The Oryx Quest around the world race starts Saturday from Qatar. Here are some gleanings from the rules and regs for this second ever race between Race Class cats.

Often times people wonder, what’s the prize for winning sailboat race x. Most times the answer is a trophy or a brag flag. Not this time. Winning boat receives: $1,000,000.

The Amundsen Trophy
To be awarded to the first boat to pass the Amundsen Gate located at 163° west the longitude where Amundsen set his winter basecamp “Framheim” on Antarctica until he left for the South Pole.

Fittingly this gate is in the barren South Pacific.

How about a Cook Trophy for either A. the boat that sails to the farthest south latitude? or B. Hits 71 degrees or farther south as Cook did sailing Resolution on his second voyage.

1 IMPORTANT NOTICE
Ocean Racing can be dangerous.

Send Lawyers, guns and money…eventually it will hit the fan!

Here’s the official course:

5 COURSE AND DISTANCE
Doha light vessel port Qatar
Qatar Light Vessel starboard Qatar
Sirri Island port The Gulf
Bu Rashid starboard Hormuz
Kachalu starboard Hormuz
Jazirat Musandam starboard Hormuz
Cape Leeuwin port Australia
Tasmania port Australia
South Island port New Zealand
Antarctica starboard Southern Ocean
Cape Horn port Chile
Lobos Island starboard Uruguay
Bajo de Lobos Island starboard Uruguay
Island of Mauritius port Indian Ocean
Jazirat Musandam port Hormuz
Kachalu port Hormuz
Bu Rashid port Hormuz
Sirri Island starboard. The Gulf
Qatar light vessel port Qatar
Doha Light Vessel starboard Qatar
Distance approximately 23,000 miles

Interesting that there is still a light vessel near Qatar.

23,000 miles is a bit shorter than a course that starts in Europe. There could be a winning time of under 60 days.

19 OUTSIDE HELP “and that the time spent on the anchor, or moored, or attached to another boat, or berthed at a harbour etc. shall be a minimum of 24 hours.”

You can stop, but it’ll cost your team a day….

In addition to sailing crews have other responsibilities:

6.2 Each boat shall attempt to achieve MINIMUM levels of media output
these being:
6.2.1 compressed video footage – 5 minutes weekly
6.2.2 live video conference – 3 minute session, three times weekly

These boats are high tech. Still there are some things you should never leave port with such as : “two buckets of stout construction each with at least 9 litres (2 UK gallons, 2.4 US gallons) capacity in each hull with accommodation. Each bucket to have a lanyard.”

Imagine if a lack of a bucket cost you the million dollar prize…?

5.05 Knife
A knife, one shall be supplied to each crew member which should be
worn on the person at all times.

The knife ancient and perhaps the ultimate in elegant simplicity. Don’t sleep without it!

With that and more off the big multis go…..

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