53 foot Cat breaks in half

[robert sailor]

Just got a news note that a 53 foot Cat broke in half off of Florida with 4 people and a dog aboard. Coast Guard was able to save them. The name of the vessel is Nookta Dancer

[neilpride]

This one?? my god!!!

[catabroker]

U.S. Coast Guard rescues 4 boaters, dog after catamaran broke in half 2 miles from shore
By Joe Daraskevich Tue, Dec 30, 2014 @ 10:49 pm | updated Wed, Dec 31, 2014 @ 8:08 am

Four boaters and a dog were rescued from the ocean Tuesday night after a 53-foot catamaran broke in half about two miles from shore, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rescue workers received the distress call about 7:45 p.m. and launched a response boat from Mayport.

The boaters and the dog abandoned the catamaran into a life raft and Coast Guard crews rescued them about 8:15 p.m.

The catamaran sank about two miles east of Talbot Island, according to the Coast Guard.

None of the boaters reported any injuries and the dog was also in good condition.

Below the pictures of the vessel at some point before the incident, a Wharram with an aero rig.

[krafthaus]

A few google searches and there are some images. Novel design with a free standing mast. Will be interesting to hear the details that led to the failure. Glad to hear everyone is safe.

Nootka Dancer - Boat Design Forums

[2kr]

what was the sea state?

[mikereed100]

Wharram Custom 53′ Catamaran Boats and Yachts For Sale, photos, review, specifications, price, charter

The above link states that this is a modified Wharram design with the mods approved by the designer.

I wonder what they mean by 'broke in half'. Could be anything from 'the lashings failed' (this has happened on a Wharram not built to spec) to 'the Aerorig punched through it's supporting crossbeam'. At any rate, it is a shame as it appears the owner/builders put a lot of thought and love into it, with some interesting design features.

[S/V Willow]

Oh no! We just watched them leave from Brunswick Georgia. They have worked their guts out for years getting that boat ready. Oh hell.

[S/V Willow]

4 mariners, dog rescued after boat breaks in half | Coast Guard News

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by S/V Willow

Oh no! We just watched them leave from Brunswick Georgia. They have worked their guts out for years getting that boat ready. Oh hell.

Oh man... That sucks....

Good lesson for new dreamers trying to make the proverbial seaworthy silk purse outta their backyard find....

Not saying this is the case here... I am not informed... Only that years of hard work can be lost in a moment

[nimblemotors]

As opposed to the new boats that loose their rudders or keels?
The lesson is for EVERYONE that boats can and do fail.
Will hope to get more details on what failed in this case.

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Oh man... That sucks....

Good lesson for new dreamers trying to make the proverbial seaworthy silk purse outta their backyard find....

Not saying this is the case here... I am not informed... Only that years of hard work can be lost in a moment

[Valmika]

They were in the life raft less then 30 minutes. We should all be so lucky. Seems like even as close as they were to shore the weather couldn't have been that bad. It is showing 55 degrees now with about 14-19 kts of wind

[andreas.mehlin]

Can it have been the lacing that holds the hulls together with the bridgedeck that failed?

[valhalla360]

Real curious if it's realted to the aero rig.

While it's a nice idea on a cat there isn't a natural strong point to support the freestanding structure.

[Southern Star]

I don't know Jack B, when is the last time you heard of a production boat' breaking in half'? Perhaps if it had been pounding on a lee shore in heavy seas for a significant period, but this boat was 2 miles offshore in what seem to be reasonable conditions.

Amateur modification of stock plans can certainly lead to disastrous results. A number of the amateur-built Piver trimarans borke up in the 60's and early 70's, not because of any design flaw, but because of short-cuts taken in the construction and from the materials specificied in Piver's plans. I strongly suspect that something similar occurred here.

Brad

[garrobito]

...humm.. an aerorig in a wharram?? Let's start from there... I bet if broke it's gonna broke on that place...
Good red flag for everyone tried to be "creative" with other people designs...