Volvo feedback
Saturday November 24th 2001, Author: Sian Cowen, Location: United Kingdom
From Foredeck Dave
Should the Australian Navy come to the rescue? If the patient requires morphine to control the pain and the doctor advises a course change then a very serious condition exists. In these circumstances the Australian Navy should respond and the boat divert from its racing position. There's no question that life comes before a race position.
From Mikael Ahrenberg
Should the Australian Navy come to the rescue? Yes I think the rescue operation should take place. A race is a race, but you cannot play around with people's health. Depending on how ill the man is, maybe the boat could maintain its course and the Navy come alongside and pick him up. Amer Sports One is surely loosing out if she has to deviate from her course. These things are difficult to predict, as we do not have the exact info on the mans health. But in any case, people are more important than things. Therefore if the situation is bad I think Amer Sports One has to deviate in order to get the crewmember into proper care.
From Robert Cronk
Should the Australian Navy come to the rescue? Whenever something like this (or Tony Bullimore's rescue etc) occurs, there is loud whinging from the weird beards about the cost involved - which always takes the total pay of all involved, cost of the sue of assets, fuel, etc. What always seems to be forgotten by the whingers, is that the servicemen are paid anyway, their day to day job involves using the hardware, and exercises such as this are absolutely superb training. Okay, so they may have had other training scheduled - but in war (which is what they train for ultimately) things crop up and plans change in a similar way. It never seems to be the servicemen involved that complain about such rescues.
From David Whettingsteel, Western Australia
Should the Australian Navy come to the rescue? It's an expensive rescue. Australia is somewhat 'overtrained' in rescuing sailors participating in recreational and competitive activities in the Southern Ocean. Australia fulfils its international maritime obligations, but don't try and make out we need the training. Its a direct hit on taxpayers wallets.
From Jim Parker
Should the Australian Navy come to the rescue? No. Everyone on board the racing fleet are aware of the dangers that they can face and should be acceptable to whatever happens. They knew from the start that the Southern Ocean is no picnic. If you are ready to accept the laurels then you must be ready to accept the pitfalls. The public are not responsible to bail out rescue attempts. If you want to be rescued then pay for it.
From Drew Fernandez BT Global Challenge 96-97
Should the Australian Navy come to the rescue? Yes it is expensive,and yes it is a good training, it is also the law for the military or rescue services to help if it is with in there power and range of the planes or ships. Every maritime nation will respond to a distress call. In the USA the Navy or Coast Guard is not allowed to charge for these services, but a nice donation for their efforts would be well received.
From John Plus
What thrills you about this race? So Gurra, Team SEB, and the boys on the 'green bullet' Illbruck have records a-tumbling. Topped 460 miles in 24hrs. (460.4 actually) that's in the skinny, upwind, round the cans, short leg optimised narrow waterline machine. Pretty good I would think. Grant and the fat bottom girl Amer Sports Two, the wide waterline, high volume, downwind big breeze optimised machine with the 'when in doubt, go south' attitude, have managed a pb of 425.1 in 24hrs. Hmmm... Grant is a bit of a hero of mine so I don't want to put too fine a point on it but.... Hmmm... And Gurra has a point to prove. Does anyone else think that one of two things will be happening:
1) SEB is pushing their luck, they will run out of it and join Tyco on maximum points for the leg (God I hope not )
2) There is going to be some humble pie eating, vpp reprogramming, assumptions and re-evaluating going on at the other syndicate. Bet Assa Abloy did not expect to get nearly run over by a freight train at 48s!
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