Vendee Globe

BillNH · Post by **BillNH** » Nov 30th, '08, 22:50

wingreen wrote:In the extreme, if you were 10 feet from the pole, you could circumnavigate 360 degrees of longitude in about 15 seconds by walking in a circle around the pole, which would still look like a straight line across the whole bottom of the virtual regatta map.

Good example! And that circle would all be on a constant compass course of 090 true, crossing every meridian at a right angle!

wingreen · Post by **wingreen** » Nov 30th, '08, 23:13

BillNH wrote:
wingreen wrote:In the extreme, if you were 10 feet from the pole, you could circumnavigate 360 degrees of longitude in about 15 seconds by walking in a circle around the pole, which would still look like a straight line across the whole bottom of the virtual regatta map.
Good example! And that circle would all be on a constant compass course of 090 true, crossing every meridian at a right angle!

... as long as it's not a magnetic compass...

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Dec 1st, '08, 07:39

wingreen wrote:... as long as it's not a magnetic compass...

<<

Would a gyrocompass do any better, 10 feet from the pole?

wingreen · Post by **wingreen** » Dec 1st, '08, 08:50

As I understand gyrocompasses, it would not do any better that close to the pole, Neil. I think the only compass that might work under this circumstance is a GPS, and then only if a GPS satellite were above the horizon.

BillNH · Post by **BillNH** » Dec 1st, '08, 16:20

Whoa, thought that was a boat in front of me until I realized it was an island... Don't know how close I can pass, better alter course a bit!

Looks like that high pressure area has split the CD fleet between those who made it through before it developed and those caught on its north side... note that most of the new leaders are now boats running down the easting in the lower latitudes!

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Dec 1st, '08, 17:25

You all seemed to be having so much fun (this thread is getting long!) so I went and signed up, boat name is of course Lady Pauline, I am way behind!

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Dec 1st, '08, 17:40

Russell wrote:You all seemed to be having so much fun (this thread is getting long!) so I went and signed up, boat name is of course Lady Pauline, I am way behind!

You're only in 120,000th place. That's not so bad.

Hang in there, as there are lots of miles left to go. (You'll chew up lots of places quickly but it gets a bit more competitive the closer to the front you get.)

BillNH · Post by **BillNH** » Dec 1st, '08, 18:53

Perhaps it would it be a good idea to split off and start a new thread every couple weeks or so? The subject list alone for this thread is now three screens long, and every time we add a new post all the non-racers have to scroll past it to see what else new has been posted... might be the considerate thing to do...

...or maybe Cathy M. would like to give us a separate temporary "discussion section" under the index to move the topic totally out of the main "Cape Dorys" area?

wingreen · Post by **wingreen** » Dec 2nd, '08, 11:52

And I just crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. At the moment, I'm thinking I might get lucky if that low pressure zone stays a little to the east, I can zip down the west side of it and straight on to the gate.

Judith · Post by **Judith** » Dec 2nd, '08, 19:05

BillNH wrote:Perhaps it would it be a good idea to split off and start a new thread every couple weeks or so? The subject list alone for this thread is now three screens long, and every time we add a new post all the non-racers have to scroll past it to see what else new has been posted... might be the considerate thing to do...

I've thought about that, Bill, remembering how I felt scrolling past acres of "Lock vs unlocked props" posts

. How about subdividing something like "Vendee December, Vendee January, etc"? (On that model, next post might start our new December thread. . .)

By the way, if you haven't noticed, the "News" section now offers a downloadable pdf document illustrating various ways to negotiate the Ice Gates legally. . .

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Dec 2nd, '08, 19:15

Are that many people still using the old message board thread style?

Oh and by the way, prop is locked on my Open 60 (there is a secret button to do it), but then its a folding prop unlike my CD.

Judith · Post by **Judith** » Dec 2nd, '08, 20:13

Russell wrote:Are that many people still using the old message board thread style?

Oh and by the way, prop is locked on my Open 60 (there is a secret button to do it), but then its a folding prop unlike my CD.

I don't EVEN want to hear about your prop!!

But I'm using your post to start a 'December' thread, OK?

The Cape Dory Board

Vendee Globe

Re: great circle navigation

Re: great circle navigation

Re: great circle navigation

Look out for Tristan da Cunha...

Consideration for non-racers...

61,000th place!

Re: Consideration for non-racers...

OK, Russell: you're the tipping point