Conference unifix::sailing

    Now thats the kind of story that really makes one wonder why we think
    sailing is FUN. It sounds like it could top the Fasnet race of several
    years ago as the biggest disaster in sailboat racing.
    
    And I sit here at well below freezing, reading old sailing books and
    these notes, whishing it was warm enough to go sailing.
    
    When you aussies get enough of the sun, send it back North so we can go
    sailing.

    re .1   79 Fastnet
    
    I just got done reading Force 10  Fastnet, a 200 page discription of
    the 79 fastnet disaster. This sounds exactly like it. And the
    discussion on whether to let the race go on in a storm sounds like
    a quote.
    
    Once done, it will be interesting to see if any of the newer rules help to
    make up for the high speed designs of 15 years of development.
    
    The second question will be "is Ted Turner in this race, and is he as
    arrogant as he was in the Fastnet?"
    
    As the book points out, many people do these races because to them, it
    is fun, to get away from the 9-5/traffic jams/political bs, and to
    depend upon one another as a true team.
    
       john "who is about to purchase jacklines and safety harnesses for
    the entire crew after reading this tragedy"

    I'll not forget the bowman's (Craig Morris) comment in the '87 Perry
    race (75kn peak winds, 6m seas and we are in a 25footer).  Jack Bogan
    ask's "You think they'll cancel the race?"
    
    Craig responds, "You think God'll cancel the storm if they do?, Press
    on."
    
    We did.
    

    I'm curious as to why the large number of dismastings? What would cause
    this? Were skippers still racing with all sails out or did they start
    to reef in? Any info on this?
    
    Robert

re .3:

Not what I would call prudent or responsible seamanship. 

re .4:

Hey, those are race boats! They're not built for such weather. Of course 
many masts are falling down. It's more surprising that any are still afloat.
I'd have headed for the nearest safe harbor when things began to look
bad (even if mutiny was required). Racing is supposed to be fun, not a
life-threatening exercise in survival. 

    re .5
    
    Well, since we were not on submarine, and only had an 7.5hp outboard
    for power and were over 30 miles from land, I guess press on was a
    reasonable alternative.  
    
    No matter which direction you went in the wind would not be less, the
    seas would not be less, and it would be over before you got there.  So
    what's irresponsible or imprudent about that?  Does getting on the VHF
    and saying "I withdraw" change anything?.  Would you run down to a lee
    shore in 75kn winds or beat with the storm jib.  I can tell you that
    seeing the wave hit halfway up Colchester reef light (21meters tall)
    left no doubt in my mind which way we were going.
    
    BTW, two boats were dismasted.  Both were cruisers.  Seems that they
    could not get the sails off fast enough.  Hanks and all that stuff. 
    That wind built from 6knots to over 50 in less than 10min.  My Merit 25
    surfed past an Ericson 37 that was totally out of control.  Her
    helmsman could not spin that wheel fast enough to fight the following
    seas.  I became a tiller man for life in that blow.  I Passed a
    Catalina 30 whose jib blew to tatters as we came up to her.  There were
    at least three people on the bow fighting that sail.
    
    I'm not arrogant enough to say who is right or wrong.  Just that being
    there has its own message to those involved. 
    
    /bob
    

    re -.1
    
      13 meter seas and 50knt winds will cause curling waves. Something
    about 20 tons of water hitting your boat, flipping it upside down that
    has a way of snapping rigging and masts.
    
    john

    yep that will do it....so will sticking your spin pole in the water
    when you death roll to weather.  The hydraulic load usually pushes the
    pole right through the mast.  Vampire (Frers 50) was doing 18knt in the
    Chicago/Mac in 45knots when she began the series of rolls that ended this
    way.
    
    

    Sydney - Hobart Update         30 December 1993
    
    With most of the big boats beaten out of the race due to the weather it
    has become a two boat race for line honours with the Bruce Farr
    designed Ninety Seven, a 47 footer in the lead.  Second place Micropay
    Cuckoos Nest, a 40 footer, has taken a more easterly route hoping to
    catch more favourable winds for the final 150 miles to Hobart.  Last
    night they trailed Ninety Seven by 13.9 miles.  They are expected to
    cross the finish line around noon today.  These will be the smallest
    yachts to take line honours in the events 49 year history.
    
    Brindabella, the 76 footer that retired yesterday, reportedly hit a
    whale or large sun fish.  The blow caused delamination of the outside
    skin which was making noise rubbing against the core material.  Among
    the 67 eliminated racers, damage has been estimated at A$3 million,
    excluding the total loss of two yachts (both due to keel failure).
    
     Divisional leaders last night were:  IMS  Ninety Seven, Cuckoos Nest
    and Marara.  IOR Impeccable, Solbourne Wild Oats and Team Fujitsu.  The
    Performance Handicap Division is lead by Bright Morning Star then Wild
    Thing and Bobsled.
    
    Incidentally, on Sunday Team Fujitsu broke the start and was recalled
    costing them a 30 minute delay.
    
    An interesting report has come out regarding the Man Over-Board.  It
    appears that the webbing of the harness strap parted, leaving part of
    the strap and the hook still fastened to the boat.  I will follow-up
    with further information as it becomes available.
    
    
    Re: .2  No, Ted Turner is not in this race.
    
    Re: .4 The waves were reported to be close breaking and up to 12 meters
    high.  The off-shore current at this time of year is north to south. 
    With the strong south-south westerlies funnelling through Bass Straight
    the seas were breaking and became very treacherous. The boats were
    taking a real pounding sailing into the weather.  Even the captain of
    the oil tanker (who participated in the MOB search) mentioned that the
    ship was rolling dangerously while beam to the seas during the rescue.
    
    Regards,
    
         Howard