A sheared off port hull caused the French trans-oceanic trimaran Groupama 3 to capsize off the coast of Dunedin earlier today.
In an interview just broadcast on New Zealand television, skipper Franck Cammas explained that the hull beams initially sheared and then the whole port hull broke away causing the trimaran to capsize.
Sea conditions were described as moderate in the area with about five to seven metre seas running, with 30 kts of wind. According to a report on the Franck Cammas-Groupama website the leeward float beams fractured causing the leeward (port) hull to shear off.
The crew of Groupama 3 were interviewed on their return to shore in New Zealand but had some dramatic footage taken from on board the 30metre multihull during the rescue.
From the air the trimaran consisted of just two hulls with the port hull nowhere to be seen.
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