Beau Geste, Karl Kowk’s 80 foot Farr design has had a very ambitious campaign. Sailed hard and well. Yesterday she suffered a catastrophic failure of her hull while participating in the Auckland to Noumea race.
These kinds of events have attracted our attention since the beginning of sailing. Safety at sea has always been a priority; as it should be.
For me, I have always been intrigued by the solutions naval architects have arrived at for the structural integrity of yachts. No where do the words “Form Follows Function” have a more profound meaning. I am often surprised by the lack of what I consider common sense in structural design.
Only a few weeks ago “Belle Mente” had a similar problem; however it was during a shakedown sail, not while racing. One of the more public events have been “One Australia” during the America’s Cup in San Diego, which folded in half and sank. “Young America” folded but did not sink.
All safe after yacht abandons Noumea race
Published: 5:26AM Tuesday June 05, 2012 Source: ONE News
The Beau Geste. – Source: sailnoumea.com
A yacht is now safely anchored off Norfolk Island’s capital Kingston, after suffering hull and decking damage while taking part in the Auckland to Noumea yacht race.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) mission co-ordinator Neville Blakemore said all 18 members of the crew were safe and in good spirits.
The 24-metre Beau Geste sought assistance from RCCNZ after it hit trouble around 7pm yesterday race around 185 kilometres (100 nautical miles) east of the island.
RCCNZ arranged for the yacht to be accompanied by the fishing vessel Advance 2 as it made its way to Norfolk Island.
“It would have been a long night for the crew, in difficult conditions, but the boat has made safe anchorage under its own power,” Blakemore said. “A support vessel was on hand throughout the night in case the crew had had to abandon ship.”
The yacht was equipped with two 10-man life rafts.
The crew is made up of New Zealanders, Australians, Chinese, with one American on board and all are described as experienced racers.
A cargo ship, Winchester Strait, responded to the rescue call to nearby vessels and was making its way to the stricken yacht. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion was also on standby to assist if needed.
The official race website sailnoumea.com said that the Beau Geste withdrew from the Auckland to Noumea leg of Evolution Sails Sail Noumea at 8.20pm after suffering structural damage.
Windward Passage II also suffered a significant structural problem many years ago.
And Rambler lost her keel in August’s Fastnet race, turning turtle in about 30 seconds. And of the 30 boats that started in the last Vendee Globe, only 11 finished.
All in all, the designers are good at designing boats for higher speed, but only mediocre and designing boats for safety. I would suggest that all future contracts with naval architects include a penalty clause for compensation in the event of such boat failures, just as is there is for land architects. Insurance companies would write the policies to cover the naval architects; the interesting question is at what price.
If I were in the group of owners ordering such new boats, I would try to organize a buying consortium to collectively require such terms.
Someone will probably tell me that here is something equivalent in place that I don’t know about. If there is, it isn’t working.