Two Solings sink at storm hit Worlds
by Matias Collins on 21 Oct 2006
Soling Worlds 2006 SW
The world championship Soling fleet were racing course number 1 (Windward / Leeward of six legs) when winds up to 49 knots came from the west. The race had to be abandoned after the second downwind leg, with lots of boats in trouble.
The average winds of 45 knots for more than 30 minutes and as a result two boats sank and many masts were bent and other minor damage. This is the second hard hit on the class this year, after Abbott Boats wentup in a fire decreasing the parts available in the market.
USA 807 one of the boats that was hit hard while they were in sixth place on the last upwind mark, just 50 mts from the mark, when the gale force wind arrived and broaching made it impossible to steer. Water came dramatically into the boat, it was impossible to get the water out and the crew - Jerome (Joe) Hoeksema, Matias Collins, Rose Hoeksema - were rescued by the Jury.
The same happened with GBR 161 - Hamish Loudon, Joseph Copak, Mark Sudicky - and the amazing thing was that thr boats had two experienced Soling sailors and members of the ISA Committee, the president and the treasurer and also the secretary of the ISA.
Results will remain the same.
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