The lead story in Dock Talk this week provides an update on the sinking of the Swedish-flag 46-footer IdaLina 300 miles from the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. As noted in the story, the boat’s rudder shaft broke in half and it then the stub attached to the rudder created a crack or hole in the hull at the bearing that was estimated to be 15 centimeters or six inches wide. (The photo above is of a sistership.)
The yacht’s pumps were working but could not keep up with the water ingress. Are there pumps normally installed in cruising boats that could have kept the boat afloat long enough to make the needed repairs? I don’t know. I do know that on the boats I have owned and prepared for blue water sailing, I’ve installed 4,000-gallon-per-hour pumps. Two of those might have kept IdaLina afloat as long as the engine was still working and the batteries remained dry. But, I am certainly not sure of it. What are your thoughts on the sinking of IdaLina and on preparing a boat and crew for such an ultimate test? Email us at: george@bwsailing.com
Fair winds.
