Flooding and abandonment off Cape Brett
The Bavaria 47 was abandoned and sank in 7.5-metre seas; three of four crew survived.
What happened.
The Bavaria 47 Essence was abandoned and sank in 7.5-metre seas 25 nautical miles N-NE of Cape Brett; three of four crew survived.
Caught out by a rapidly deepening low on passage, Essence began taking on water faster than her pumps could clear it. With the cabin sole awash and the electrics failing, the crew sent a Mayday, deployed the liferaft, and abandoned. A coordinated air-and-sea rescue recovered three of the four crew; the yacht sank. The official report examined downflooding paths and the decision-making around the abandon.
What it teaches.
- 1Know every below-waterline through-hull and downflooding path before the passage. Flooding you can't locate is flooding you can't stop.
- 2The abandon decision is a process, not a moment — Mayday, prepare the raft, and step UP into it. Time the call so the raft and crew leave under control, not in extremis.
Where this comes from.
SeaWise indexes and links to primary sources; it does not host their reports or media. Crew are referred to by role unless documented consent is on file.
Procedures involved.
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