Beau Geste-cracked-crew safe

Interesting story on SA about the 80' Beau Geste. Check out the picture below. That would scare the hell out of you at sea.....
http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=135702&st=0

Front page SA story: http://www.sailinganarchy.com/index_page1.php

Picture-"cracked" pictures from SA, other picture unknown-

click on image:

 

There is a link at SA to a radio interview with Gavin Brady, skipper of BG.
For clarification, the orientation of the crack, in the pic above, is athwartships across the deck, it then went down the topsides.

 

Gooday all. Sean - yes - the crack was/is across the boat deck from port to stbd & yes it did continue down the hull side all the way to the keel.

Like Doug said - bugger - that's scarry-stuff - big time. The senior at Cooksons - the building company - said both publicly & to Far Designs - that the laminate was not - substiantial enough - way back when Cooksons built the boat - since then it's broken a 'few' times.

One thing is for sure - they'll get it all sorted out in the long run. One other thing is for sure - everyone will be better-off - c/w smarter/stronger/less breakable boats before we've seen the end of development - which this is just a small part of the overall picture.

Good day to all - over there - while we freeze to death here in the tropics - it being only 9* c @ 0530, & that's a boooger for sure. Ciao, james

 

You think so? I kind of doubt it in development classes. Somebody quoted Ben Lexcen in the S/A thread "If it doesn't break it's too heavy" and "If it breaks it is too light". Owners like to win, designers like to make owners happy and pushing designs to the breaking point is necessary to lower weight enough to be competitive. The moment longevity and durability enter the equation weight becomes a major issue.

It is already perfectly possible to build safe, strong and long lasting yachts. They will not be as fast as those built to prioritise speed at the expense of a lower margin of safety. It may be worthwhile to think of it this way: Strong, Lightweight and Cheap - you get to pick only two of these goals in any project.

I can't see huge advances to be made in material science until it becomes possible to cost effectively produce carbon nanotube structures.

--
CutOnce

 

My nephew, who has a degree in composites engineering, just went to work for Zyvex Tech in their marine division working on the Piranha, be curious to hear what he has to say

 

that the laminate was not - substiantial enough - way back when Cooksons ....
'Mick' Cookson has said that about quite a few boats out of his yard, they haven't all broken yet ...

 

I'd be really interested as well. Keep us posted.

--
CutOnce

 

Audio interview with Gavin Brady-scary stuff!

post 49 http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=135702&st=25