We know, we know - there is nothing funny about structural problems in the middle of the ocean, but that doesn't mean we can't poke a little, right? Thanks to our friend ivo for the cartoon.

Balls Up

The cartoon above of course refers to the fact that the Black Pearl is having serious structural problems (again), in the Volvo Ocean Race, this time resulting in cracks around the keel area that are not only leaking water into the boat (quite comforting, I'm sure), but also causing them to reduce their pace and at best take them out of contention for this leg (again) and at worst, well, you don't really want to think about the worst case scenario here, do you?

Another bad break, in a series of bad breaks that are rendering this race a near disaster. And all this so close to the proverbial edge, it will apparently not take much to become a full fledged disaster. Even if nothing worse happens, there are going to be some serious consequences for a race that not only attracted an alarmingly small turnout, but also for a design team, Farr and Associates, that had every single boat of their design suffer at least one structural problem, barely two legs into the race. It remains to be seen what the ultimate fallout will be.

All of this of course, shouldn't, but probably does take away from the superb effort that both JuanK designed ABN AMRO boats are putting forth. Fast in the breeze, apparently better built and designed, and sailed superbly, these boats are the real, in fact the only, success story of this race so far.

Sure, it can all turn around and get better, the boats will finish, no further structural problems, close racing, and a terrific finish, but that scenario looks unlikely.

VOR, what will become of you?

01/13/05