Cat Capsize, Sailing Incident 4 - Can you identify the lessons?

2:17 AM Mon 27 Jul 2009 GMT

'Cat capsize' .

Judgment is for God, but the best mistakes to learn by are other people's. This is especially so with sailing.

In this anecdote, the fourth of a series, we present a real sailing situation which was investigated by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), and some lessons deduced. Can you identify the lessons?

(Find the answers at the end of the story)

A catamaran was being sailed by her new owners who had taken delivery from Portsmouth. The skipper and three crew were experienced and were wearing suitable clothing for a blustery April evening. The boat was equipped with VHF radio and a good selection of emergency equipment, although no EPIRB was carried.

It was getting dark, and with the wind blowing 20 to 25 knots from SSW, the crew were sailing under a double-reefed mainsail and reefed headsail. They tacked on to starboard and soon afterwards an unusual wave pattern hit the weather hull, reported to be travelling against the direction of the wind and swell. It lifted the hull so far that the boat lost stability and capsized.

The catamaran inverted almost immediately, leaving the crew to find safety on the upturned hulls. Because the capsize had happened so quickly, there had been no time to retrieve the 'grab-bag' containing flares and other equipment.
The VHF was now out of action, as well as being inaccessible, and the mobile telephones were down below.

Skipper and crew had no option but to huddle together for warmth, and hope for a rescue. Luckily, they were less than
a mile offshore from Stansore Point in the Solent, but it was now completely dark.

It was not until about 0700 the following day, as it grew light, that their distress signals (raised and lowered arms) were spotted from the shore and the alarm was raised. All four were taken off by the inshore lifeboat, and taken to hospital suffering from mild hypothermia. Fortunately, all made complete recoveries.

There are four lessons that the Marine Accident Investigation Branch deduced from this scenario. Can you identify the six?

Click here for the answers.

Sail-World Cruising is grateful to MAIB for its permission to use these incidents

by MAIB/Sail-World Cruising

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Cat Capsize, Sailing Incident 4 - Can you identify the lessons?

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