With the attrition rate in the gruelling Vendée Globe growing by the day — Sébastian Simon and Sam Davies are only the latest to change course for South Africa after sustaining damage — one Afloat.ie reader is pointing the finger of blame on the international shipping sector.
John Blaney suggests that “the root cause is the junk discarded or broken off at sea by everyone”.
He adds: “We allow container ships to shed containers aka floating metal icebergs without requiring them to be recovered. Asgard II is an example of a slower speed collision with one.
“This needs worldwide legislation to prevent these hazards to navigation. Put GPS trackers on everything of any significant size and track it like space junk and publish results.”
But the modern style of racing involved in the Vendée Globe — with foiling IMOCA 60s making a big splash this time out — does not escape criticism, either.
“Add higher speeds to boats balancing on little spindly foils and rudders, and the collision results have much more impact (pun intended) and catastrophic results,” Blaney says.
“Also likely is the need for a significant rescue effort to be mounted to the middle of nowhere to find the needle in the haystack.”
Describing himself as “a slow displacement guy”, Blaney emphasises that he’s “all for the need for speed” but calls for moderation.
“If I want to fly somewhere, I fly at 30,000ft rather than foil at 3ft. Keep foiling to contained areas that can be scoured for floating debris like the America’s Cup race areas.
“Track junk and design boats conservatively to be able to withstand collisions with it. Better still, have the responsible parties clean up their junk.”
Meanwhile, the remaining Vendée Globe skippers will be eagle-eyed for icebergs on their route across the southern Indian Ocean.
Hugo Boss’ Alex Thomson won’t be among their number, having just arrived in Cape Town after withdrawing from the race last weekend due to his own rudder damage in the South Atlantic.
