Tragedy in yacht race Friday night.

W

William_H

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 Jul 2003
Messages
14,427
Location
West Australia
Visit site
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-24/one-person-dead-in-bunbury-yacht-race/9481142
In what would be considered a fairly innocuous race. (70th annual race) tragedy struck in fairly decent 22knort just after midnight and 6 hrs into the race. Wind was gusting to 22kts but essentially from shore so not really rough water. News reports describe the 15 metre boat as being found capsized. My theory for it to remain capsized is loss of keel or fully inverted (unlikely). Anyway something terrible happened without warning as crew ended up in the water. A tribute to PLB that the alarm was raised as tracker and ships radio were apparently lost. Very experienced boat (3 Sydney to Hobart races) and experienced skipper owner.
 
Pretty awful.

The obvious thought is, as you suggest, keel fell off. We can await further news.

I took this from the Sydney/Hobart entrant details

Finistere is competing in her third Rolex Sydney Hobart have race, having contested the 1994 50th race and having a second go in 2008. Owner, Robert Thomas, rebuilt her for the Around Australia Yacht Race and she is a comfortable cruiser racer that is at her best in medium to heavy conditions. The race itself is only part of the journey, as Rob and his crew are sailing Finistere from Fremantle to Sydney just to make the start line. They compete regularly in WA, including in such classics as Geographe Bay Race Week and the Geraldton Ocean Classic.


Competitor Details
Name Finistere
Type Davidson 50
Designer Laurie Davidson
Builder Peter Milner


Jonathan
 
Yes more recent rumours indicate the keel did fall off. However it was also suggested it had a lift keel and that it had been out of the water earlier in the week. Those rescued were in the water for some hours in the dark. (not very cold water). The owner/skipper was one who perished. olewill
 
Always sad to hear of the loss, but we are all aware of the risks of being on the sea and mountains.

In the past I have attended a number of funerals of friends and have always taken comfort in the knowledge they died doing something they loved.

When I was mountain rescue team member I always attended the funeral of anybody we carried off the hill. The overwhelming feeling that I had was "it would have been the way they wanted to go".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top