Facebook

Login

Support Sailonline

If you haven't already - join the SAILONLINE YACHT CLUB!

Please also consider making a donation - all amounts are greatly appreciated!

Board » Flag Officers » Race proposals » The Amazon River

Just out of curiosity on the IMOCA run up the Atlantic, I took a look at the Amazon River as a possible race.
It would be unique, in that nobody could stay awake for that length of time, and therefore the boats would need to be anchored while the sailor slept. It would therefore be a race of endurance, rather than navigational skill, and forecasting the winds would play no role whatsoever.
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Rod - what a great idea!!! Navigating up the Amazon... I have just had a snoop and it has huge potential!

Have you got waypoints in mind? Because of the length of the river (in actuality about 4000mi) our Amazon expedition would have to take the slot of an ocean race... unless it were broken up into different segments.

NICE THINKING!!! :-D

I love race ideas that highlight the sheer versatility of SOL! Would be fun to buddy-up with a school or college doing an Amazonian project (or am I getting ahead of myself)!!

What do others think?

--- Last Edited by RainbowChaser at 2011-03-25 10:52:18 ---
I had thought of it as one single run from the Mouthes of the Amazon to the headwaters (as per map). But you are right, this would make it equivalent in time to a major ocean race.
My main thought was the lack of navigation and wind prediction components. It could be split up into several weekend races.
It would not be greatly different from the present Lake Malaren Race.

--- Last Edited by Rod at 2011-03-25 14:25:15 ---
If it breaks, it's not strong enough--if it doesn't, it's too heavy.
Rod, a very interesting concept. I think the separate races would be better than one long one to make up a series. On a long Amazonian trek, you could not easily set DCs for any length of time away and it would get frustrating.

Also, looking in GE, it will be tough to map as the resolution is quite variable. Perhaps try a few segments and see what they look like in the SOL maps.

RC, what a great idea to partner with a school doing a geography or life science project!
Cool idea!

SP
Very Interesting idea.

Perhaps some river flow / current to deal with, perhaps having to choose a narrow vs wider section of river that could have different flow strengths.

Add some foggy and rain downpours where one loses sight of the land at times could add that little touch of surprise, confusion and difficulty.

Leave out snakes, cougars, mosquitos, other biting animals, reptiles and all bugs that lay eggs in your body until the lavae hatch and eat their way out!!
If it breaks, it's not strong enough!
I had this one in my queue of race ideas to propose as well! Provisional title "Surf na Pororoca" after the tidal bore competition/festival. (see youtube)

Was going to suggest either a 24 or 48h "endurance" race, using the ability to take the ranking when a race is closed, rather than have a finish line.

Average windspeed <3knots though... for a timed race I think we'd want something along the lines of SOL's tender. There won't be much windspeed strategy anyways, so maybe just taking it out of the equation altogether wouldn't be bad for one (slightly unusual) race?

The other option seems to be a very long (weeks) race in a "normal" boat.

Insane yes... ;-)

More insane always better what a great fun to race Amazone
In similar vane, does anyone have the polars for a felucca on the Nile?! Or a Chinese junk up the Yangtse? We could then have a River Series to go with the lakes, seas and oceans. I guess there are no polars for a paddlesteamer on the Mississippi though!
Rod - any progress on this? A kmz Google Earth file would be great... showing the different start/finish points etc. Then we can get this set up and start running it!!

:-D

Let us know if you need any further help with this.

Please login to post a reply.

Races

Next Race: 00d 00h 00m


Current Races:

Great Nicobar to Marion Island 2025

The Adventure Continues – Leg #6 of the RWW Series.
We’re setting sail on the next stage of the RWW Series: a 4,400-nautical-mile passage from Great Nicobar to Marion Island. This demanding leg will test endurance, strategy, and seamanship at the highest level. As part of the 2025 Ocean Championship, this marks the ninth legendary challenge in the series — and one of the most exhilarating yet. The race will be contested aboard the Archer 78’ ketch, a vessel built to push sailors to their limits across the vast Indian Ocean.
PRIZE: SMPF
Race #1900
INFO by brainaid.de
Archer 78 PARTICULARS    
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230    
Ranking: OCQ3 - RWW - OCCH - SUPSOL - SYC
Race starts: Sep 01st 11:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

SSANZ Triple Series 2025 - Race 3

Welcome to the grand finale of this year's SSANZ Triple Series! The stage is set for the Lewmar 50, a thrilling 39nm challenge tracing the southern shores of the stunning Waiheke Island, pushing out to Tarahiki before the sprint back to Islington Bay. Expect fast legs, tactical battles, and no shortage of drama as our SOLers take on the waters in their Young 88s, lining up once again against the talented IRL members of the Young 88 Association. With the series on the line and everything still to fight for, it all comes down to this final race!
Race #1934
INFO by brainaid.de
Young 88 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking:
SSANZ - SYC
Race starts: Aug 29th 21:15 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Red Eye - Myth of Malham 2025

In 1947, Hugh McLean & Sons of Gourock, Scotland built a radical racing yacht for John Illingworth, soon-to-be Commodore of the RORC, to a design by Laurent Giles. With a masthead rig, giving her ‘free’ sail area per the rules of the time, and short overhangs reducing pitching, Myth of Malham went on to win The Fastnet that year and again in 1949, and to compete in numerous Admiral's Cups. In 1958, in honour of the yacht, the Myth of Malham race was conceived - a mini-Fastnet to the first lighthouse on a rock west of Cowes, Eddystone, rather than the second, to be held in non-Fastnet years. IRL this year it has been raced already, but this stops us not from “Red Eye” racing its online 230nm in Fareast 31Rs, leaving how to deal with the Isle of Wight open to your own discretion.
Race #1847
INFOby brainaid.de
Fareast 31R PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - RED
RACE CLOSE: Monday,
September 1 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Aug 25th 12:00 Registration Open!
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Africa by Sea 2025 - Maputo to Mogadishu


The fifth leg of our exploration of Africa By Sea takes us north along the length of the Continent’s succulent sub-tropical and tropical Indian Ocean coast. Much fought over by traders and colonists both well-before and after a Portuguese expedition under the command of Vasco da Gama first sailed there from Europe back in the 16th century, it is yet to be properly explored as a yachting destination. With plenty of islands off- and inshore, small and very large, there is much to interrupt your 1900nm voyage and visit in your Swan 65, from Maputo to Mogadishu! Race #1858
INFOby brainaid.de
Swan 65 PARTICULARS
WX Updates:
0430 / 1030 / 1630 / 2230
Ranking: SYC - ABS
RACE CLOSE: Saturday,
September 6 at 2300 UTC.
Race starts: Aug 20th 17:00 Registration Closed
▶ Flash
GO TO RACE

Go to race archive

SYC Ranking

  1. Sailonline Yacht Club Member WRmirekd
  2. Sailonline Yacht Club Member vida
  3. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CriticalHippo
  4. Sailonline Yacht Club Member KaSToR
  5. Sailonline Yacht Club Member rafa
  6. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Kipper1258
  7. Sailonline Yacht Club Member Sax747
  8. Sailonline Yacht Club Member BRENTGRAY
  9. Sailonline Yacht Club Member CollegeFund
  10. Sailonline Yacht Club Member FreyjaUSA

View full list

Series

Mobile Client

SYC members have the benefit of access to our mobile/lightweight web client!

The mobile client