Clyde Challenger no more.

[dunedin]

Very fair comment & one must ask whether a company should actually be running such trips at that time of the year in that part of the world.
If a life had been lost would the directors be hauled before the courts in the same way as ( for instance)in the case of the boat with a lost keel? (not mentioning specific names to avoid upsetting mods)
Will the MIAB take the organisation of such trips into consideration when making their inquiries or will that be beyond their remit

One boat was a 40 foot production racer cruiser vs Clyde Challenger a 60 foot boat built for crossing the southern oceans. The latter was operating well within design limits to be in the Atlantic in February (better not make any comment here on the former).

Clearly age of boat and gear could (but may not) be a factor. 30 year old Jumbo jets have very invasive and expensive techniques for testing for metal fatigue and cracks, that would be almost impossible to apply to say metal mast tangs on a yacht without aircraft budgets, technicians and equipment (and clearly a mast breakage has a lot less consequences than a wing failure, for example)

 

[Resolution]

Be very aware of old, well used things, especially if there is no evidence of an expensive inspection, maintenance and replacement programme.

For god's sake don't let my wife see that sort of statement, or she will be putting me in for an MOT!:distress:

 

[Bobc]

One boat was a 40 foot production racer cruiser vs Clyde Challenger a 60 foot boat built for crossing the southern oceans. The latter was operating well within design limits to be in the Atlantic in February (better not make any comment here on the former).

Clearly age of boat and gear could (but may not) be a factor. 30 year old Jumbo jets have very invasive and expensive techniques for testing for metal fatigue and cracks, that would be almost impossible to apply to say metal mast tangs on a yacht without aircraft budgets, technicians and equipment (and clearly a mast breakage has a lot less consequences than a wing failure, for example)

The Titanic was designed to cross oceans, but it still doesn't mean that you should ignore common sense.

 

[Daydream believer]

delete-- thread drift

 

[Bobc]

I notice that the latest report states that they were rescued 400nm WSW of Finnistere. This being the case, they can't have been more than 100-odd miles out of the Azores.