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Shame on you. Every sea going vessel is obliged to offer assistance to any mariner in distress right the way round the world. Its what the sea going community do - you could argue that helping each other is part of being human.

As for the cost, the RNLI here help seagoers with problems in UK waters with no costs whatsoever and supported by public subscription. Just like any navy.

I am not even sure that there really is any cost. After all, the rescuing ship already exists, crews have to be kept fresh, machinery has to be run. I dont for a moment think that the spend would go down if you simply left people to drown.

Well said, Howard! We've raised £800 from the first Northabout talk given so far, all for our local lifeboat service (SARA - Severn Area Rescue Association, as the RNLI doesn't reach up here), and will raise a lot more.
I still feel uncomfortable about the whole concept of singlehanded sailing at such speeds when asleep, but the skill and courage is amazing.
Attached is a clip of the two leaders as they passed the Kerguelen islands a couple of days ago from a French naval helicopter. Enjoy!
http://dai.ly/x542qr7
Ps - sorry about the 10 sec ad at the start - couldn't find the clip without it!

As a non-sailor they are really moving. I get queezy on pleasure boats. Great shots and courage.

Am loving the weather map - and clicked on the image to get all the details of each boat.

This is one of the last Frontiers for the very skilled and brave.

The Southern Ocean is always a challenge all year round.

And I thought we were nutters

Thanks for the link - they are hugely brave.

Thanks for the link - great clip.

And guess what ? I'm not even going to moan about French taxpayers' money being wasted

Thought the French frigate was looking pretty cool too.

At least you've got some to put to sea....

Clearly single handed sailing like this doesnt comply with Colregs and therefore the law. But then neither does travelling at the standard 80mph on the motorway. The difference here is two fold. Firstly the sailing boat routes round the world largely follow those of the old clippers because of prevailing winds and therefore are very different to big ship routing. Secondly, if there ever is a collison its the yacht that comes off worst and the big ship rarely even notices.

So they sail along with radar sensors / alarms ie a system which rings an alarm if painted by a big ship radar. They sleep in 15 min spells. And they arent where big ships are. Which is why there have been very few ( I cant remember one) examples of these racing yachts colliding with the biggies.

Still doesn't make me comfortable, Howard!
I'm not for a moment suggesting they shouldn't do it - I just don't know how they can. Driving the sailing equivalent of a high performance car flat out 24 hours a day for weeks on end is difficult to comprehend.
15 minutes sleep spells interrupted by alarms - if they can sleep at all given the noise and discomfort as the boats crash off waves - is hardly refreshing, and there are a million things to do when awake to keep the boats sailing.
On the Northabout blog coming back across the North Atlantic at one time I described trying to sleep in the forecabin as like lying in a container which was being kicked around by a pack of JCBs.
Not conducive to good quality sleep!
Still very close racing at the front, and Josse in third is now closing the gap.
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