday:
... our Delta Lloyd hitting a whale ... not a very exciting video, thankfully, or they may have been in serious trouble ... but hey, enjoy.

Thurs 20th 02:00 hrs GMT
Well hey ... maybe they are all watching my site and taking my advice for once, or maybe I just guessed right this time.
Yes, all yachts are now on a port gybe, heading northeast, some more than others. ERT4 is only about 40 miles west of the gate but they are headed NE which makes the distance to gate to be about ... well let's say 80 miles (for arguement sake) ... 5 or 6 hours from now ... unless they gybe again, to SHOOT the line, as we do sometimes on HALLMARK.
Surprising fact: Puma, who said they would try and limp to the finish, turned back to the scoring gate earlier, and have now clocked the second fastest speed over the last three hours ... in fairness the seastate seems to be down a bit for them.
I take that back: Looking at the data tables again, they are the fastest yacht over the last 3 hrs, just matched by TeleBlue, both hitting a max of 29 knots. That doesn't look like the prefomance of a yacht who is any longer worried about the yacht making the finish line anymore (in one piece) ... or at least they don't seem worried about her injuries in these conditions. Fair play to them.
My guess is that: They think, if they can just make it through today and start heading northeast, they will be in gentler conditions and still have a chance of finishing in the podium ... they might be right. It looks that way to me now. If I were them, I would still be looking over my left shoulder for the next day or so ... there's a lot of wind building behind them to the west ... they may be able to get north of it and keep going in the medium conditions that seem to keep them in the game.
Also, I would be thinking, keep in front of A yacht in particular and , if we do have to abandone her and do the liferaft thing ... at least there is someone just behind us ... seeing how rescue services can't get to them down there for quite a few days at best, maybe even a week. But hey, that's just my safety training and the way I think, having done 9 Trans-Ats and been caught in Severe Storm Force 11 twice ... amd chased by the tail-end of a hurricane more times than I care to remember.

Wed 19th Nov - 23:00 hrs GMT
Along with the 10pm position reports I found the video clip, from Puma, on their breaking of Puma's back.
But first you must watch the video from ealier today when they broke her bow and repaired it.
First watch this one ... ... and now watch the latest one ...
So, I hope you enjoyed those short clips.

Earlier I mentioned that the fleet should follow ERT3 and make their gybes tonight ... well, Green Dragon was next to follow and then Delta and Russia about the same time. I would expect Dragon to stay on this gybe for a while as without a boom it is difficult. They should get 3rd place through the gate and may even be in a position to be the first leaders of the next bit ... but who knows??? What I didn't expect is ERT3 have gybed again, now heading southeast ... which I can't see being of any benefit, but hey, I'm sure they have their reasons ... maybe their internet is down and they can't read my stories.
ERT4 have about 100 miles to the gate, Dragon have maybe 200 miles. Either way, I would expect ERT 4 and 3 and maybe our Dragon crossing the scoring gate by the 10am report in the morning.

Wed 19th Nov - 20:00 hrs GMT
After looking at the 7pm position reports it looks like ERT3 have made their gybe and seem to be heading northeast. I reckon the rest of the fleet will be doing the same, as they close in on the scoring gate, through the night. Puma seemed to gybe earlier on in the day, to limp their boat to India, but they now seem to be going straight for the gate first ... still going strong. They better watch out though as the wind is filling in behing the fleet again. Green Dragon should gybe now too before the wind fills in.
Tonight my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this: The yachts should cross the gate in this order, sometime tonight. ERT4 then 3, our Dragon then Russia, Puma or TeleBlack then Blue and our Delta Lloyd.

Wed 19th Nov - 16:30 hrs GMT
And these two short video clips just in: Left to right:
Russia's Chinese Gybe ... Dragon's broken boom
...

Wed 19th Nov - Report 08:30 hrs GMT
An email from Puma, just in, reads like this:

" Wednesday 19 November 2008 07:45 GMT PUMA - Ken Read (skipper)
Greetings from the monster hospital ward. And the hospital is not necessary humans. Just for our beautiful boat. At 4:30 GMT this morning we flew off yet another nice little wave and came down to another loud crack. This time not from the bow section but in the main section of the boat. Just behind the keel frame. Three of us were having breakfast at the time and there was a bit of a stare into each others eyes. "That didn't sound good" said Justin (Ferris). "Nope" I said. Nico (Chris Nicholson) added, "maybe it was just an unloaded sheet snapping up on deck?" Justin looked down and said "or maybe it was this large crack splitting the main longitudinal frame?" The master of understatement, old Justin is."

And so ... they now have to limp to India, priorty to keep the boat and crew safe, avoiding as much heavy weather as possible.

Tue 18th Nov - Report 20:50 hrs GMT
Since last night it was an exciting day on the water for the VOR yachts.
As Cameron Kelleher said in a report earlier today:
" Day four of the second leg and it’s getting wet and very wild out there as the fleet have their first real whiff of the Roaring Forties. Graphic details of spectacular broaches, Chinese gybes, shredded sails and damage to boats and bodies abound. Widespread sickness has meant involuntary diets for some crew members as the weather gods serve up a menu of 40+ knots and confused, 8-10 metre seas. The southern ocean has laid on a hostile reception. You can read and hear about it in every single email and soundbyte from the boats. Fast, but not easy miles, according to today’s TEN ZULU REPORT."

