When to use a Liferaft

[[3889]]

Just watched the news video at:
http://uk.mediaframe.news.yahoo.com/launch?lid=wmv-56-s.11320467,wmv-100-s.11320468,wmv-300-s.11320469,rnv-56-s.11320470,rnv-100-s.11320471,rnv-300-s.11320472&.small=1&.intl=uk&c=dualpane&dw=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/reutersv/rightpane.html&f=96284754&a=0,30
The crew in the Sydney Hobart Race left a boat impaired only by its keel mechanism for a liferaft - a bit premature surely?

 

[StephenSails]

Photo here shows crew jumping in to the liferaft from the striken yacht, I think they new that it might be more dangerous to stay onboard as the keel was about to fail. It would have probably been done with the co-ordination with a rescue boat as well.

http://www.yachtinguniverse.com/index.ph...87&viewkey=

Normally the rule is you never step in to a raft, you climb up in to it but maybe this time was the exception?

 

[aluijten]

Might be more dangerous than you think. If the keel is stuck in certain position and the wind changes the boat will capsize for sure. Also trasferring crew to the motoryacht might easier using the liferaft instead of moving up and down the yacht itself.

Arno

 

[FullCircle]

I still believe the old adage that you should step up into a liferaft. It seemed like they were rescued by the larger motor craft, I wonder if their yacht was still afloat in the vicinity somewhere?
Looks like they have all had a very tough time out there again this year.

 

[Ships_Cat]

I think that you will find that their abandoning the boat (Skandia) was not premature as the keel later fell off and the boat is now floating upside down.

John

 

[Talbot]

This is one of those times when using the raft was the only sensible thing. The boat had fallen of a big wave and broken the hydraulic connection to the canting keel. Thus there was very little stability in the boat and was liable to invert at zero notice. A very seamanlike precaution to take to the raft at that point, justified fairly shortly afterward when the boat did capsize.

Is everybody quite so taken with a canting keel?

 

[cameronke]

Just my thoughts Talbot

I believe in the old adage of KISS; keep it simple! The complexity and forces involved in these keels certainly gives me the willies!

Regards
Cameron