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Shouldn’t we be at the point where this kind of thing just doesn’t happen to boats like this?
The first Farr X2 – a yacht specifically designed for two-handed offshore racing – has been lost during a shakedown sail off the Australian coast. Hull #1, named Nexba, was yesterday trying to complete the required 100nm ocean passage to qualify for the Sydney-Gold Coast race starting on July 30.
The keel either broke, or fell off, in testing conditions and the 30-footer turned turtle. The crew was rescued by a Royal Australian Navy helicopter. The keel either broke, or fell off, in testing conditions and the 30-footer turned turtle. The crew was rescued by a Royal Australian Navy helicopter. The hull – without rig or sails – has since washed up on a beach South of Sydney and the $205,000 yacht is presumably a total write-off.
Conditions in the area had been tough for the past three days with large seas and up to 30 knots of wind.
The boat carried substantial sail area, balanced by a 1,970lb bulb on a 6.7ft cast iron keel. The design also incorporates 2 x 250 litre water ballast tanks…
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