{"id":3533,"date":"2012-06-05T08:31:06","date_gmt":"2012-06-05T13:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stephenlirakis.com\/?p=3533"},"modified":"2012-06-05T08:31:06","modified_gmt":"2012-06-05T13:31:06","slug":"hood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stephenlirakis.com\/?p=3533","title":{"rendered":"UNDER THE HOOD"},"content":{"rendered":"

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 \u00a0in the Auckland to Noumea race.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n