Reeling
Two nasty boat scares took place around Long Island this weekend, with the J/80 ‘Skilagalee’ losing her keel during racing at Spritfest up in Long Island Sound. The boat capsized and began sinking after the keel tore away from the boat in 20-30 knots of breeze, and the RC abandoned racing to help deal with what could have been a terrible disaster. Everyone’s safe, and the boat will likely be repaired.
Also this weekend, the Beneteau 40.7 ‘Makin Waves’ was enroute to Newport from Annapolis for the Bermuda Race when her rudder post snapped off the South Shore of Long Island,, creating a big hole in the boat that the crew couldn’t stem. Coast Guard SAR out of Hampton Bays picked them up, and the boat went down less than an hour later. From one of the folks involved: “Our rudder post snapped on the boat and we were taking in water through the stern. We tried to have the coast guard tow the boat but with the high winds and large waves we couldn’t pull without the tow lines cranking on the forestay. The rig looked like it was going to come down and we had to let her go. By the time the last person exited the boat there was about 2 feet of water down below. I wasn’t on board but this is what my dad told me. I was in constant communication with the coast guard and there was nothing else they could do. It took her about 1hr to go down. Everyone is OK and back in Annapolis. RIP Making Waves USA 51501. -Jimmy” Here’s the thread.
