Rambler 100 capsizes in Fastnet race
Monohull favourite loses keelThe American supermaxi Rambler 100 has capsized between Fastnet Rock and the Pantaenius Buoy during the 2011 Fastnet Race.
Early indications are that all crew have been resuced by boats from the Baltimore Lifeboat Station.
Sixteen of the crew managed to scramble onto the upturned hull of the yacht while five others took to a liferaft. Four crew members were below, off watch, when the incident occurred. They were forced to swim from inside the up-turned vessel but were reported to be in good shape. One crew member was taken to hospital with hypothermia.
As can be seen by the accompanying photo, it would appear that the bulb of the keel has separated from the boat causing a rapid capsize. EPIRBS were activated and Irish Coast Guard immediately put into place a rescue plan which included RBLI Baltimore, two Sikorski helicopters and the Irish Navy vessel Le Ciara.
At the time of writing, Rambler 100 was still afloat but no salvage operations had been put into place.
Rambler 100 was due to come to Australia for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart race in December.
Meanwhile, the 140ft trimaran Banque Populaire skippered by Loick Peyron has smashed the outright multihull record for the Fastnet race recording a time of 1 day, 8 hours and 48 mins. The previous record, also held by Peyron, was 1 day, 16 hours, 27 mins set in 1999 aboard the 60ft trimaran Fujicolor.
At the time of writing, most boats in the record fleet of 314 starters were still at sea.
Other favourites to retire from the race include Karl Kwok's Blue Water 80 Beau Geste and the Mills 68 of Andres Soriano Alegre.
For more information go to www.fastnet.rorc.org
Photo - Carlo Borlenghi.
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