Oracle Yacht Sinks!

[Warren Kaplan]

Ain't quite a Cape Dory subject but I have to talk about something to do with sailing, with sailors, during the long winter. On the news this AM it said that one of Larry Ellison's (CEO Oracle) yachts that would challange for the Americas Cup two years from now had its keel "snap off" down in New Zealand. The crew had to jump overboard as the boat immediately started to capsize while taking on water. The crew was picked up by chase boats. If memory serves, not too long ago another Americas Cup boat folded in half when the waves got up a bit and there too the crew had to swim for their lives! I realize that high performance racing boats need to cut weight to the bone. But to sacrifice that much seaworthiness and structural integrity on a multi million dollar boat seems to be negligent at best and almost criminal at worst. I think we can safely say that Alberg would not have approved, and yes, I grant you an Alberg design wouldn't have even reached the first mark by the time the other speedsters had finsihed the race. But to break in half or have the keel snap off makes this non engineer wonder if these designers need to repeat the "strength of materials" course in engineering school. A sad day for yacht designers.



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[Neil Gordon]

The basis rule is, "If it didn't break, it was too heavy."

These boats can't be competitive unless they compromise. In the "ideal" conditions each boat is designed for, it will complete the course intact and in the best time. In lighter (less wind/waves or from the wrong place) conditions, it will be too slow and lose... if more wind/wave stress from the wrong place, the boat will buckle, break and possibly sink. It's all designed in, although when the design is that close to the edge, it doean't take much "manufacturing defect" to sink the boat, either.

There's a lesson for cruisers here... some designs are faster and more exciting, while some are more seakindly, perhaps slower and maybe even boring in some conditions. My choice is to get there alive.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Warren Kaplan]

The basis rule is, "If it didn't break, it was too heavy."

These boats can't be competitive unless they compromise. In the "ideal" conditions each boat is designed for, it will complete the course intact and in the best time. In lighter (less wind/waves or from the wrong place) conditions, it will be too slow and lose... if more wind/wave stress from the wrong place, the boat will buckle, break and possibly sink. It's all designed in, although when the design is that close to the edge, it doean't take much "manufacturing defect" to sink the boat, either.

There's a lesson for cruisers here... some designs are faster and more exciting, while some are more seakindly, perhaps slower and maybe even boring in some conditions. My choice is to get there alive.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167

Neil,
I agree with all you say. But all these yachts are designed to meet a standard. Boats were measured to make sure they met "the 12 meter rule" and now with the current America's Cup Class I am sure there are minimum standards to be met there. Sure you can shorten some sail here and therefore be able to lengthen the waterline there so that when the math is done in meets the rule. That's how these boats get in trouble. But it seems to me that a certain thickness of material could be required on certain areas of ALL boats to make them seaworthy and yet keep the "playing field" level for all boats. So what if ALL boats then sailed a 1/4 knot slower. Most of the time its tactics anyway that makes the difference. Just my opinion but in this day and age it seems to me we ought to be able to design a fast yacht that should be able to finish a race even if it gets slapped with a wave coming from the wrong direction.



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[Ed Haley]

Larry Ellison has been a competitor in the Sydney to Hobart race held after Christmas with his yacht "Sayonara". He won the race in his class in the fatal 1998 race. I wonder if this recent event occurred on Sayonara while getting ready for the 2000 race.



eghaley@twcny.rr.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>But it seems to me that a certain thickness of material could be required on certain areas of ALL boats to make them seaworthy ...<<

Yes, except as materials evolve, the rules would have to change. And how would the new materials be field tested except on these highly tuned boats?

Depends what your risk/reward preferences are, I suppose. Our boats have lots more than is required to make them seaworth in most conditions. This is a big plus when conditions are outside the *most* range. Among other things, Cape Dory's were built before the accountants got involved in yacht design.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com