Since we just saw Widmore buying the journal about the Black Rock in 1996. I think he staged the contest in the hope of having some of the people that participated in the race find the island.

Since we just saw Widmore buying the journal about the Black Rock in 1996. I think he staged the contest in the hope of having some of the people that participated in the race find the island.

Thats what I got out of it.

The book may have clues to the whereabouts of this island.

I think we can be fairly sure by now that Widmore is somebody who WANTS to find the island. Whether he's working with or against his daughter is unclear, I think. However, I think he may perhaps be a Ms. Hawking type of person, making sure Desmond gets to the island.

yea Desmond was is pawn

I'm curious as to what info is floating around these seemingly exclusive circles...what do they think the island will bring to them?

Yeah, it seems that he set the course of the race to be in that general area, then maybe if someone disappears, he could somehow check which route they took. If there would be a way to do that.

Yeah, it seems that he set the course of the race to be in that general area, then maybe if someone disappears, he could somehow check which route they took. If there would be a way to do that.

Hmmm, interesting idea.
All disposable people... Maybe Henry Gale was another.
His balloon was directly linked to Widmore.

Yeah, it seems that he set the course of the race to be in that general area, then maybe if someone disappears, he could somehow check which route they took. If there would be a way to do that.exactly what I thought

He must of told Penny that Desmond may be there and that is why she is monitoring that area (end of Season 2)

I have another possible theory. Maybe he was buying the book to keep the island's location hidden. Maybe he staged the race to bring more people to the island as part of the dharma initiative.

This has been bugging me since Penny found the signal from the Hatch. How did they know Desmond would be there. I get that Widmore may have THOUGHT he'd end up there... but how could you guarantee that?!?

This has been bugging me since Penny found the signal from the Hatch. How did they know Desmond would be there. I get that Widmore may have THOUGHT he'd end up there... but how could you guarantee that?!?

Maybe he couldn't, but he was trying to put people in that area without them knowing why. I don't think it had to be Desmond. Kinda like Jack taking a flight every weekend, it increases his chances of finding the island again.

very good question. ive thought that widmore was a major player ever since we saw pennys reaction after the hatch blew and her team notified her of what they found. During the phone call between Des and penny doesn't she mention something about looking for him and research? It kind of gets lost in the static of the call, but i thought I heard something about research. Maybe she is on to her dad and what he is involved in with Dharma or the others. I also believe his people are who Ben and Sayid are eliminating.

Since we just saw Widmore buying the journal about the Black Rock in 1996. I think he staged the contest in the hope of having some of the people that participated in the race find the island.


Excellent tie in. I was thinking that Widmore sent Desmond on the race to find the Island but didnt think about buying the Journal as a means to set Desmonds course

Since we just saw Widmore buying the journal about the Black Rock in 1996. I think he staged the contest in the hope of having some of the people that participated in the race find the island.
I like it better than Widmore staging the race as a way to get rid of Desmond. Much better.

I don't think so. Widmore would have had to track every one of the race's participants. In that case, he would have been tracking Desmond and when he wrecked on the Island, he would have had the location.

It's a definite possibility that Widmore staged the race just to find the island. I mean it gets Desmond away from Penny for a long time and it helps him find the island, sounds like a win-win for Widmore.

It's a definite possibility that Widmore staged the race just to find the island. I mean it gets Desmond away from Penny for a long time and it helps him find the island, sounds like a win-win for Widmore.

Widmore had been sponsoring the race for quite sometime. Desmond first found out about it when he saw Widmore for the interview. Widmore had no idea who Desmond was at the time or that he would even enter the race years later. I just think that there would be better ways to try and find the island because if one of your racers found it, then what? He would just be lost at sea and no one would know where he is.

Widmore had been sponsoring the race for quite sometime. Desmond first found out about it when he saw Widmore for the interview. Widmore had no idea who Desmond was at the time or that he would even enter the race years later. I just think that there would be better ways to try and find the island because if one of your racers found it, then what? He would just be lost at sea and no one would know where he is.

maybe widmore's been working with Ben to send people to the island whenever he can... that was just a random thought though, we all know that nobody is invited on the island unless they get on the J-list (jacob list)

Widmore had been sponsoring the race for quite sometime. Desmond first found out about it when he saw Widmore for the interview. Widmore had no idea who Desmond was at the time or that he would even enter the race years later. I just think that there would be better ways to try and find the island because if one of your racers found it, then what? He would just be lost at sea and no one would know where he is.

Think of the racers as 'cannon-fodder'.

Set up a race, get lots of people sailing through the general area (which you found the location of from the contents of the Black Rock ledger), put a transponder on their boats, hope that someone stumbles on the Island. After all, it's really tricky to find through normal means.

He didn't plan in particular for Des to be the one that ended up there (or even to be in the race), it was just 'fate'. ;)

Also, would go some way to explaining Naomi's cover story. If they were using the Des/Penny photo it implies that the freighter team knew that Des was on the Island. And Widmore would be in a good position to get a copy that picture from his daughter Penny. He would brief Naomi with the alibi to use once she got onto the Island.

Sounds plausible to me, anyway.

This has been bugging me since Penny found the signal from the Hatch. How did they know Desmond would be there. I get that Widmore may have THOUGHT he'd end up there... but how could you guarantee that?!?

By having Libby give him a boat that would give better chances to be shipwrecked. Special metals or something that would be attracted to an electromagnetic island, like the Black Rock itself.

Conspiracy!!!!

I like it better than Widmore staging the race as a way to get rid of Desmond. Much better.


what better way to get rid of somebody than to send him to an unfindable island in the middle of the Pacifific. In fact I know some people I could recommend to go the next time Widmore is looking for unsuspecting volunteers.

