| In March, 2000, Antibes
1-st 180° straightening up test on one of our 60'Open
Although one can not completely avoid that the boats turn over, we gave ourself for objective to verify life-size that with a simple action, the crew can right a 60 feet, dismasted, in plain water. Knowing this that: Being at the origin of this test, we encourage the runners for three years already realizing it. This test is a relatively simple and easy stage compared with a project such as a solo worldround and in front of the incurred risks. Slowly the idea made progress then the runners integrated this test into the rules IMOCA. In spite of a repeated encouragement of our part beside our runners, it is Catherine Chabaud that was the first to realize it. Then it was Roland Jordan's tour, then of Elen MacArthur. All the three with boats at mobile keel.
Finally, on the last March 23, the test is set up by one of our runners, Dominique Wavre. The monohull Union Bancaire Privée (ex-Swiss One) is with fixed keel and water ballasts. In that case the carrying out is a little more complicated and longer. In the case of one mobile keel, the recovery is provoked by it basculement of the keel after opening an hydraulic gate . In the case of a boat with water ballast the effect of the water ballast has the same efficiency that the keel but it is necessary to fill them with a pump.
Dominique Wavre illustrates the various stages(legs) of this test: 1 - The turning over of the boat by means of a crane and of
a belt around the bulb
The sequence of events
The test happened in public, was filmed by the
media. After a small hour of bricolage, which allowed to fill the water ballasts, the boat leans over to 16° then it turned over with a single movement.
First, the conception of the boat, of measures allowing to verify the position of the center of gravity and of simulations on the software of stability "BHS" (distributed by Design System, Antibes) had allowed to assure of success chances of the operation. This test is the proof of the capacity of righting up of the boat. But especially it allowed to make become aware the skipper and the whole team of the problems provoked by the inverted position. It puts in evidence the practical problems to resolve. It allows to make progress the safety.
Pascal Conq
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