Thanks David, and I of course agree about the inaccuracy of so many press reports. And Elie, I have no idea how you feel you are able to conclude from the fate of one boat that capsized in one area, that in similar circumstances the following is true:
1. big cats would probably capsize or break something. 2. a
monohull would at most put its
sails in the water and quickly recover. Here are some things to consider:
1. Just as not all monohulls behave in the same way, it may surprise you that not all cats behave in the same way. The Outremer is clearly designed to favour performance over comfort and has an incredible
record to prove it. Rather than comparing it with an ordinary monohull, it should really be compared with an all-out
racing machine such as an Open 60 (which should come
close to mirroring the performance of the Outremer). This means, amongst other things, a much greater sail area/displacement ratio than their slower cousins (and an increased risk, if sails are not reefed in time, of capsize).
2. Large Cats generally are far more resistant to a knockdown/capsize than a monohull (and this would include Outremers).
3. What will cause a capsize in either boat will depend not only upon the design, but also upon the seamanship of the
skipper - ie, too much sail up, taking large seas beam-on etc.
4. In conditions that capsized (or pitchpoled) an Outremer, we can safely assume that the monohull (sailed with a similar degree of competence/incompetence) will not merely have a knock down, but will have also capsized/pitchpoled. Indeed, since the monohull would have capsized in conditions that would have left the Cat completely upright, in the same conditions the mono may have had numerous 'knockdowns' or capsizes by the time the cat first succumbed.
5. While the cat cannot right itself once inverted, the monohull
should do so
eventually - and I say should, because some modern
racing monos (such as the Open 60's) have a huge period of inverse stability. They must rely upon a conscious
skipper in the inverted craft to use hydrualics to swing over the
keel if they are to right themselves. If hydraulics fail (or the skipper is knocked unconscious), the boat is likely to remain overturned until it sinks. Other performance oriented monos (including some used for 'performance cruising') with wide beams and flat sections aft are at risk of precisely the same fate.
6. Even if the monohull that has capsized does not initially sink, it will almost assuredly have suffered serious damage. It is extremely likely that the rig will have failed (and holes caused by the pounding of a still attached, but fallen rig against the
hull of a boat has led to many sinkings). Further, the hatches/portlights may have imploded leaving gaping openings for each passing sea; this too increases the risk of sinking. At the very least, the boat will almost assuredly be loaded with water which entered through the
companionway,
cockpit lockers etc. This leaves the boat much more vulnerable to further capsizes and an eventual sinking.
All of the foregoing is the reason that
current studies indicate that you are no more likely to capsize in a modern cruising cat, than you are to sink in a monohull. And like most of us, I would rather be on an inverted cat that is still afloat with a
liferaft available for redundancy, than on a
liferaft with my 'redundancy' on the bottom.
Brad
Brad