99% of us SBO sailors will never be in the situation solo sailor Kevin Escoffier faced during his global race. You might say why even read his story. It will not happen to me. I do not sail a "special high tech boat". I do not "plan to sail in the South Atlantic southwest of Capetown". Or, I do not have a "Carbon Fiber Foiling boat that sails a 27 knots".
All of this is true. That is not the point. The issue is we sail less sophisticated boats, with lower stress ratings and rig loads, yet we still go out into Mother Nature's space. She can present conditions that will test the design and strengths built into our boats. If found wanting we may experience the same fate as Kevin.
There are reasons for the cautions shared in these forums, when asked by a newer sailor,
When asked about rig tensions, the more experienced sailor will talk about a loos gauge, suggest consulting the manufacturers specifications, or consult a professional rigger rather than "Oh just snug it up a bit and go sailing".
www.practical-sailor.com
We need to look at our boats not just a shell with a post that we stick cloth on, but as a designed system of FRP / steel wires / lines and sails that when assembled in an orderly structure hold the strength to weather the waters.
When weather events occur, we need to have looked ahead and be knowledgable about the coming events so we can judge if our boat and crew are prepared to experience the event. Should we sail on into the dark sky, batten down the hatches and hold on, or reverse course and head for the nearest safe harbor.
Are you prepared?
Do you do your own fixes or do you seek professional help?
How do you check the competencies of the boat marine worker to whom you entrust your life and the life of your crew?
All of this is true. That is not the point. The issue is we sail less sophisticated boats, with lower stress ratings and rig loads, yet we still go out into Mother Nature's space. She can present conditions that will test the design and strengths built into our boats. If found wanting we may experience the same fate as Kevin.
There are reasons for the cautions shared in these forums, when asked by a newer sailor,
- "the wires on my boat feel loose when sail, but we are really having a good time, should I be concerned",
- "do I really need to be concerned about the chainplates? They look strong enough, only a little rust showing. "
When asked about rig tensions, the more experienced sailor will talk about a loos gauge, suggest consulting the manufacturers specifications, or consult a professional rigger rather than "Oh just snug it up a bit and go sailing".
On Day 22 of the 2020 Vendée Globe Race round-the-world, Escoffier’s foil-equipped IMOCA 60, PRB, was flying over and diving into riled up seas at a turbocharged 27 knots. The boat and skipper were in third place and surfing down steep wave faces that were spawned by an approaching frontal boundary. The steep, short-period wave faces made the descent into the troughs even more dangerous.
During one of these nosedives, PRB rooted her bow and plunged even deeper into incompressible green water. The loads on the hull skyrocketed and a loud crack spelled disaster. The hull behaved like a massive beam structure that had exceeded its structural safety factor—redlining its stress/strain curve. The carbon fiber hull laminate suffered an ultimate failure, and the hull split in two, buckling just forward of the mast. The rig came down and PRB’s bow was left pointing skyward, looking more like a half-open jackknife than an ocean racing sailboat. Seawater flooded into the hull and Escoffier had very little time to make life-or-death decisions and to implement his plan for survival.
Rescue at Sea Meets High Tech | Practical Sailor
For more than 35 years, Practical Sailor has been taking the guesswork out of boat and gear buying.
www.practical-sailor.com
We need to look at our boats not just a shell with a post that we stick cloth on, but as a designed system of FRP / steel wires / lines and sails that when assembled in an orderly structure hold the strength to weather the waters.
When weather events occur, we need to have looked ahead and be knowledgable about the coming events so we can judge if our boat and crew are prepared to experience the event. Should we sail on into the dark sky, batten down the hatches and hold on, or reverse course and head for the nearest safe harbor.
Are you prepared?
Do you do your own fixes or do you seek professional help?
How do you check the competencies of the boat marine worker to whom you entrust your life and the life of your crew?
