Liquid Vortex - Crash gybe injures a tired crew: Liquid Vortex, Lyme Bay
Driven hard in an offshore race with a tired, seasick novice crew, the Beneteau 40.7 Liquid Vortex suffered an accidental gybe in Lyme Bay that seriously injured one of her crew.
What happened.
On 28 May 2011, the commercially operated Beneteau 40.7 Liquid Vortex was racing the Myth of Malham in Lyme Bay when she suffered an accidental gybe that seriously injured one crew member. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that the skipper had driven the boat and crew hard, when — with many of the novice crew tired and seasick in demanding conditions — a more cautious and encouraging approach was warranted.
On 28 May 2011, the commercially operated Beneteau 40.7 sailing yacht Liquid Vortex was taking part in the Myth of Malham Race in Lyme Bay when she suffered an accidental, or crash, gybe — the boom sweeping uncontrolled across the boat — that seriously injured one of her crew. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch found that the skipper was competitive and 'drove his boat and his crew hard'. Given the presence of novice crew, many of whom were suffering from a lack of sleep and seasickness, and the relatively demanding conditions, the report concluded that a more cautious and encouraging approach was warranted. The investigation (report 25/2011) drew lessons about preventing accidental gybes and about the responsibility of a skipper to match the demands placed on a crew to their experience and condition.
What it teaches.
- 1Rig a preventer downwind — a crash gybe is a swinging boom no one can stop by hand. Liquid Vortex's accidental gybe seriously hurt a crew member. Sailing off the wind, a preventer or boom brake keeps the boom from slamming across, and everyone aboard should know the boom's arc and stay clear of it.
- 2Manage fatigue and seasickness — they hollow out the whole crew. The MAIB noted many of the novice crew were short of sleep and seasick in demanding conditions. Tired, sick people sail and decide poorly; build in rest, watch the workload, and ease the programme when the crew is depleted.
- 3The skipper sets the safety margin — especially with novices. The report found the skipper drove boat and crew hard when a more cautious, encouraging approach was warranted. Match your ambition to the crew's experience and state; pushing a green, exhausted crew is how the accident finds you.
- 4Treat a boom strike as a serious injury and be ready to get help. Crash gybes commonly cause head, neck and limb injuries. Carry a proper first-aid kit, know how to stabilise a casualty who may have a head or spinal injury, and have the comms to summon medical advice or an evacuation.
Where this comes from.
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