Hey Tom,

The rules of the race prohibit the use of such gadgetry by crew...There's an rather dazzling array of restrictions placed upon the competitors as regards what can, and cannot be carried aboard, or used during the course of a leg:

"(b)
Only one mobile phone with a SIM card inserted may be onboard after the Boat departs the dock on Leg start day, the mobile phone number shall be provided to the race control. Prior to Racing the mobile phone shall be sealed in the plastic container provided by the OA and shall remain sealed while Racing. The seal shall be photographed applied over at least 2 of the cases latches and the photograph transmitted to race control within 4 hours of the Leg start.

(c)
iPad’s, tablet PC’s, mobile phones or similar devices capable of using SIM cards or similar shall have the SIM cards removed and the aperture will be sealed prior to 1800 the day before the Leg start by a member of the RC or when the communication is through an internal modem or similar the modem shall be permanently disabled."

http://www.volvooceanrace.com/static/assets/content_v2/media/files/m30519_notice-of-race-amendment-10-20141113.pdf

In the beginning, I was similarly inclined to put the errors made down primarily to fatigue, etc., and the priorities placed upon tactics over straight navigation given the incredibly tight racing in this year's edition of the VOR... but, as the discussion has evolved, and now with the publication of this report, and the litany of errors, omissions and oversights of the sort that Mark has been pointing out, I'm beginning to doubt even a well-rested and relaxed Wouter Verbraak or Chris Nicholson would have done much of anything different (grin)

best regards,

Jon