Other sports worth following

shirley_basso

Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to start two new threads:

Sailing
Vendee Globe set off on Sunday - 3 British sailors are competing, 2 ladies: Pip Hare, Sam Davies and then offshore veteran Alex Thompson who is a favourite to win in a brand new boat. He came 3rd in 2012 and 2nd in 2016 in what was a nail-biting finish after losing a foil in the Atlantic.

For perspective - more people have been into space than have sailed around the world, non-stop, single handed (I think less than 100).

Weather looks very difficult just now with a long beat down the Atlantic. Media is fantastic if you follow the official instagram/twitter accounts.

https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracking-map

Golf
Masters Golf tees off on Thurs. Rahm made a hole in one today on the par three course hole 16 where VJ Singh did it in 2009.

I don't know much about the favourites but I used to love the commentary on in the background when it was on free to air. I wonder what the course looks like at this time of year?

First.Aspect

World grass growing championships.

British paint drying grand prix. Nowhere near as exciting since it went water-based.

pblakeney

There used to be a televised crazy golf tournament series on Canadian TV.
It was serious too, not ironic or a spoof either. I found it funny.

First.Aspect

Tiddly winks. The winks are lighter these days and really move around in the air.

First.Aspect

Whiff Whaff.

Has been played since Roman times. There is a cast of a whiff at Pompeii.

First.Aspect

Highland games.

So stupid even Canadians don't watch it.

First.Aspect

Its a Knock Out.

1. Food dye is safe.
2. I should have won the caption competion.

First.Aspect

Caption competition.

If type writers are used, it is a sport.

Wheelspinner

Augusta will probably look much like it does in April, because they have so much technology in the course to control “nature”. There’s a heating system underground on the 12th green to keep soil temperature managed for the right grass growth in shady time, and elsewhere to artificially trick the dogwoods into flowering at just the right time every season for the tournament.

rick_chasey

NFL season takes me to Feb and then it’s a short month till Omloop. 👍🏻

Short enough season (16 “league” games before playoffs) means most games actually matter.

Watch most of it on redzone which is like nfl on crack as it jumps between plays as games are being played simultaneously so you get a good feel for what’s going on and aren’t bored to tears by the constant breaks.

blazing_saddles

pblakeney said:

There used to be a televised crazy golf tournament series on Canadian TV.
It was serious too, not ironic or a spoof either. I found it funny.

I think Rham would be excellent at this, judging from his hole-in-one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/golf/54897477

pblakeney

blazing_saddles said:

pblakeney said:

There used to be a televised crazy golf tournament series on Canadian TV.
It was serious too, not ironic or a spoof either. I found it funny.

I think Rham would be excellent at this, judging from his hole-in-one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/golf/54897477

Liked watching that this morning. 😀

Holey Moley! The Aussies are resurrecting televised crazy golf next year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcq3W3eNtpI

First.Aspect

F1 is still going on. Tends to get going again as soon as Feb.

Pross

blazing_saddles said:

pblakeney said:

There used to be a televised crazy golf tournament series on Canadian TV.
It was serious too, not ironic or a spoof either. I found it funny.

I think Rham would be excellent at this, judging from his hole-in-one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/golf/54897477

Saw that on the news last night. The skim shot was brilliant, I couldn't believe it when it went in the hole though.

capt_slog

Red Bull soap box. Okay for a laugh now and then.

lesfirth

Another vote for Le Vendee Globe.
Have a look on YouTube.
You will be amazed.

Charlie_Croker

shirley_basso said:

Mainly because I couldn't be bothered to start two new threads:

Sailing
Vendee Globe set off on Sunday - 3 British sailors are competing, 2 ladies: Pip Hare, Sam Davies and then offshore veteran Alex Thompson who is a favourite to win in a brand new boat. He came 3rd in 2012 and 2nd in 2016 in what was a nail-biting finish after losing a foil in the Atlantic.

For perspective - more people have been into space than have sailed around the world, non-stop, single handed (I think less than 100).

Weather looks very difficult just now with a long beat down the Atlantic. Media is fantastic if you follow the official instagram/twitter accounts.

https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracking-map

Golf
Masters Golf tees off on Thurs. Rahm made a hole in one today on the par three course hole 16 where VJ Singh did it in 2009.

I don't know much about the favourites but I used to love the commentary on in the background when it was on free to air. I wonder what the course looks like at this time of year?

