Mason wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:22 pm
American Magic went down because somebody forgot to loose the windward (which became the leeward and problem) running back-stay. As mainsail trimmer on a race boat, that is one of my jobs, although technically we have "check-stays", not running back stays. Somebody is VERY embarrassed. Simple oversights can have severe consequences when things get crazy on the water.
They also made the fatal mistake of trying to round up when she started to go, instead of carrying on bearing away. The centrifugal force on the rig would have kept them upright if they had, but instead they reversed the force and put themselves in trouble.
Ain't hindsight wonderful?
Meanwhile, the first 9 boats in the Vendee Globe (non-stop single-handed round-the-world race) contain 3 boats that have no foils beyond standard keels and rudders. One would have thought that the foilers would be FAR ahead of the last-generation boats, but No...
There are 7 foilers behind that lead pack.
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Pogo.