Rescue off NSW South Coast Australia

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by fxykty

You nailed it.

I’m thinking that there was a shaft drive and a hole or whatever was left when the keel fell off to hold on to. I assume the two rudders would have been too far aft to be viable for holding on.

Really great that neither person was trapped below or by the rigging. Wow.

Certainly makes me reconsider auto inflators on our PFDs!

With the auto inflators I've always heard suggestions not to wear them while below decks as the inflated PFD will make it harder to get out if something happens quickly.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

With the auto inflators I've always heard suggestions not to wear them while below decks as the inflated PFD will make it harder to get out if something happens quickly.

Or even if in the cockpit when the boat inverts. Perhaps wearing auto inflating PFDs may need to be different depending on whether you sail a monohull vs a multihull.
- Monohull has risk of unconscious overboard due to boom hit and minimal risk of entrapment, auto inflate recommended and don’t wear inside hull
- Multihull has very little risk of unconscious overboard and higher risk of entrapment, manual inflate recommended

What’s the protocol for over water helicopter crews - that would be similar to multihulls. I know on regular aircraft the safety briefing tells us not to inflate the life jacket until you exit the cabin.

[NaClyDog]

I know I'm asking for speculation but would the keel coming off a new boat like this indicate a collision with something regardless of the weather conditions?

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

I know I'm asking for speculation but would the keel coming off a new boat like this indicate a collision with something regardless of the weather conditions?

I'd expect it's either from a construction defect, keel bolts not properly tightened, or damage from a grounding that caused a later failure.

[SV Tom Crean]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

I know I'm asking for speculation but would the keel coming off a new boat like this indicate a collision with something regardless of the weather conditions?

Three possibilities that I can think of -

Collision, build(fabrication/materials) mistake , design error.

I don't think the weather would have anything yo do with it.

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

I'd expect it's either from a construction defect, keel bolts not properly tightened, or damage from a grounding that caused a later failure.

I hope they can determine the root cause!

[fxykty]

This article has a good photo of the two sailors at the time of their rescue. It looks like they’re hanging on to the sail drive - for 15 hours!!

https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/c...el-loss-139333

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by fxykty

This article has a good photo of the two sailors at the time of their rescue. It looks like they’re hanging on to the sail drive - for 15 hours!!

https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/c...el-loss-139333

Wow.


How the h*ll did they get back on there after the capsize? I guess they are both very skilled and lucky sailors?



Also, based on the photo from hull #2 the keel doesn't seem to be attached to the hull by very much!!

[Jim Cate]

Also, based on the photo from hull #2 the keel doesn't seem to be attached to the hull by very much!!

And even less in hull #1!

And being a brand new boat, unlikely to have had a hard grounding (or any other kind), and can't blame lack of maintenance either. Seems like a flaw in either design or execution... even if they struck a UFO.

Didn't see: is it a fixed or canting keel?

Jim

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

And even less in hull #1!

And being a brand new boat, unlikely to have had a hard grounding (or any other kind), and can't blame lack of maintenance either. Seems like a flaw in either design or execution... even if they struck a UFO.

Didn't see: is it a fixed or canting keel?

Jim

Fixed keel.

But I found this interesting titbit on their site:
"When sailing in short-handed mode the boat utilizes 250L of water ballast per side to provide additional righting moment."
I wonder what would happen if they ended up with 250kg of weight on the wrong side in big seas and heavy weather . That's just over 10% of its total displacement.

[StuM]

One Marine Rescue report mentioned "female boaters".
That suggests these may have been the sailors:
https://www.farrx2.com/first-ever-al...ney-to-hobart/

[clownfishsydney]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

I know I'm asking for speculation but would the keel coming off a new boat like this indicate a collision with something regardless of the weather conditions?

Seas were horrendous over the weekend, up to 10 metres. On Saturday during the early morning it was 2.6 to 4.8 metres at Batemans Bay to the south (the Port Kembla wave buoy is not working) and this was forecast. Wind was 25 knots at 0900 on Saturday but hit over 40 during the day.

When volunteering this morning at Marine Rescue NSW, I was told they were warned about the upcoming conditions on Friday but did not attempt to return to safe harbour and elected to stay out.

Boat washed ashore. https://www.northernbeachesreview.co...amatic-rescue/

Photo of the yacht on hardstand. https://www.facebook.com/nexbaracing...9074695784622/

[Wotname]

For those without FB or the Northern Beaches Review

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Wotname

For those without FB or the Northern Beaches Review

Hmm, a zoom in on the keel location appears to show very little in the way of points where the keel was attached and very little damage.


At least they'll be able to examine it and should work out what failed.

[JPA Cate]

Jim and I've been talking about this, and note the line attached at the base of the saildrive? Perhaps they tied themselves to the saildrive? Not much else left there.

Since this was a trial prior to entry in the Sydney to Hobart, maybe this shows the boat's construction is insufficiently sturdy for that event. (One really wants the keel to stay attached.) Although it is in the milder season, frontal passages still occur, and have strong winds associated, sometimes up to storm force.



Ann