Nice link shirley_basso on the first sport, thanks
I'll pass on the second if you don't mind

mrb123

Masters should be great. Always taken aback to see Augusta with no fans, there are some massive open spaces.

England cricket tour of South Africa due to start later this month I think, opening with T20s and then ODIs.

shirley_basso

blazing_saddles said:

pblakeney said:

There used to be a televised crazy golf tournament series on Canadian TV.
It was serious too, not ironic or a spoof either. I found it funny.

I think Rham would be excellent at this, judging from his hole-in-one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/golf/54897477

I can't work out how to quote properly - but mentioned in the OP - VJ Singh is the only other person I can think of who has also done it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg9GOMAB31Q

bompington

shirley_basso said:

For perspective - more people have been into space than have sailed around the world, non-stop, single handed (I think less than 100).

I have done little bits of sailing here and there, and I find it utterly bewildering how single-handed sailors can do it for more than 24 hours, never mind months at a time.

shirley_basso

I've done a few longer offshore races (5 - 7 days) but with a crew. I even boggle how the double handers do it, let alone solo and for 3 months. I guess you are just so busy and the autohelms are so good that it doesn't get boring.

Vendee update:

2 favourites are returning to the start for repairs: One with broken rudder (Charal - outright favourite) and another with rigging issues (Occitane, an outsider). Of the latter, a boat has already returned to base with the same issue and re-started a day or so ago. Apparently several boats use the same setup - although strange to see malfunctions occurring now rather than during all the warm up races.

I know the base remains open for several days to allow for this, but can't remember when it closes and damage means an abandonment.

Alex Thompson looking good after the 11am update - not really clear (to me at least!) where they will go once they are through this low pressure.

shirley_basso

Wheelspinner said:

Augusta will probably look much like it does in April, because they have so much technology in the course to control “nature”. There’s a heating system underground on the 12th green to keep soil temperature managed for the right grass growth in shady time, and elsewhere to artificially trick the dogwoods into flowering at just the right time every season for the tournament.

What about the azaleas?

elbowloh

I used to love watching kabaddi when it was on Channel 4. My brother and I used to emulate it in the front room.

ddraver

Freeride World Tour looks like it will be happening again...

The Women's Ski competition was by far the most interesting last year!

Wheelspinner

shirley_basso said:

Wheelspinner said:

Augusta will probably look much like it does in April, because they have so much technology in the course to control “nature”. There’s a heating system underground on the 12th green to keep soil temperature managed for the right grass growth in shady time, and elsewhere to artificially trick the dogwoods into flowering at just the right time every season for the tournament.

What about the azaleas?

Azaleas are like a weed, grow anywhere and flower for months at a time...

TheBigBean

shirley_basso said:

I've done a few longer offshore races (5 - 7 days) but with a crew. I even boggle how the double handers do it, let alone solo and for 3 months. I guess you are just so busy and the autohelms are so good that it doesn't get boring.

Vendee update:

2 favourites are returning to the start for repairs: One with broken rudder (Charal - outright favourite) and another with rigging issues (Occitane, an outsider). Of the latter, a boat has already returned to base with the same issue and re-started a day or so ago. Apparently several boats use the same setup - although strange to see malfunctions occurring now rather than during all the warm up races.

I know the base remains open for several days to allow for this, but can't remember when it closes and damage means an abandonment.

Alex Thompson looking good after the 11am update - not really clear (to me at least!) where they will go once they are through this low pressure.

I was effectively paying crew for a couple of days. Job was simply to watch for ships or if something beeped, then let the captain know. I asked how he manages to sleep when on his own and he said 20 min naps next to the beeping thing. That way he could check on ships. Didn't sound like much fun. Maybe there are places where ships are less of a hazard.

rick_chasey

Oh man I find offshore sailing quite stressful.

Lake sailing ftw....

elbowloh

I'd like to learn to sail, i think it would be quite relaxing (inshore/lakes) rather than off-shore.

I think i'll give it a bash sometime.

TheBigBean

rick_chasey said:

Oh man I find offshore sailing quite stressful.

Lake sailing ftw....

Sometimes you have to get from A to B and it is the only way. Or the best way.

Far more stressful way to cross an ocean though even in a big ship.

bompington

Sailing around the islands and inlets of the Scottish west coast could never be described as stress-free, but, on the few occasions when I have done it, some of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Wheelspinner

Sailing, meh.

"The fine art of getting wet while slowly going nowhere at great expense."