This has been bugging me since Penny found the signal from the Hatch. How did they know Desmond would be there. I get that Widmore may have THOUGHT he'd end up there... but how could you guarantee that?!?

Kelvin informed DI about Desmond.

Somebody inside DI tipped Penny off about the island after that, perhaps somebody that was Widmore mole inside the DI.

Widmore race had nothing to do getting rid of Des, as he didn't know he would participate in it. Neither did it have any connection for finding the island, it would be a lousy idea.

"lets send people to sail all over the world, maybe somebody gets lost on and island somewhere, then escapes there and then tells us about it!"

"Yes mister Widmore, take your medicine now".

Since we just saw Widmore buying the journal about the Black Rock in 1996. I think he staged the contest in the hope of having some of the people that participated in the race find the island.

Penny's involved. Hate to crush the Penny/Desmond party, but, she's not what she appears to be, something is going to happen. You just can't have a show without drama.

Widmore race had nothing to do getting rid of Des, as he didn't know he would participate in it. Neither did it have any connection for finding the island, it would be a lousy idea.

"lets send people to sail all over the world, maybe somebody gets lost on and island somewhere, then escapes there and then tells us about it!"

"Yes mister Widmore, take your medicine now".

I agree that Widmore didn't stage the race for Des as he had no way of knowing if he would take part in it.

However, we know that Widmore had an interest in the Black Rock ledger. We also know from TLE that his company was involved in certain aspects of the DHARMA initiative and if 'Bad Twin' is correct there were many links between Hanso and Widmore and their business interests. Seems to me he knows about the Island and has a definite interest in finding it.

If he has a general idea of where the island is, an island that is 'invisible' where people only wind up by 'accident' then organising a race through the area in the hope that someone will stumble across the island is a viable strategy to locate it. Ceratinly worth a try.

By having Libby give him a boat that would give better chances to be shipwrecked. Special metals or something that would be attracted to an electromagnetic island, like the Black Rock itself.

Conspiracy!!!!

Oooh! I like this one! Not sure if I'm completely buying it, but it's a cool idea!

Widmore had been sponsoring the race for quite sometime. Desmond first found out about it when he saw Widmore for the interview. Widmore had no idea who Desmond was at the time or that he would even enter the race years later. I just think that there would be better ways to try and find the island because if one of your racers found it, then what? He would just be lost at sea and no one would know where he is.

I disagree on part of this. Widmore knew who Desmond was when Desmond interviewed for the job. The interview was set up by Penny. He was all set to give him a job. But then Desmond said he didn't want it. He wanted permission to marry Penny.

Imagine this: Widmore's job offer had something to do with getting Desmond to that island. Widmore knows it is Desmond's destiny just like Mrs. Hawking. So Desmond turning the job down messes up that plan. And Widmore can't let Desmond marry Penny because then he won't go to the island.

So Widmore sends Libby to give Desmond a boat so he can enter the race. The coordinates Desmond is given for the race head straight to the island.

And Widmore can't let Desmond marry Penny because then he won't go to the island. So Widmore sends Libby to give Desmond a boat so he can enter the race.

I completely agree. Charles Widmore keeps company with Brother Campbell and Mrs. Hawking. I believe that his seeming rudeness to Desmond in "Flashes Before Your Eyes" was fake. Notice he was very kind to Desmond when talking about taking a job with Widmore Industries. It wasn't until Desmond talks about Penny that Widmore's face visibly changes and he suddenly acts rude toward Desmond. It's almost as if it pains him to act that way. Watch closely. Widmore knows that Desmond must go to Lost Island to push the Swan button. Desmond can't stay and settle with Penny at this time. Destiny demands that Desmond end up in the Swan.

In "The Constant," Charles keeps the water running in the bathroom sink because he knows it will help revive Desmond quicker so Desmond can continue on his mission. Notice that he gave Desmond Penny's address instead of simply giving him her phone number. He wanted Desmond to go and physically see Penny. He is fully aware of Desmond's time jumping. Just as Hawking and Campbell are fully aware of what is happening with Desmond. I will never forget Brother Campbell's words to Desmond in "Catch-22," "Now you're one of us."

Libby is clearly aware of the greater conflict between the Light players and the Dark players. She was sent as an agent of Widmore's to help Desmond get to the Island. Penny is also fully aware of who and what her father is. Penny is also on the side of the Light players.

Neither Charles nor Penny is behind the freighter that is currently at the Island. Matthew Abaddon does not work for the Widmores. Ultimately, Charles knows Desmond is a good man and will one day bless his union with Penny.

The ideas on this thread are intriguing. I hadn't thought before about the race being a manipulative way to either find the island/Black Rock or to hinder Des/Pen.

But the question that keeps bugging me was brought up by OneDegreeOff:

I'm curious as to what info is floating around these seemingly exclusive circles...what do they think the island will bring to them?

What do people out there know about the island? :confused: Why work so hard to find it?

Since we just saw Widmore buying the journal about the Black Rock in 1996. I think he staged the contest in the hope of having some of the people that participated in the race find the island.
I don't get why people suggest this. Every year probably tens of thousands of ships cross the pacific, with none of them ever finding the island since the Black Rock found it. But he adds 10 or 20 more ships with a race, and expects one of them to? That doesn't make sense.

Danielle's ship doesn't count, because it didn't find it by accident, but by following the radio beacon. As far as we know, Desmond's is the first watercraft to accidentally find the island since the Black Rock. Aircraft apparently have an easier time of it.