I'd like to read the details if they do an incident report. I'm wondering if something broke, or got stuck coming around the mark in the bear away, and what actually caused it to flip. I'm guessing it was designed to stand up to (and be driven in) what ever the maximum wind speed is that they picked.

It's one thing to be out racing, to be in second place of a two boat race, and you need to push it "to the limit" to get into first place. It's another thing entirely to crash the boat while out "Practicing" and risk destroying the boat, the wing and more importantly, a crew member or two.

For what?

These things are not beach cats. You could get killed in a crash with the loads and the speeds they are making. The 72 footers will be even more loaded up and subject to more pain if/when they find "the limits". As in that video Jake posted of the soft sailed VX 40's that were crashing, one guy said, "It's a good thing we were wearing our helmets."

But they were racing, not practicing.

If my view of Practice makes me a great big pussy, so be it, I can -live- with that.

When is the last time any of you keyboard comando's went out and sailed your punny little beach cats in 29knots? How'd that work out for you?

OK, now go out on a 45' wingmasted carbon fiber monster and find "the limits".

Yeah, right.


Blade F16
#777