Small yacht capsize and crashes into Redondo pier

[bletso]

As a last resort, when everything was going 'pear shape', why not try to deploy an anchor? It may have given enough time to get things a little more in order.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by bletso

As a last resort, when everything was going 'pear shape', why not try to deploy an anchor? It may have given enough time to get things a little more in order.

All too many race boats do not have useful anchors on board, and they are seldom nearby and ready to deploy, and all too many racer type skippers don't know how to anchor well anyhow. I'm not at all surprised that they didn't try that option.

Jim

[tuffr2]

Live and learn...looked like only two people kinda knew what to do. For awhile I thought they were going to get out of the soup. Oh well.

[barnakiel]

It does look like they got trapped in the typical A leads to B which leads to C scenario. Too bad there was no sandy stretch where they could simply strand the boat. The wharf seems quite long and there are some sort of boulders on the very waterfront. Rock or hard place, you name it.

Them superlucky everyone made it fine.

b.

[LeaseOnLife]

A longer video including the rescue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdYTGre3fAA

Boat name: Bad Wolf
Boat type: Martin 242, keel boat no engine

Once boat is free from the pilings it has lost keel and mast. Then the boat brakes up on the beach in a couple minutes. Amazingly, the spade rudder stays on..

[Suijin]

About a minute elapses between when the situation might have been comfortably salvageable and they get rolled. Not a lot of time. As Jim mentioned the anchor is probably stowed God knows where (racers' mantra of keeping weight off the bow), but someone should have started looking for it. Instead two crew members are wrestling with the flopping main. They guy fiddling with the jib...looks like he gets the sheet free moments before they go over. More lessons: always carry a knife, and spare line.

I don't understand why they took the main down in the first place, unless it was a halyard failure or there's no reef in it. In that wind would be a real struggle to point that boat up with just the blade to get out of there.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

Senseless waste due to ignorance or lack of knowledge/experience. The errors/mistakes by that crew are so many....

When the frame opens they have plenty of sea room to reach across the wind into that harbor but not with a flogging partially furled head-sail only. (Behind them one can see other j-boats reaching along under control with mains set and some with jibs.) With only the jib, lee helm overwhelmed any ability to sail forward, complicated by crewman on the leeward rail and, in one frame, the helmsman with the rudder shoved all the way to leeward doing nothing but acting as a brake. At that point the boat was akin to a leaf driven by the wind. Frankly, it's amazing that no one was killed.

Whomever has lost his/her boat and, knowing SoCal, will get a nice bill for the "debris removal" from the beach. Hopefully he/she has some kind of insurance...

You are making a lot of assumptions, and jumping to a lot of conclusions.

Did you notice the foredeck man struggling with the jib sheet?

This boat had suffered a knockdown during a race, and the mainsail was shredded (and boom gooseneck broken), and the jib sheet was fouled. There was no engine.

NOW, what would you have done, with that hand of cards?

[tuffr2]

I would have started the engine and putt away from the pier....oops no engine.

I would have raised the main and sailed away from that pier...oops the main is really messed up.

60 seconds goes fast. They tried to sail away from the pier but could not.

Abandon ship sooner ...maybe. But who is going to jump in cold water unless forced.

[svmariane]

MODS: Additional info concerning this incident in another thread:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...er-182509.html

Perhaps a thread merge might be in order?

[senormechanico]

Probably wouldn't have happened if they were sailing a multi..

(Stands back to take incoming mono rants)

[Don C L]

Since there are probably many folks new to sailing reading here, I think it is helpful to point out that one need not (or should not) commit to a schedule or destination. They were trying to get back into the harbor entrance but really were not in a condition to make it. It can be a tough call but a wise one when you say to your crew, who may be in a hurry to get home, you know everyone, we aren't going to make it, I am going to head back out, sort this out or call for help. I am trying to suggest this without too much Monday morning QB, but with an eye to learning the right lessons.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Probably wouldn't have happened if they were sailing a multi..

(Stands back to take incoming mono rants)

I agree. Could have taken off and sailed right over the pier.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Since there are probably many folks new to sailing reading here, I think it is helpful to point out that one need not (or should not) commit to a schedule or destination. They were trying to get back into the harbor entrance but really were not in a condition to make it. It can be a tough call but a wise one when you say to your crew, who may be in a hurry to get home, you know everyone, we aren't going to make it, I am going to head back out, sort this out or call for help. I am trying to suggest this without too much Monday morning QB, but with an eye to learning the right lessons.

Best single piece of advice for a sailor.

[SVNeko]

Man, the armchair experts are out in FORCE.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

You are making a lot of assumptions, and jumping to a lot of conclusions.

Did you notice the foredeck man struggling with the jib sheet?

This boat had suffered a knockdown during a race, and the mainsail was shredded (and boom gooseneck broken), and the jib sheet was fouled. There was no engine.

NOW, what would you have done, with that hand of cards?

Sorry Dockhead, but that booms not broken at the gooseneck.. it would be on the coachroof or side deck not still attached to the mast.. at least that's what happened when one broke on me.
Looking at the main either all the slides broke when they got knocked down.. or they're in shock.. but don't see any shredded sail flailing around.
As someone said.. they should have kept her headed out and signalled for assistance.. but its easy to be wise from an armchair..
Just watched it again.. they seem oblivious as to where they are.. helms persons concentrated on what the crews doing.. not one look at the pier.