Beneteau 40.7 sinks Long Island Sound
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Ros
Jun 5, 2008, 9:11:02 AM6/5/08
to Beneteau Owners
All Members:
CB2 member Steve Rudiger forwarded the following message concerning
Annapolis based Beneteau 40.7 Making Waves. Although it is very
unfortunate that the vessel was lost, the story demonstrates the
importance of handling the situation calmly and without panic,
assessing the problem quickly, summoning the proper assistance, and
making realistic decisions concerning the importance of people over
things regardless of how fond we may be of them. There is a similar
story of this same thing happening to a CAL 31 in Lake Erie last year
in the June 2008 issue of SAIL. The situation was handled in much the
same way and although the vessel sunk (later to be raised and
recovered) there was no loss of life of injury.
Start of Message
Friends –
As some of you may have heard Making Waves, our Beneteau 40.7, sank 15
miles off the Long Island coast yesterday afternoon. All hands are
safe and sound.
We were in the process of delivering the boat to Newport for the start
of the Bermuda Ocean race. We were under sail in 5-7 foot seas with
about 20-25 knots of breeze (both from our stern quarter) and the boat
was sailing great, clipping double digit speeds coming off swells,
when we heard a banging noise and lost steerage. When we investigated
we discovered that the rudder tube had broken just above the hull
joint and we were taking on water. We aren’t certain whether the
rudder stock actually broke first or the tube it rides in, which in
turn broke the rudder stock. In any event, we were able to control
the flooding using our bilge pumps until the Coast Guard reached us
with a 47’ motor life boat. The CG was initially also going to
scramble a helicopter, but weather conditions scrapped that plan. A
100’+ trawler also answered our mayday and shadowed us until the Coast
Guard released them. We had also set off the EPIRB and the VHF MMSI
distress call, both of which the Coast Guard acknowledged receiving.
The Coast Guard took us in tow, but we were unable to keep the boat in
line with the tow since we had no rudder control. Seas were now 7-9
feet with an occasional 12 footer and the additional force from
veering back and forth apparently sheared the rudder post completely
and we started taking on water at a much greater rate. On top of that,
as we veered back and forth with the seas the tow line was putting
heavy pressure on the forestay, and we were afraid we might take it
out and bring the rig down. At that point we decided the prudent
course of action was to accept a ride home with the government and
they transferred the six of us to the MLB in 2 passes. That was a
pretty interesting maneuver in itself – they actually brought the MLB
right up to the leeward side of the boat in rolling seas and we walked/
jumped/vaulted across to the waiting arms of the crew – I swear they
didn’t scratch the gel coat. Water was mid-calf deep in the cabin
when the last person came out, but it took nearly an hour for the boat
to settle and sink in 165 feet of water – the CG had to hang around to
make sure the boat would not be a hazard to navigation.
We were taken to Coast Guard Station Shinnecock (near the Hamptons)
where the Guardsmen treated us warmly, feeding us and even offering us
a ride to the Islip airport where we rented a van for the drive
home. I can’t say enough about the professionalism and skill of the
Coast Guard, particularly since most of the boat crew appeared to be
barely out of high school. I am also very proud of the way our crew
handled the situation. We worked through the problems efficiently and
calmly which is why we got out of the situation with no injury or loss
of life.
Guys and gals, I’m sorry we won’t be able to do the Bermuda Race and
apologize to those who were coming to Bermuda to help us deliver
Making Waves home. We will try to find some way to make it up to
you. Anyone who had gear on board (Grant, David B., Mike, Larry,
Bob, Alan, et al.) please let me know what was there and its value and
we will submit it with our insurance claim and make you whole.
Many people have already called and e-mailed to express their concern
about our well-being and sympathy over the loss of the boat – thank
you for your thoughts. I am simply thankful that our crew is home and
safe.
Jim
End of Message
Be safe and know that there are great folks out there ready to help,
but plan for the unlikely event that something similar could happen to
you – because it could.
Mike Everitt
Vice Commodore
CB2 member Steve Rudiger forwarded the following message concerning
Annapolis based Beneteau 40.7 Making Waves. Although it is very
unfortunate that the vessel was lost, the story demonstrates the
importance of handling the situation calmly and without panic,
assessing the problem quickly, summoning the proper assistance, and
making realistic decisions concerning the importance of people over
things regardless of how fond we may be of them. There is a similar
story of this same thing happening to a CAL 31 in Lake Erie last year
in the June 2008 issue of SAIL. The situation was handled in much the
same way and although the vessel sunk (later to be raised and
recovered) there was no loss of life of injury.
Start of Message
Friends –
As some of you may have heard Making Waves, our Beneteau 40.7, sank 15
miles off the Long Island coast yesterday afternoon. All hands are
safe and sound.
We were in the process of delivering the boat to Newport for the start
of the Bermuda Ocean race. We were under sail in 5-7 foot seas with
about 20-25 knots of breeze (both from our stern quarter) and the boat
was sailing great, clipping double digit speeds coming off swells,
when we heard a banging noise and lost steerage. When we investigated
we discovered that the rudder tube had broken just above the hull
joint and we were taking on water. We aren’t certain whether the
rudder stock actually broke first or the tube it rides in, which in
turn broke the rudder stock. In any event, we were able to control
the flooding using our bilge pumps until the Coast Guard reached us
with a 47’ motor life boat. The CG was initially also going to
scramble a helicopter, but weather conditions scrapped that plan. A
100’+ trawler also answered our mayday and shadowed us until the Coast
Guard released them. We had also set off the EPIRB and the VHF MMSI
distress call, both of which the Coast Guard acknowledged receiving.
