Seamanship
Safety at Sea Part III: Rambler 100 capsize
Disaster narrowly averted in 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race.
In our final review of three 2011 sailboat tragedies investigated by US Sailing, we offer a clear look at how even the best-equipped, most highly trained sailors can run into trouble at sea. Rambler 100—touted as the fastest monohull super-maxi on the planet and representing millions of dollars in research and design—lost its canting keel and capsized while competing in the August 2011 Rolex Fastnet Race. Sixteen crew struggled to stay on the overturned hull, while another five floated adrift in the Celtic Sea, trying to fight off hypothermia. Practical Sailor looks closely at US Sailing’s report, directed by retired U.S. Navy Captain Ron Trossbach, the Rambler 100 crew’s post-accident recommendations, and the safety lessons we can all learn from the accident.
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US Sailing Investigator’s Recommendations
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Lessons learned
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Rambler 100 Recommendations
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