Catamaran Rescue off Ulladulla NSW Australia

[team karst]

We don't know it was a rudder strike, correct? That leaves the skeg.

[Ozbullwinkle]

Originally Posted by team karst

We don't know it was a rudder strike, correct? That leaves the skeg.

That's right, it is only speculation at this stage that the rudder was struck. Hopefully the boat will be salvaged to provide a definitive answer & current wind conditions in that area remain very light which would hopefully allow this.

Seawind 1000's don't have a skeg & are powered by twin outboard motors.

[team karst]

that fin well forward of the rudder. They look thin. Here is a view:

https://www.tommysolomon.com/photos/.../16/large/#nav

[Factor]

Originally Posted by Seaslug Caravan

I hope all catamaran owners take note and make their boats safer.

Safer than what?

[Ozbullwinkle]

Originally Posted by team karst

that fin well forward of the rudder. They look thin. Here is a view:

https://www.tommysolomon.com/photos/.../16/large/#nav

I would expect them to be sacrificial in the event of any major collision but who knows?

Seawind 1000's are very popular here in Australia & many have made ocean crossings & have cruised very extensively. It is a shame that Seawind have dropped them from their current models.

However, I was very surprised at the outcome of this incident in calm seas & most likely motoring at around 8 kts. A sunfish is not an uncommon occurrence in our waters & I have struck a few over the years mainly in powerboats & they often account for some retirements from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race as well.

Lets hope for a salvage or maybe the owner may be a forum member who might care to comment once he recovers from his loss & rescue.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Ozbullwinkle

I would expect them to be sacrificial in the event of any major collision but who knows?

Seawind 1000's are very popular here in Australia & many have made ocean crossings & have cruised very extensively. It is a shame that Seawind have dropped them from their current models.

However, I was very surprised at the outcome of this incident in calm seas & most likely motoring at around 8 kts. A sunfish is not an uncommon concurrence in our waters & I have struck a few over the years mainly in powerboats & they often account for some retirements from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race as well.

Lets hope for a salvage or maybe the owner may be a forum member who might care to comment once he recovers from his loss & rescue.

They are thin glass and sacrificial

[team karst]

Hmmm , fine line between strong enough to support the boat on the hard, and weak enough to break off with a side load from a fish.
The threat is a long tear fore aft from side load or a punch up aft end into the hull.

[catsketcher]

Way back in the late 80s my brother was on the helm of a 1/2 tonner we were sailing in the Hobart. We surfed down a wave and hit a sunfish. My brother saw it next to the broken blade as we spun around with the kite up. The mono rudder was deep and we were hitting max speeds during the surfs for the little half tonner - so I can understand the impact was at the edge of the engineering for the design.

I am very surprised a motoring Seawind could impact a sunfish to cause such damage. I would be very surprised if they motored faster than 7 knots and most rudders could handle an impact at this speed without tearing a hull, minikeels would be capable of much more speed without damage.

It would be nice if we were to get a full report of what happened but often people are reluctant to publish such details. Near me we had a tragedy where 3 people died after a 38 footer capsized and there was a lack of sailing based reports, even after the coroners statement.

I for one am a big fan of watertight compartments. On my 38 footer I one full height bulkhead 3.5 metres aft of the bows and another 2.2 metres from the stern. It fits well with the accomodation and improves safety too.

I look forward to learning more.

Phil

[jipcho]

So, it was a mola mola, aka sunfish, and not a Sunfish sailboat?

[Ozbullwinkle]

Originally Posted by jipcho

So, it was a mola mola, aka sunfish, and not a Sunfish sailboat?

Yes, a Mola Mola = Sunfish, nothing to do with a boat of the same name.

[Seaslug Caravan]

Originally Posted by catsketcher

Near me we had a tragedy where 3 people died after a 38 footer capsized and there was a lack of sailing based reports, even after the coroners statement.



Phil

Phil, can you link to the coroners statement?

Would love to learn from that incident as the chatter around that incident will remain just that until we see the results of the investigation.
I heard that the coroner would not be involved as no request was made by the families. I hope that was incorrect.

[catsketcher]

My bad Seaslug. I got that wrong. A report was prepared for the coroner by the police but I can't find it.

[Searles]

They may have lost a sail drive ,verry big hole ,tear the diaphragm will leave a large hole ,looks salvageable to me ,.⛵️⚓️

[Ozbullwinkle]

Originally Posted by Searles

They may have lost a sail drive ,verry big hole ,tear the diaphragm will leave a large hole ,looks salvageable to me ,.⛵️⚓️

No, Seawind 1000's are powered by small twin outboards.

But yes, hopefully the boat will be salvaged as local conditions since the incident have been perfect.

[Factor]

From the boat - motorsailing at 8 knots, hit very very large sunfish, caused significant damage around starboard rudder post area, water ingress was serious but manageable initially but crew removed the aft bulkhead to inspect damage which allowed the water to flow in much faster, and pumps could not keep up.