Tough to watch

Rick486 · Mar 13, 2020

Jeez, that port tack skipper should go to jail......not only is he on port but he fails to avoid the collision....you could argue that starboard tacked too close, but he may have been trying to avoid the collision....

dlochner · Mar 13, 2020

Rick486 said:
Jeez, that port tack skipper should go to jail......not only is he on port but he fails to avoid the collision....you could argue that starboard tacked too close, but he may have been trying to avoid the collision....

Your correct the port tacker never fell off or tried to avoid he collision. The starboard boat turned to starboard to avoid the collision, however, after the sharp right turn had he turned back to port hard his stern would have swung away from the port tack boat, possibly avoiding contact.

There were some unhappy owners that day and the insurance companies cringed. Fortunately no one was injured, except for some egos. Is there video from the Protest Room?

garymalmgren · Mar 13, 2020

Agree with the port tack comments above but would like to point out a couple of points.
1. These boats are traveling very fast.
2. The collision was filmed from Valsheda, which would have probably been the target if the colliding boat had turned to starboard. There seemed to be a scramble on Valsheda, probably to get out of the way after the carnage.

Neither point will impress the insurance assessors.

gary

Gary

Will Gilmore · Mar 13, 2020

Seeing that crewman flip into the water sent my stomach flipping right along with him.
So glad to read no one was hurt.

-Will (Dragonfly)

Davidasailor26 · Mar 13, 2020

Remarkable. Yes ducking would’ve put Port closer to the film boat, but it looks like there were still several boat widths of space to fit in. The filming boat could’ve headed off to avoid that collision if need be too. Even if they didn’t, rubbing rails seems preferable to a T-bone. Having said that, my thoughts are based on sailing boats that weigh about 5% of what these do.

rgranger · Mar 13, 2020

JohnShannon · Mar 13, 2020

The port tacker did nothing, didn't blow the jib, which would have made bearing off easier and taken a little velocity out of the collision. The clip is short but there looked like there was time to do something. Only have to shift 15 feet or so to clear the transom.

Nice in some sense to see the pros messing up.

Will Gilmore · Mar 14, 2020

It looks like there were two crew who received medical treatment.
J-Class Yachts Svea and Topaz Collide in Antigua

Both Topaz and Svea were damaged.
This probably lowers the €15 mil asking price on Svea.
SVEA IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE
So, if your a DIYer, you can get her at a steal.

-Will (dragonfly)

Davidasailor26 · Mar 14, 2020

Ted said:
I have to disagree with you here. Blowing the jib would have made it more likely for the port tacker to round up which is exactly the opposite of what they needed to do to avoid a collision. Easing the main would have made it easier to bear off.

Agreed. There’s a wider angle view at

. That view shows the main luffing a bit just before impact, as if it was being eased to reduce weatherhelm. But evidently that was too little too late.