Another sinking...

[shemandr]

Details are a bit fuzzy but it appears that a Buzzard's Bay 25 sank in last Wednesday night's race in Greenport NY. The Buzzard's Bay is a low freeboard classic design. The conditions were steady wind of 18 knots with gusts up to 30. So it was windy but not crazy. Word of mouth is the it was knocked down by a gust and water entered the cockpit/companionway and within 12 seconds it was headed for the bottom. The crew of three swam off and were recovered quickly by other competitors. The boat has not been located yet. It had full sail up and the current in that area is 4 kts. which reverses as we know.
There are a couple of comments to say about this. This is the third case I've seen in which a knockdown caused a sinking. For one one we should all be more careful about putting the hatch boards in when it's breezy - not crazy breezy. Second, when it's breezy I think you are more safe on deck where you can swim off the boat rather than have to crawl out of the cabin with water rushing in. 12 seconds is not a lot of time to analyze a situation. I know that many crew want to go below when it's rough. I'm against that based on these three cases I've observed. I'll say that I'm talking about races and or day sails not ocean sailing, blue water sailing, or passage making.

 

[jssailem]

I’d agree with you @shemandr in the cockpit with PFD’s is the plan. Companion way boards and the hatch closed when breezes get too sporty. When it gets real sporty tethers on the JackLines and knifes to get free if it needs to be.
That’s how I sail.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

full agreement on drop boards

 

[capta]

We latch the door I replaced the hatch boards with and slide the companionway hatch shut whenever we are in an area or weather which might produce a knockdown, and we are a 53' center cockpit boat that has never (since I've owned it including three ocean passages) taken any water into the cockpit. It only seems the prudent thing to do, and even though I've little fear that a knockdown would be catastrophic on our boat, having a bunch of water pour below through the companionway certainly would make a mess below.
I see this a lot down here, especially on the lee side of the islands where, even on fairly mild trade wind days, the deep valleys can cause some pretty hefty downdrafts. Bareboats and cruisers alike, on autopilot, mains up and strapped in tight, hatches and companionways wide open in the glassy calm of the lee. Then bam, they are over on their ear, water pouring into the cockpit, the panic is visible from a mile away.
Whether it is lack of prudence or just overconfidence on the part of the racers in particular, but all sailors in general, it is such an easily preventable catastrophe that it should never, ever happen.

 

[jssailem]

@capta just confirms that some charter folk are sailors but not cruisers. Not aware of the weather or what Mother Nature can do.

 

[Sandy Stone]

Along with securing the companionway, don't forget to latch the cockpit locker lids!

 

[JamesG161]

I'll say that I'm talking about races and or day sails not ocean sailing, blue water sailing, or passage making.

It does not make a difference what type of sailing.

You should plan for the UNEXPECTED.

Especially during a Race, where the Captain's attention is not on sinking.
Jim...

 

[shemandr]

Along with securing the companionway, don't forget to latch the cockpit locker lids!

Yes, Sandy when the Alerion went down in our Whitebread Regatta, it was water entering the lazarette that caused the sinking. I have since sailed with one of the crew who swam off that boat and I can report she checks the lazarette latch before the main goes up.

 

[jssailem]

I did some looking at the construction and the image of the boat. She is a pretty design.

Low free board, Carries a lot of sail. When racing boats are pushed to the edge. So getting knocked down with a lot of sail would be punishing.

Looking at the construction http://www.ballentinesboatshop.com/buzzards_bay25.html# she is a "Daysailer" built for moderate conditions. Sounds to me the boat was caught in a force 5-6 condition and the crew was unprepared for the conditions. The boat does not appear to have much flotation built into the design. Certainly not enough if swamped.
Happy they were all saved.

 

[Jackdaw]

You have to take care to prevent downflooding in the event of a knockdown. Most boats can lay flat in the water forever as long as the lazzarettes are secure and boards are in. Racing complicates this because many boats need at least one board in to keep water out, but the crew needs access to the companionway and cabin.

 

[JimInPB]

Those Buzzard Bay 25s are built like a brick. When they are in good condition, they can handle quite a gale. Unfortunately, they are older wooden boats & the small fleet that remains is comprised of boats that are in varying states of seaworthiness. A few are quite pristine. Others are not.

The BB25 was a Herrishoff design that was displaced in larger numbers by it's close cousin the Wianno Sr., which was a Horace Manley Crosby design that is reported to have come out a year earlier. I have sailed a Wianno in conditions that are far worse than what was described here, with no feelings of concern. The BB25 is a more heavily built boat that should have shrugged off those conditions if it was in good condition & properly crewed.

Something happened. It could have been crew error. It could have been a hundred-year-old piece of wood giving up the ghost.

 

[Will Gilmore]

we are a 53' center cockpit boat that has never (since I've owned it including three ocean passages) taken any water into the cockpit.

I've been at the helm of a 56' center cockpit that went completely under with the main hatch open in the Gulf of Mexico. We were motoring at the time and she never heeled. The wave just rolled right over her. She was completely underwater for all of 2 seconds. We got a dodger after that and keep hatches closed.

- Will (Dragonfly)