Whale threat

The news that Roland Jourdain has hit a whale will do nothing to boost the confidence of his fellow round-the-world sailors. I'm thinking not only of the remaining Vendee Globe skippers but also the crews of the Volvo Ocean Race Open 70s.

I was chatting with Ken Read, skipper, of Puma Ocean racing in Singapore yesterday. He said that a collision with a whale is the one thing that keeps sailors awake in their bunks on these high speed ocean-racing events.

The threat of submerged objects, including whales, is a recurring topic of conversation among the Volvo crews when they're on shore between stages.

It's not good news for the whales either. Some must be getting badly injured or even killed in these collisions.

The organising bodies of sail racing need to address this issue for the sake of competitors and also for the sake of marine conservation.

The possible use of echo sounders, ultra sound detection and other devices should all be on the table for discussion. Something needs to happen as a matter of urgency.

More "roadkill" from Leopard in the hunt

As Mike Slade's ICAP Leopard closes in on the transatlantic world speed record for a mono-hulled yacht with power-assisted winches, sea life is scattering from its path. Or not, in case of a poor sunfish that became wrapped around the rudder.

In the record bulletin the emphasis was entirely focussed on time lost rather than the plight of the fish. Fish, dolphins, whales - they just seem to be regarded as inconvenient hazards for yachts.

For surface swimming sea life a modern racing yacht travelling at speeds of between 20 and 30 knots is akin to a blunt blade cutting through the waves. A big whale might have a chance but anything else can forget it. Yet no-one seems to mind.

Well I would like to stand up for the fish and the mammals. It's distressing to hear of whales, sharks and other wildlife shredded and thumped by these high tech racers. I suppose it's just another form of road kill.