MAIB Report - Weighted Centreboards and Retracting Keels

Dear All,

I've just seen the following MAIB report which will be of significance to many SYC members, particularly those with cruising boats fitted with heavy/weighted/ballasted retracting keels or centreboards.

MAIB Report

Alistair

I believe that the boat in this incident turned turtle (completely upside down on the water). There is not enough depth of water in the Exe estuary for a dinghy to completely invert to cause the keel to drop back into the boat by its own weight. The experienced sailor in this tragedy should have put his own weight on the leeward quarter of the upturned boat (standing if possible) to concentrate his weight so that the inverted weather bow 'broke the seal' and allowed air into the space below. Once the suction seal is broken an inverted dinghy usually 'tilts' away from the wind, allowing the person on the leeward quarter to grab the weather gunwhale as the trapped person is scooped into the dinghy. Nevertheless, all dinghies with retaining straps to keep the centre board down should be checked for the strap being in place before launching.