Prince Andrew Goes Long!

[knudeNoggin]

This might be of interest : recently, Prince Andrew and assorted
other luminaries rap'd down Britain's new & tallest building,
The Shard (named for its looks, methinks), some 787 (?) feet.

A question arose as to what knot he was tied in with, which led
to finding several --differing slightly--, which led to "Huh?!" and
then the revelation that the full abseil was done in three sections
--a quite short initial drop, then into one, out another window
(with new rig); a lonnnnng drop, then into a broadly open window
platform; and the final drop into photo-op glory. (Yep, by that
count, one can want to see whether the lonnnng dropper is the
same as the (first) last --not a stunt double.


I count 5 brake bars.
No time records threatened (unless on the slow end) !

URLinks run longer than the rappel, so let Google do the work.

*kN*

[LukeM]

Here's a link.

[knudeNoggin]

Thanks for the URLink. Those images touch on the 3-leg nature
of the descent : one can see the high, two open windows in one
photo (descent was from upper left --not sure that the apparent
line & mount is at top right of building--, going into left, out of
right window); then the descent with the big yellow bag of rap
rope (this for the long part : 500'?) which ran into a broad opening;
and then one close-up of the prince on the relatively short final
descent from the broad, open window set, sans bag.

*kN*

[Tim White]

Check out Over the Edge. On any given Friday or Saturday, in up to 4 cities across the US, OTE is putting 40 – 100 participants on rappel who are raising money for worthy non-profit organizations such as Special Olympics, Big Brother Big Sisters and others.

Not caver techniques (OTE is a rope access company), but many of the staff and volunteers are cavers. Myself, Jeff and Nina Martin, Darien Dopp, Roy Becker, Glenn Segrest, Rebecca Land Segrest, Mel Eady, Mike Hills, and Chris “Howdy” Davis work for OTE (you will even find Berta at a couple of events).

Check out the Event Schedule and come out and volunteer. For a day and half of your time, you get a free rappel off of a tall building and won’t get arrested!