Check yer keelbolts

[WWheeler]

... or is it the Transat design?

Swiss sailor rescued off Newfoundland

St. John's — Rescue officials located a single-handed sailor Monday whose yacht overturned off the coast of Newfoundland.

Bernard Stamm, 39, of Switzerland was taking part in the 12th Transat – a 2,800-nautical-mile race from Plymouth, England, to Boston – when the 15-metre vessel capsized after the keel broke.

Mr. Stamm initially was safe inside the yacht in a specially designed airtight, watertight compartment, said Lieutenant Pat Jessup of the Halifax Search and Rescue Centre.

A Hercules aircraft homed in on the boat's locator beacon and a merchant oil tanker eventually launched a lifeboat and was rowing the man to safety, said Jessup.

Winds of 65 kilometres an hour and three-to-four-metre seas had hampered the rescue effort.

The vessel was almost 1,500 nautical miles northeast of St. John's when it capsized.

[Ian McColgin]

These boats have huge strains and value a very thin keel at the keel/hull join. Snapping them off is a risk of pushing the parameters.

They must be incredible to sail that fast and all but they remind me of W C Fields' aside to a stage hand while pointing at May West:

"Women are like elephants, my boy. Nice to look at but you wouldn't want to own one."

[Concordia..41]

And this one is missing its mast :eek:

http://www.thetransat.com/dbimages/600x400/prb1_dp.jpg

The Race Direction Team of The Transat, Offshore Challenges Events, have been informed by Vincent Riou's Project Manager, Eric Coquerel, that the Open 60 PRB was dismasted at approximately 0430 TU this morning (Monday 7.6.04). PRB was experiencing NW 25 knot winds and rough seas at the time of the incident. Vincent Riou, who was lying in 3rd place at the time of the incident, was inside the boat when PRB dismasted.

Vincent Riou has confirmed that he and the boat are safe. The structural integrity of the boat is reported as being sound although both the mast and the boom have been lost so Riou is unable to erect a jury rig. Riou is now discussing with his Shore Team the best course of action to get the boat to land. The team, at this time, have not requested any outside assistance.

At 0430 GMT PRB's position was 49 25N and 42 44W. PRB is approximately 500 miles from Newfoundland. The Race Direction Team are in contact with Vincent Riou's shore team to ensure that every action is taken to assist in the skipper's safety.

Updates on this situation will be relayed to all concerned.