amazing how fast this sailboat goes down

[Dihydro77]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWfru...eature=related

[Valiente]

CRIKEY!


Seriously, the AC has become a stupid event more about "how lightly can we build our boat before the weight of the advertising paint snaps it in half?" than of sailing.

[soulesailor]

The boat went down in 18-20 knot winds? I don't race, but still, I was under the impression racing was governed by an ever-changing long list of design paramaters. What level of concern do racing comittees have for safety when this kind of sinking can happen?

[sailingdog]

Umm...that's what you get for sailing a leadmine (monohull sailboat with keel)...

[Faster]

Originally Posted by soulesailor

The boat went down in 18-20 knot winds? I don't race, but still, I was under the impression racing was governed by an ever-changing long list of design paramaters. What level of concern do racing comittees have for safety when this kind of sinking can happen?

These were not extreme conditions at all. This was, as Val intimated, a classic case of "designing to the edge" but in this case the went over that edge.

The hull structure was unable to withstand the enormous stresses due to rig tension, causing the boat to essentially fold in half. With a ballast ratio close to 70%, it's not gonna float for long.

There's no way the race committee can be held responsible for what happened here.

[sailingdog]

Faster-

You know the race committee is gonna get blamed anyways...

[teshannon]

Some of the other videos there were interesting also.

[soulesailor]

Originally Posted by Faster

There's no way the race committee can be held responsible for what happened here.

I guess my use of the word 'committee' was incorrect. Aren't there strict rules governing design, or is design more flexible?

[Faster]

Originally Posted by soulesailor

I guess my use of the word 'committee' was incorrect. Aren't there strict rules governing design, or is design more flexible?

There are no rules governing design, and few governing engineering and construction guidelines (scantlings) which is what is at issue here. There are standards, such as ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council), that manufacturers can choose to follow. If their methods pass ABYC audits, then they can so advertise and that should be an indication of quality.

In an environment like the America's Cup, everyone is grasping for that last advantage, minimum weight within the class rules,, maximum power and speed etc. In this instance, they clearly went too far. It has been said (only half jokingly) that the "perfectly engineered" race boat would not disintegrate until just after winning the final race.

[NOLAsailing]

This is supposed to be cutting edge sailboat racing. These boats should be pushing design limits. If there is an occasional failure, then that's a part of the extreme engineering process.

These aren't production boats - they are designed to race under controlled circumstances and, as an America's Cup contender, pushing rules and design limits is part of the heritage.

I don't want my Honda Accord suffering a catastrophic failure, but if it happens to an F1 car pushing the limits of innovative design, then it's OK.

Plus, it makes cool videos.