Mary
Firstly condolences to all those involved in this incedent.I hope that this thread is not seen as critcal of any of them, just us guys trying to learn from this terrible loss of life....

One report on another forum implied that the rope had been TIED to the saildrive leg. This would have been an attempt to have something to hang on to after the capsize. I have always been taught to have a rope tied under the bridge deck at all times because it is pretty much impossible to hang on to an upturned cat with out one.

Fixed keels are a no-no on any multihull. It is impossible to safely lie a hull on a drogue or hove too without the risk of the boat tripping on its leeward keel. Keels have become common place on cruising cats beacause they are cheaper to build than center/daggerboards and do not interfere with internal accommodation.

Similaly, it is more difficult to sell someone a nice safe cruising cat when the customer asks what the escape hatches are for!
You don't see masthead floats about any more do you! Who would buy a boat that needs one of them?

Sail safe everyone