Farr X2 loses keel

[Celestialsailor]

Read this, this morning. Interesting read...


https://www.yachtingworld.com/news/c...el-loss-139333

[Celestialsailor]

I tried Googling "Male/Female cassette style keel connection", which was the style of keel it had but could not come up with anything.

[Joli]

Custom race boats with long lever arms, short chords and T bulbs will often socket the base of the keel into the hull. I understand the understand the advantage on racing boats but the engineering and maintenance to keep such keels attached to the boat is not easy. I don't understand production boats wanting to use this type of keel.

[SV Tom Crean]

Originally Posted by Joli

Custom race boats with long lever arms, short chords and T bulbs will often socket the base of the keel into the hull. I understand the understand the advantage on racing boats but the engineering and maintenance to keep such keels attached to the boat is not easy. I don't understand production boats wanting to use this type of keel.

You have to distinguish between production cruising boats and production racing boats.

The latter are still pushing for every % in performance, in saving weight in the hull, rig,sails, deck gear and in reducing the amount of hull or appendages that sit in the water.

The latter (production cruising boats). Some don’t care about any of the above, some care a little. Weight is the enemy of speed.

[Knotical]

Glad they were rescued and are doing ok.

Hull # 2 (photo shown in the article) delivered to the US may wanna hold off on sailing until the company finishes their investigation on the capsized hull.

[Celestialsailor]

I wonder if the question of an EPIRB will come up

[Joli]

Originally Posted by SV Tom Crean

You have to distinguish between production cruising boats and production racing boats.

The latter are still pushing for every % in performance, in saving weight in the hull, rig,sails, deck gear and in reducing the amount of hull or appendages that sit in the water.

The latter (production cruising boats). Some don’t care about any of the above, some care a little. Weight is the enemy of speed.

Yep, built by a production facility not pros and the net result is what you see.

Production "race boats" need to be built to a heavier scantling that is more forgiving to the build process, the maintenance available and the sailors aboard then a custom boat that is sailed, built and maintained by pros.

[grantmc]

Strange that the crew were stuck on the upturned hull for over 15 hours. The boat was only 15 miles off Wollongong (Port Kembla). And there's a good Coastguard/Police Rescue there and those guys wouldn't have been put off by a bit of rough weather.

[Jim Cate]

Strange that the crew were stuck on the upturned hull for over 15 hours

From the various posts, it seems that they did not call for help (likely due to the sudden onset of the capsize) and the search only began when they failed to appear on schedule at their destination. And with no specific area in which to search, the authorities have a difficult task. Begs the question of auto responding EPIRBs for race boats.

Damn lucky to be found before they lost the ability to hang on... quite a remarkable feat IMO!

Jim

[fstbttms]

That's gonna put a dent in sales...

[PippaB]

There's a 3D model online, doesn't really show the keel connection, but does say this:

2.1m Draft, high aspect keel fin constructed around a cast-iron spar with glass fairings.

Socket connection for robust attachment with ease of assembly.

Something tells me the ease of disconnection is not as much of a selling point.

I'm assuming it was these two young ladies, I wonder if they can get the boat back together for Sydney-Hobart (and the dateline on that story shows how late the delivery was)?

https://www.farrx2.com/first-ever-al...ney-to-hobart/

Glad all are back safe.

[Wotname]

Other detail and pictures on the 'sister' thread.
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ia-266270.html

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

From the various posts, it seems that they did not call for help (likely due to the sudden onset of the capsize) and the search only began when they failed to appear on schedule at their destination. And with no specific area in which to search, the authorities have a difficult task. Begs the question of auto responding EPIRBs for race boats.

Damn lucky to be found before they lost the ability to hang on... quite a remarkable feat IMO!

Jim

and again shows the value of having a PLB in your pocket / around your neck. sometimes you just won't be able get to the boat's epirb...

cheers,

[Jim Cate]

I wonder if they used their harnesses/tethers to lash themselves to the saildrive? Seems the only way they could have managed to stay "on board" a rounded and slippery hull for so long.

And I wonder what became of their (mandatory IIRC) life raft?

One of those articles said they would release a full report in due time. It will be of great interest to me.

Jim

[Wotname]

From the Yachting World article - “Around 1am on Saturday morning as the team made their way home to Sydney in light to moderate breeze and 1-2m seas, the boat capsized".

From other reports we know the weather was savage 15 hours later (when they were picked up).

So is this a reporter's error or did the capsize occur in relatively mild conditions (due to keel failure) and conditions worsened rapidly after the capsize?