Catamaran capsizes off the Portugal coast. Three crew rescued, one lost

[zoidberg]

I find myself torn between the definitions of 'snowflake' and 'importunate'. One response which offers itself is 'If I want your opinion I'll give it to you.'

 

[Frogmogman]

Well, I'm certainly not interested in yours any more. Ignore button deployed.

 

[cherod]

c,mon boys ,, peace

 

[zoidberg]

The story is told of an encounter sometime in the Cold War 70s between a Russian frigate and a Royal Navy destroyer. The Russkie signalled, in Morse and by lamp, "Peace!"

The RN vessel replied "Peace off!"

 

[cherod]

The story is told of an encounter sometime in the Cold War 70s between a Russian frigate and a Royal Navy destroyer. The Russkie signalled, in Morse and by lamp, "Peace!"

The RN vessel replied "Peace off!"

no surprise there then

 

[GHA]

This from another forum >

I just received word that my brother-in-law, known French racer Regis Guillemot with 3 crewmembers, struck a partially submerged container and sank, with one crewmember lost. They were off La Coruna, Spain on the way to Martinique. The cat was a new (< 2years old) Marsaudon Composites 50' all-carbon cruising cat. They were likely sailing around 20 kts when they hit the container and pitch-poled. The details are sketchy still, but it sounds like one hull was severely compromised, while the other kept the boat from sinking immediately. The surviving crew made it into the life-raft and managed to send a signal. They were recovered 12 hours later by a cargo ship and taken to the Azores. This is the same boat, "Hallucine", that was first over the line in last year's ARC. Pics of the boat can be googled.

 

[dunedin]

This from another forum >

Wow. A sounds horrific if they hit a container and pitchpoled as a result.

 

[cherod]

Wow. A sounds horrific if they hit a container and pitchpoled as a result.

frightening

 

[GHA]

Wow. A sounds horrific if they hit a container and pitchpoled as a result.

If they hit at 20Kts then that would have been a big bang! Energy increases with the square of the speed, so 20Kts is 16 times more moving energy than 5Kts.
Over the handlebars ?

 

[dunedin]

If they hit at 20Kts then that would have been a big bang! Energy increases with the square of the speed, so 20Kts is 16 times more moving energy than 5Kts.
Over the handlebars ?

Sadly that would explain why the crew on deck (?) apparently did not survive

 

[Tomahawk]

(. I dont know if you read the post by Frog ,). but the skipper has reported hitting something .

If they ran over something with the windward hull, with the board up they may have run all the way back to the engine, rudder which would have ripped out and flooded the stern. But I do not understand how they potchpolled?

 

[LittleSister]

These two don't seem entirely consistent.

There was a bit of sea running, but no more than 16 to 20 kts of wind, and they were sailing peacefully, under-canvassed with two reefs in the main prior to the collision. They don't know what they hit, maybe a container.

This from another forum >

They were likely sailing around 20 kts when they hit the container and pitch-poled.

 

[RupertW]

These two don't seem entirely consistent.

Why not? Peacefully at 20 knots is what those cats are built for.

 

[Roberto]

Sadly that would explain why the crew on deck (?) apparently did not survive

With such a helmsman steering position, probably no need to pitchpole to fall overboard

 

[wully1]

If they ran over something with the windward hull, with the board up they may have run all the way back to the engine, rudder which would have ripped out and flooded the stern. But I do not understand how they potchpolled?

maybe if they were sailing along at a decent speed and the leeward hull hit a container the momentum would carry the windward hull into violent arc and roll/pitch pole the boat?
Whatever caused it - it is a tragedy.

 

[Greenheart]

Tragic, certainly. Especially because the odds against colliding with a floating container (or other jetsam) must generally put the prospect out of ocean-going multihull-owners' minds.

No yacht-owner can be glad at the idea, but the routine high speeds of multihulls moves hefty old monohulls further up my wish-list.

 

[Frogmogman]

Tragic, certainly. Especially because the odds against colliding with a floating container (or other jetsam) must generally put the prospect out of ocean-going multihull-owners' minds.

No yacht-owner can be glad at the idea, but the routine high speeds of multihulls moves hefty old monohulls further up my wish-list.

In Jimmy Cornell's article about his new all-electric Outremer in YW, he talks about a camera device which can spot things in the water ahead of the boat. Sounds like a worthwhile gadget on boats capable of these high speeds.

 

[Tomahawk]

Tragic, certainly. Especially because the odds against colliding with a floating container (or other jetsam) must generally put the prospect out of ocean-going multihull-owners' minds.

No yacht-owner can be glad at the idea, but the routine high speeds of multihulls moves hefty old monohulls further up my wish-list.

I wonder how many of the Vendee will retire due to hitting various objects ?
IIRC, nearly one third had to retire during the last round on account of hitting things.. It certainly cost Alex his title after hi lost a foil ..

 

[dunedin]

Tragic, certainly. Especially because the odds against colliding with a floating container (or other jetsam) must generally put the prospect out of ocean-going multihull-owners' minds.

No yacht-owner can be glad at the idea, but the routine high speeds of multihulls moves hefty old monohulls further up my wish-list.

If it was a container strike then it is likely that a lead-mine monohull might have sunk entirely.

 

[caiman]

I have an idea that 'record breaking' Tris,eg Jules Verne Trophy contenders etc, have a form of forward looking Sonar?
This for spotting Flotsam/Jetsam,and for 'bergy bits'when well South.
On fast Cats, the windward dagger board is extended rather than the leeward,so that if the windward hull lifts, the dagger becomes less effective,and the smooth leeward hull has less lateral resistance,to allow the boat to slip sideways.
At least that's how it was on a Formula 40 I sailed on a lifetime ago.
At 20K,the sails would be set to the apparent wind,and so sheeted in quite hard.A sudden reduction of speed by hitting something(or stuffing the leeward bow into a big wave)would bring the apparent wind aft, and so finish off a pitchpole by pushing the boat finally over.
A sheet 'fuse' has been mentioned which should 'blow' the sheets past a certain angle of heel.?

Very sad.
Cheers