[MHml] Multihull delivery gone badly wrong

[warren East]

I concur.
   
  During the construction of the Yapluka 70 I learned how her underside hatches were required to be above the inverted waterline so crew members could escape to air.
   
  Its my view that only in the perfect world, where the boat capsizes in flat calm conditions, will that render there escape to be non detremental to the safety of the inverted hull.
  afterall, if you open that hatch in anything more than a 1ft chop and the compartment will take on a substantial amount of water.
   
  I have also been advised that these hatches are no longer required in order for the boat to pass its EC inspection but have not had that validated.
   
  with reference to this sad accident. One must question the route and the boats capabilities.
   
  Ime sure you are all aware of what the route should have been at this time of the year. ie, south to the canaries and accross to the caribbean and from there up to Annapolis.
   
  A Lagoon 38. No matter what you think about them, do not have the range or speed to outrun storms and it probably had no form of Sat comms or weather mapping equipment at all.  When caught in a storm, They dont have the size to stand up to huge waves that 60- 70 ft monohulls have a hard time with.
   
  Ultimately. Only Very experienced Catamaran sailors should take on deliveries through sea areas where very adverse conditions are found.
   
  My heart goes out to the family that lost their son or husband or dad. And to the 2 crew that survived what I can only imagine was a terifying ordeal.  I feel for them
   
  Warren  J East
   
  SV Wonderful
   
  

Ross Hobson <R.S.Hobson at ncl.ac.uk> wrote:
  

>The hatches are just there to allow people to get out if they're 
>trapped inside.

>Andre

if that is the case its it is wrong 
- i belive a major reason is to allow you to get back inside for protection. images of capsized multis (production and racers) all show they float high enough to allow you to be safe inside once inverted.
if the crew misguidely (and we don't know enough in this situation) decided to stay out side whilst they could have gained safe access to the interior - then that was a very costly error.

in my own experinece - i was inside warm and able to eat drink and sleep whilst awaiting rescue.

maybe this is a very good reason for anyone going to sea to equip their boat and themselves to equipment to ORC safetly standards and not try and do it on the cheap. 

Looking at this accident there were 2 major defects IMHO
1. no emergency hypotheria protection ie survival suits avaiable once inverted
2. poor quailty (or at best ill fitted) lifejacket/harness and nothing to secure to the inverted hull

safetly euipment must be the best - NEVER try and do it on the cheap. In the end how much do you value your life??

Ross


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