I may go into this in more detail shortly. Along with the day's positions.

Tonight my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this: All yachts seem to have ignored the final destination, India, they all seem to have decided to go with this weather system they are still riding.
All yachts are still going east and I can't really see any going north until the scoring gate points are dealt out.
I did say that I expected alot more gybing soon ... I'm sure it has not happened, but if you look at their tracks they are more wobbly than before ... but in fairness I think this is due to shifty winds more than anything else.
Now, all yachts are heading east, still, but worth noting is ... if east is the plan ... well, here we go:
Look at the mapping 11:50 hrs... ERT 3 and 4 have an obvious lead, Dragon and Puma are next, then Russia, then the Tele twins and our Delta Lloyd.
Everyone seems to be getting as much north of east as they can ... except the Dragon and Russia.
Two stories follow:
1. Our Dragon probably has limited optimum course to steer ... seeing how they broke their boom in two seperate pieces today, they are probably just going for whatever they can do to keep speed up. And:
2. The Russian team ... well hey, has no one noticed that they have been in the top two covering 500miles (or almost) in the 24hour runs for quite a while now ... They have said in an email that they like these conditions, they are also the only ones (with our Dragon) still going more south of east ... I would watch them closely.
I have yet to hear how the new bowman is getting on in these conditions. He only joined the yacht in Cape Town ... but he is the owner, apparently.

Tue 18th Nov - after 10 Night time report: 01:30 hrs GMT
The 1am statistics are just in ... no major change yet but I expect so by Mark Chisnell's report at 10am.

Mon 17th Nov - after 10 Night time report: 23:50 hrs GMT
Ok, all yachts are still, roughly, heading east. There seems to be slight changes in all yachts directions, I reckon, from the weather system they are riding. We should see all yachts doing more gybing through the night and morning ... trying to get a little more north into their course, while staying in the stronger winds.
Puma pulled a blinder earlier today by gybing onto port and passing just six miles behind our Dragon ... but they kept going for a while longer and then came back onto starboard gybe.
Now, Puma was side by side with ERT4, both more southerly than the rest of the fleet ... no surprise ... more adventurous while just keeping an eye on each other, as they have from start. When Puma went NE it still had them leading the fleet (according to the Leaderboard Reports). The interesting thing is ERT4 have held their course, presumably not in agreeance with Puma's decision, they still have more speed but Puma are in a better position.
Again, our Dragon has held course, following ERT 3 and 4, and remains more consistantly the faster yacht of the fleet today. Also worth mentioning is the Dragon's accidential gybe this afternoon ... exciting stuff ... read the email from the yacht this afternoon by clicking here.
Also worth mentioning is that the Green Dragon is in a good position within the fleet at the moment.
According to the Data Centre they have the hightest wind speeds and therefore the best boat speeds for the last three hours (7pm to 10pm) ... but we'll have to wait and see how it goes.
Tonight my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this: As far as the easterly race goes, to scoring gate, the charts show it well ... ERT3 and 4, our Dragon close with Puma, TeleBlue followed by Black, then Russia and our Delta Lloyd.
The realistic story is: The Green Dragon has the advantage over both ERT 3 and 4. Not sure how our Dragon fairs against the big cat, Puma, TeleBlue and Black are further north but not quite in the groove, then Russia and our Delta bringing up the rear.
Also consider, says he hopefully, Delta have admitted that this wind strength doesn't suit them ... I hope to see better preformance, in the next day or two, from them.

Mon 17th Nov - 02:00 hrs GMT
The fleet are no longer in a perfect NW- SE line, but they all still are heading roughly east.
Now, the "Predicated Routes" (for those who watch it) show Russia and ERT3, last and first (according to the Position Reports), imminently turning more northeast towards finish line, and TeleBlue the last one to take this change of course getting to the scoring gate first ... I don't buy it !!!
Having said that, I think all boats have carried the depression as much as they should, but they will be watching each other more than the weather. The game is still afoot.
This morning my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this: I think ERT3 and Green Dragon have pole position. Next could be ERT4 and Puma, then TeleBlue and Black, then Delta and Russia.
Considering all of that, at 1am, ERT3 and Green Dragon have best boat speeds.
Once again let's wait and see how it goes.
Check out Mark Chisnell's "Ten-Zulu Report" in the morning ...at guess what time ... yes, 10am.

Sun 16th Nov - 22:00 hrs GMT
Yesterday the whole flleet were heading various southerly directions getting clear of the Cape and trying to get the stronger winds of a depression coming from the west.
All day today them were going southeast ... but this evening they are all heading east.
So now the positions reports ARE reflecting more of how it actualy is but not quite acurate yet.
The fleet are still chasing the wind and they do seem to have it ... but none have aimed at the finish line yet. They're still chasing the better winds and looking more at the scoring gate for points (I think).
Our Green Dragon was the fastest at the 7pm report but that has changed again.
Tonight my opinion of the leaderboard goes like this: Puma and Eric4 are still covering each other further south but better positioned for wind, next is our Dragon and Eric3 more to the middle of the NW-SE spread of the fleet, TeleBlue and Black are the next two and our Delta Lloyd and Russia bring up the rear but they are further north ... so it'll be interesting to see how it has panned out in the morning.
Check out Mark Chisnell's "Ten-Zulu Report" in the morning ...at guess what time ... yes, 10am.