PS Analysis: The 2011 WingNuts Capsize

In-depth report gives close scrutiny to the role safety gear played in the 2011 Chicago-Mac race tragedy.

This is the second article in a Practical Sailor series that takes a close look at US Sailing’s recent reports on three tragic sailing accidents last summer. The first article covered US Sailing’s report on the Severn Sailing Association accident involving the drowning death of 14-year-old Olivia Constants in Annapolis, Md. This report focuses on US Sailing’s investigation of the tragedy involving the light-displacement sloop WingNuts, which capsized during the Chicago Yacht Club’s Chicago to Mackinac race. The US Sailing report focused on four key elements that might have been factors in the accident: crew experience, weather, boat design, and safety equipment. Practical Sailor’s own investigation and reporting fills in some gaps in the US Sailing report, particularly regarding safety gear—tethers, harnesses, and PFDS—and its role in the event.