The Coast Guard took us in tow, but we were unable to keep the boat in
line with the tow since we had no rudder control. Seas were now 7-9
feet with an occasional 12 footer and the additional force from
veering back and forth apparently sheared the rudder post completely
and we started taking on water at a much greater rate. On top of that,
as we veered back and forth with the seas the tow line was putting
heavy pressure on the forestay, and we were afraid we might take it
out and bring the rig down. At that point we decided the prudent
course of action was to accept a ride home with the government and
they transferred the six of us to the MLB in 2 passes. That was a
pretty interesting maneuver in itself – they actually brought the MLB
right up to the leeward side of the boat in rolling seas and we walked/
jumped/vaulted across to the waiting arms of the crew – I swear they
didn’t scratch the gel coat. Water was mid-calf deep in the cabin
when the last person came out, but it took nearly an hour for the boat
to settle and sink in 165 feet of water – the CG had to hang around to
make sure the boat would not be a hazard to navigation.
We were taken to Coast Guard Station Shinnecock (near the Hamptons)
where the Guardsmen treated us warmly, feeding us and even offering us
a ride to the Islip airport where we rented a van for the drive
home. I can’t say enough about the professionalism and skill of the
Coast Guard, particularly since most of the boat crew appeared to be
barely out of high school. I am also very proud of the way our crew
handled the situation. We worked through the problems efficiently and
calmly which is why we got out of the situation with no injury or loss
of life.
Guys and gals, I’m sorry we won’t be able to do the Bermuda Race and
apologize to those who were coming to Bermuda to help us deliver
Making Waves home. We will try to find some way to make it up to
you. Anyone who had gear on board (Grant, David B., Mike, Larry,
Bob, Alan, et al.) please let me know what was there and its value and
we will submit it with our insurance claim and make you whole.
Many people have already called and e-mailed to express their concern
about our well-being and sympathy over the loss of the boat – thank
you for your thoughts. I am simply thankful that our crew is home and
safe.
Jim
End of Message
Be safe and know that there are great folks out there ready to help,
but plan for the unlikely event that something similar could happen to
you – because it could.
Mike Everitt
Vice Commodore
Ted Weitz
Jun 5, 2008, 9:43:19 AM6/5/08
to Benetea...@googlegroups.com
This incident has been a big topic of conversation on the Sailnet bulletin board, and it would be helpful to post this there. As I am neither the sender nor recipient, I don't think I should do it, but I think it would be helpful to get the comments from the horse's mouth in front of people instead of the usual mangled press reports. It would also be helpful is someone could tell us any clues as to why this happened , what, if any warning signs might have forewarned the crew, and how to prevent this kind of problem. http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/43749-beneteau-loses-rudder-boat-sinks-4.html#post324587
Ted Weitz
B323 "Gossamer Wings"
Three Mile Harbor, East Hampton,New York--
Ted Weitz
tm...@columbia.edu
Ted Weitz
B323 "Gossamer Wings"
Three Mile Harbor, East Hampton,New York
Ted Weitz
tm...@columbia.edu
Max Lynn
Jun 5, 2008, 1:25:45 PM6/5/08
to Benetea...@googlegroups.com
Thanks for posting that. I had seen a brief report of the incident on
Anarchy, but did not see the details from the skipper. I had wondered if
the break was above the quadrant or below. I have thought about it and
decided that the post must have broken at or below the quadrant, and the
stump of the post damaged the rudder tube that sticks up just above the
waterline. It's an area that is difficult to access except by a snake, so
it's not surprising that they had difficulty stopping the leak.
Anarchy, but did not see the details from the skipper. I had wondered if
the break was above the quadrant or below. I have thought about it and
decided that the post must have broken at or below the quadrant, and the
stump of the post damaged the rudder tube that sticks up just above the
waterline. It's an area that is difficult to access except by a snake, so
it's not surprising that they had difficulty stopping the leak.
The rudder posts in these boats are carbon fiber, and this is the first
report that I've heard of a break in the over 700 boats built of this model,
so it's not something that I'm going to lose a lot of sleep over. I have
several thousand miles of ocean racing accumulated on mine, and while I and
others have had rudder bearing problems, I haven't heard of other problems.
Several 40.7's have done the Sydney-Hobart, which is a great testimonial to
their integrity. The next question that I would have for the skipper, were
I able to talk to him, would be to ask if he perhaps retensioned the rudder
cables just prior to this trip. The rudder cables are kevlar and are
extremely strong, so it would not be difficult to put a little too much
tension on the cables if you aren't careful.
It's great that they handled the situation so calmly (at least from our
perspective), and that everyone got off safely.
Max Lynn
First 40.7 "Tranquility"
All Members:
Start of Message
Friends –
Jim
End of Message
Mike Everitt
Vice Commodore
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