I was looking at the information on accounts of what happened in Fastnet 79. I am sure, there should be some official reports and results of the commissions. Are they available online. Anything else is worth reading? Should I get copy of "Fastnet. Force 10".
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The book
Is well worth the read. As I remember it does have some final findings regarding the event and actually changed the way ocean racing boats were built at that time. Another good read is about the 2000 Sydney to Hobart Race, Knockdown. Jeff
Is well worth the read. As I remember it does have some final findings regarding the event and actually changed the way ocean racing boats were built at that time. Another good read is about the 2000 Sydney to Hobart Race, Knockdown. Jeff
79 Fastnet
Having grown up sailing off the Isle of Wight in England, the 1979 Fastnet is close to home for me. My instructor at school for my skippers cert. was sailing a Contessa 32 in it. The stories from that are incredible. They rolled all the way round, during which the flex in the hull poped all the hatches. They ended up having to use sails to cover the hatches. He was also describing wheels and pedestals getting bent due to people being thrown in to them!! You know that had to hurt. He ended up saving the boat, one crew member I think broke an arm and that was about that. What he said the best move they did was to turn back when things get too harsh. There may be that competitive spirit that says to carry on, but you have a gut feeling whether you can handle it or not. I might have to get that book sounds interesting.
Having grown up sailing off the Isle of Wight in England, the 1979 Fastnet is close to home for me. My instructor at school for my skippers cert. was sailing a Contessa 32 in it. The stories from that are incredible. They rolled all the way round, during which the flex in the hull poped all the hatches. They ended up having to use sails to cover the hatches. He was also describing wheels and pedestals getting bent due to people being thrown in to them!! You know that had to hurt. He ended up saving the boat, one crew member I think broke an arm and that was about that. What he said the best move they did was to turn back when things get too harsh. There may be that competitive spirit that says to carry on, but you have a gut feeling whether you can handle it or not. I might have to get that book sounds interesting.
hatches
is the one thing that I think is the biggest weakness of a boat. As long as you can keep water out of the cabin, it's going to float. If the hache(s) fall out or break, it's going to be hard to keep the water out. So far the best thing I can think of is to have a plywood cut out for each hatch and some kind of clamp on the inside to clamp it down hard onto the cabintop. Downside to this is it takes two people (one to place the plywood and one to do the clamping on the inside). I want to find a way to have a replaceable hatch within seconds by one person. Still thinking....
is the one thing that I think is the biggest weakness of a boat. As long as you can keep water out of the cabin, it's going to float. If the hache(s) fall out or break, it's going to be hard to keep the water out. So far the best thing I can think of is to have a plywood cut out for each hatch and some kind of clamp on the inside to clamp it down hard onto the cabintop. Downside to this is it takes two people (one to place the plywood and one to do the clamping on the inside). I want to find a way to have a replaceable hatch within seconds by one person. Still thinking....
I say get the "Fastnet Force 10" Book
I think by John Roussimeire(sp?) very good book and good reading with lots of analysis at the end.
I think by John Roussimeire(sp?) very good book and good reading with lots of analysis at the end.
Fastnet 79
The best book, and one of the overall best 'storm' books is, "Fastnet 79" by John Rousmaniere; also wrote The Annopolis Book of Seamanship" the best of its kind. From the many yachts abandoned to their own devices, were talking fin-keeled race yachts, only one ended up on the rocks, and few, or none sank due to the storm in 1979. People did die boarding liferafts; step UP into the liferaft.
The best book, and one of the overall best 'storm' books is, "Fastnet 79" by John Rousmaniere; also wrote The Annopolis Book of Seamanship" the best of its kind. From the many yachts abandoned to their own devices, were talking fin-keeled race yachts, only one ended up on the rocks, and few, or none sank due to the storm in 1979. People did die boarding liferafts; step UP into the liferaft.
The official name of the book is
Fastnet, Force 10: The Deadliest Storm in the History of Modern Sailing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393308650/qid=1130627024/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-3951411-2036041?v=glance&s=books
Fastnet, Force 10: The Deadliest Storm in the History of Modern Sailing http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0393308650/qid=1130627024/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-3951411-2036041?v=glance&s=books
Fastnet Force 10
I highly recommend any serious sailor read it. It is extremely well written and gives an excelent and graphuic account of what can happen in extreme conditions and how some of the typical boats and equipment faired in those conditions.
I highly recommend any serious sailor read it. It is extremely well written and gives an excelent and graphuic account of what can happen in extreme conditions and how some of the typical boats and equipment faired in those conditions.
O2Addict, that Contessa 32 finished
The Contessa 32 became famous for being the smallest boat, and the only one in its class of about 70 boats, to finish the '79 Fastnet. Kevin
The Contessa 32 became famous for being the smallest boat, and the only one in its class of about 70 boats, to finish the '79 Fastnet. Kevin
The Contessa 32 . . .
The Contessa 32 has an Angle of Vanishing Stability of 155 degrees! Thats a bunch of rollover resistance! Sounds a lot better (to this admittedly small boat protected waters sailor) than the 100-119 degrees or many Fastnet competitors (and number of modern production boats). Perhaps capsize resistance had a bunch to do with the ability to keep sailing & avoid the 360 club. Is it easier to be a great seaman in a more stable boat?
The Contessa 32 has an Angle of Vanishing Stability of 155 degrees! Thats a bunch of rollover resistance! Sounds a lot better (to this admittedly small boat protected waters sailor) than the 100-119 degrees or many Fastnet competitors (and number of modern production boats). Perhaps capsize resistance had a bunch to do with the ability to keep sailing & avoid the 360 club. Is it easier to be a great seaman in a more stable boat?
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