Friends' boat just went down

[DaveC426913]

Everybody's OK.

Can't reach anyone to talk to them about it, so I'm processing here.

In yesterday' race, approaching the start line on a close haul, a gust caught them and turned them down before they could react. My friend's boat plowed into another, larger boat passing in the opposite direction, taking heavy damage to the bow. Took on water fast and went down in less than 10 minutes.

Here's the kicker. My friend, the owner, was not even on the boat. He wasn't even in the country. His regular helmsman had taken it out, and had only one crew.

How would you like to have to make that phone call?

[Herschel]

I am so sorry to see this kind of picture. On the one hand there was no loss of life or injury, but it is so sad to see something like this happen, especially right in front of you. It just reminds us that we are dealing with some pretty big forces even when just under sail.

[NiceAft]

Wow

Not the sort of thing one wants to read about.

Ray

[Jimmyt]

Hate it happened for both of them. Don't want to be on either end of that call. But, if nobody was killed or hurt, and the boat was insured, it will be sorted out in time.

As my Daddy always said, "don't borrow anything you can't pay for - especially if it ain't insured"...

Anyone who races, or has YouTube, knows that sailboat racing starts are a train wreck looking for a place to happen. Hopefully the owner knew his boat was going racing and was OK with it.

You can have the same outcome hitting a submerged object while motoring fast - or even while sailing if you hit the right object. ...One of my reasons for picking a sailboat that doesn't sink.

Stuff happens. Usually stuff you don't want to happen.

[Russ]

What no bilge pump?

Seriously, stuff can be replaced, lives cannot. Situations can change in an instant even for the most experienced and knowledgable.

[Alexis]

Sorry for your friends! This picture illustrates exactly any sailboat owner worst nightmares...

[Highlander]

In July I was back in Toronto visiting family & friends on a sail back from the Scarborough Bluffs with Geoff & Rocky we entered the Toronto Harbour from the East side just as about 300 boats or more from 20-40ft were jostling for position at the start of a race nobody going in the same direction the big boats played chicken with each other while the smaller boat,s played suicide missions with them their was no comradeship among them & really total disrespect for each other it was dog eat dog seen a whole lot of near miss,s which I have no doubt if was caught on Cam, & someone got seriously hurt or killed would b libel for neglect.

But in essence it was remarkable just to see some of the maneuvers some of these guy,s could make in such tight spaces some were exceptionally skilled sailors & sailing crews to say the least I was very impressed by some of them for Rocky & I it was like sailing thro a Rifle Range & we were the Target . like if u r not in this race get the he** out of the way with no place too go

J

[sailboatmike]

I have had this conversation many times with racers, they seem to think the rules of racing (Boat on starboard has right of way) overrides all other rules and forget about the1st and foremost rule of code regs that one must do everything possible to avoid a collision, I have seen them standing on the bow screaming "Starboard, Starboard" like its the only the first a foremost rule and pushing their luck hoping that the other boat will see them and turn away.

[Herschel]

In July I was back in Toronto visiting family & friends on a sail back from the Scarborough Bluffs with Geoff & Rocky we entered the Toronto Harbour from the East side just as about 300 boats or more from 20-40ft were jostling for position at the start of a race nobody going in the same direction the big boats played chicken with each other while the smaller boat,s played suicide missions with them their was no comradeship among them & really total disrespect for each other it was dog eat dog seen a whole lot of near miss,s which I have no doubt if was caught on Cam, & someone got seriously hurt or killed would b libel for neglect.

But in essence it was remarkable just to see some of the maneuvers some of these guy,s could make in such tight spaces some were exceptionally skilled sailors & sailing crews to say the least I was very impressed by some of them for Rocky & I it was like sailing thro a Rifle Range & we were the Target . like if u r not in this race get the he** out of the way with no place too go

J

While I admire the skill of racers (and did a lot of racing in college on the Chesapeake), I think committed, serious racers really need to insure their courses are away from most boat traffic. Because they get very passionate about the rules as tactics in the race. Now that boats are getting faster, I suspect these issues will only increase. I quit racing decades ago because that kind of atitude on the water just took the fun out of it for me. I love trying to get the most out of your sails and boat, just not the maneuvering in close quarters.

[DaveC426913]

I love trying to get the most out of your sails and boat, just not the maneuvering in close quarters.

Indeed.

I have never been into competitive sports of any kind really. I raced for two years, but gave it up to just enjoy a nice sail.

My kind of competing is my own wits against nature.

[DaveC426913]

But, if nobody was killed or hurt, and the boat was insured, it will be sorted out in time.

I wasn't there.

But someone who was there mentioned to me later that most insurance probably doesn't cover salvage.
He put so much work into that boat. I guess he'll be poring over the want ads for a new one.

[Herschel]

I love trying to get the most out of your sails and boat, just not the maneuvering in close quarters.

Indeed.

I have never been into competitive sports of any kind really. I raced for two years, but gave it up to just enjoy a nice sail.

My kind of competing is my own wits against nature.

I did enjoy the competitive nature of sail boat racing when I was younger and a member of a team, and I am a huge soccer fan even now. But, I have found "Nature" and "Life" to be pretty strong opponents in of themselves. Just finding the resources and time to (1) own a sailboat and (2) to carve out the time from professional and family life to get out on the water, have been a sufficient challenge. I sailed catamarans for 17 years in my 40's and 50's, and they entailed so much fun from just "flying a hull" and so much urgency to not "bury the leeward hull" that I never felt I needed to race to add any more excitement. As life responsibilities increased along with age (and the desire for a little more sedate and dry sailing), I have found my Mac to be a perfect fit. Adding the cruising option from time to time just adds to the pleasure. Yet, I am aware that from the standpoint of attracting young people into our sport, they seem to respond to the racing format more strongly. I am a US Sailing instructor, but am challenged to find youth that just want to sail. Most beginner sailing programs move the serious young student pretty quickly into racing. I think that is, in part, to keep the excitement and challenge aspect high for them.

[Highlander]

Now something like this might get more kids into sailing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQVz71LzOd0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP_9rFbvY_Q

J

[Ixneigh]

The boat could probably be repaired if he had a lot of custom work done already.
Ix

[Herschel]

Now something like this might get more kids into sailing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQVz71LzOd0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP_9rFbvY_Q

J

Great videos. I tried the simulator a while back. It was humbling. Thanks for the reminder.