ws lirakis – Page 29 – stephenlirakis.com

AMERICA’S CUP BERMUDA 2017

IT’S OFFICIAL, BERMUDA.
word had been leaked some weeks ago, but there was no point in posting until it was official.

MAMA SAID; THERE’D BE DAYS LIKE THIS

There is no way to ease the disquieting events of the last 24 hours in the Volvo Ocean Race, with Team Vestas Wind going hard aground and abandoning the boat.

VOLVO UPDATE : STANDING BY VESTAS AGROUND

At 1510 UTC, Saturday, November 29, Team Vestas Wind informed Race Control that their boat was grounded on the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, no one has been injured.

We are in contact with the boat to establish the extent of the damage and ensure the crew is given the support needed to enable it to deal with the situation.

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Reunion Island is aware of the problem.

The crew has informed us that it is currently grounded on a reef but nobody is injured. Volvo Ocean Race and Team Vestas Wind’s top priority is to make sure the crew is safe.

The crew has informed Race organisers that it now plans to abandon the boat as soon as possible after daybreak.

Team Alvimedica and two other vessels are in contact with Team Vestas Wind to assist.

We will give you more information as it becomes available.

standing by

Team Alvimedica Navigator Will Oxley shares this update from on board:

We are in contact with Vestas every 30 minutes on VHF radio whilst we wait for dawn at which time the local coast guard should be able to help effect a rescue. Meanwhile I am sure it is great for them to know we are standing by and ready to intersect their life rafts when they reach deep enough water for us to safely navigate in should they abandon at night.

Our sails are down and we are motoring back and forth on the lagoon side of the reef remaining as close as possible to the crew of Vestas Wind while they require assistance. We cannot get closer than about 1.8 miles to them because they are hard on the reef but in the event they abandon to the rafts we may be able to help with recovery. We may also be required to help after rescue but we await advice on this.

For all practical purposes we are no longer racing towards Abu Dhabi for now, but we have not suspended racing. However, in accordance with the laws of the sea, and Racing Rules of Sailing Fundamental Rule 1.1 we are standing by Vestas “to give all possible help to any person or vessel in danger.”

The guys on Vestas are our mates and many of us have sailed 1000’s of miles with them. We will remain with them as long as it is possible we may be able to help.”

THANKSGIVING, THE SHADY SIDE OF THE STREET

This is a part of Los Angeles, a few square blocks that has a population of homeless nearly the size of Newport. In a city that promises to make you perfect.

Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday, yet is about as close as it can be to being one. According to the news more families re-unite than for Christmas. The American meal of Turkey is the American eucharist; where we give thanks for what we have. We should include these people in our thoughts and prayers.

JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS

I had sail number 48 of the original windsurfers (baja board). The group that sailed windsurfers was very eclectic; and sailing because they loved it. Most really did not care if they won anything or not.
The sport evolved beyond anything anyone had imagined.