There are two Volvo 70 teams still racing towards Cape Horn. The number of breakages in this race has been significant. If this was the first time the class was being used for the event I might find it acceptable, I might. But there is a lot of data available, the boats have been well used. I have expectations that the science and materials are better every year and therefore the boats produced could safely race around the world.
There are two boats still racing. Six started, that is already a small number. This is a huge budget race. Each team surrounds itself with secrecy, has spent grand amounts of money to produce boats they believe are capable of winning this race. The sails seem to be standing up well to the punishing conditions. Not so for the boats.
The boats I sail are not built to the same standard and I recognize that they would not stand up to the same abuse if you like. I have taken my “foot off the throttle” under circumstances, while the boat was still under control, there was a risk of damaging the boat. You don’t get points for not finishing and it is even less appealing to be rescued.
So why has this generation of Volvo 70’s had so many breakdowns? Particularly disturbing is the delamination problems these boats are experiencing. I will include the bulkheads and longitudinals that are simply ungluing. It seems that the lessons from the previous races has not been put to good use.
That is not good! Which two remain? Bill
.333–not bad if it were a batting average, a trifle skimpy as a survival rate.
Yes – The damage rate is surprisingly high. It is not unlike the last single-handed, non-stop Vendee Globe race around the world. Thirty boats started, but only 11 finished. And some, like Brian Thompson’s boat where the canting keel was swinging loose like a pendulum, barely made it. It sounds like the designers are largely to blame – they are cutting things too close under pressure to produce a winner.