Americas Cup Death

[Seajet]

Clearly a very tragic event, and the only thing that really matters is supporting the family and friends.

Pushing sport to the limits is dangerous.
But voluntary.

I competed internationally in aerobatics which is a very minority sport with probably less than 100 competitors in the UK.
I lost three friends to fatal accidents in the years I was active, but I, and most involved would have rejected anyone telling us we shouldn't do it, or we should do it differently.

Free world. Let's please keep it that way.
I really hope some authority doesn't "help" us by inflicting a bunch of restrictions on sailing.

Ex Solent Boy,

I'm not a pilot but have done a lot of time ' sitting there ' as an aerial photographer, and have known some tremendous Test Pilots to give breathtaking displays; not what they were all about - testing - but part of the job trying to sell aeroplanes or even encourage recruits.

In my time we lost two Test Pilots, ( other T.P's were lost at other bases ) one very experienced and skilled aerobatic T.P. who one day got things slightly wrong, and one due to a malfunction he had no control over.

In both cases there were design improvements so lessons were learned.

The thing I've always loved about sailing is, one can drive a boat daftly fast and get a huge impression of speed, but if one screws up the worst that can happen is one gets wet, unlike pushing one's luck in a car or aircraft...

I gave up attending airshows and motor races long ago after too many toe-curling displays and nasty accidents, it would be an awful shame if sailing races went the same way.