From XSRacing:

Don't Send A Monohuller to do a Multihuller's Job





Saturday - March 29 2008 - 0830 PST - Here is a press release about Foncia being capsized today by the Alinghi Team. By the account from Ed Baird, it's obvious that Ed does not have a clue about multihulls. He describes the incident as if it was 'out of their hands' when they capsized in just over 20 knots of wind. Don't tell the multihull skippers who cross the oceans that their Open 60 tris can't stay upright in 20 knots...it may scare them from ever sailing again!

This is not the only report of multihulls capsizing with beginners at the helm. One source described the Extreme 40 capsizes like watching Lasers sailing downwind in 30 knots of wind. We have had numerous other reports from multihull 'teachers' trying to teach the monohull rock stars how to sail a multihull, with 'upside down' results. If they continue trying to teach rookie's how to sail 90-foot multihulls, this could be an exciting America's Cup after all! Here is the press release from the Alinghi Team:

Foncia capsizes off Lorient - Alinghi crew safe 2008-03-29 AT 11:30 this morning, in 20 plus knots and a lumpy Atlantic swell, the 60ft trimaran Foncia capsized off Lorient with Alinghi sailors onboard. Of the 10 crew onboard, Piet van Niekerk and Francesco Rapetti were airlifted to hospital, both are safe and with no serious injuries. The rest of the crew along with consultant Alain Gautier were involved in securing the boat and towing it ashore, the sailors are shaken but unhurt.

Ed Baird, who was onboard, provides some insight into what happened: "As we were bearing away, always the highest risk situation on a multi-hull, both the leeward and the central hull dug into the water and the rudders came out. From then it was out of our hands and we capsized forwards. As the mast hit the water, it broke, followed by the rear beam."

He continues: "The crew reacted very quickly in getting everyone back on board, doing a head count and checking injuries before calling for help and beginning to secure the boat." Foncia is currently being towed into the harbour upside down to be craned out and assessed for damage. "We have all been through crashes and capsizes before, this is all part of the sport," says Ed Baird, adding "however this is a temporary situation with Foncia and is not our equipment, so it is even more disappointing to us that we are involved in damaging someone else's gear. We have learned a valuable lesson here and now must get to work to fix things up for Alain [Gautier]."