Lessons to be learned from the loss of Cheeki Rafiki

Vlog post on structural keel damage

Cheeki Rafiki

The keel failure on the First 40.7 Beneteau which brings to mind the keel failure on Michael Plant's boat.   In his situation, his boat was a one off custom design and composite build.

His vessel also had a catastrophic keel failure.  Many were of the opinion that the keel struck an obstacle at high speed. Much like a Nascar when it hits the wall, things break.  Lets not fall into a false sense of security just because you have a full keel does not imply that it is not a bolt on keel.

Most fin keels are bolt on.  Much like my Salar 40, which had a full keel but the lead portion was bolted from the keel to the hull structure and additionally the keel bolts and attachments were then glassed over. An Ingrid 38 shares this same attachment design.  

A previous boat I owned, Mobjack, a 45 ft. Hereschoff design was a full bolt on keel.  While I was restoring her, I removed the entire bolt on lead keel.  Upon reattaching I used all new thru bolts.

In the case of the Beneteau Cheeki Rafiki and Michael Plant's boat the keel bolts had a very narrow attachment width which obviously allowed for movement of the keel from side to side, albeit slightly.
This side to side movement caused continuous crushing and fracturing of the fiberglass laminate and in some cases may even cause bolt deterioration from saltwater intrusion and stress failure.

Flag Flying Etiquette

Flag Flying Etiquette

Please click the link above to watch my video on flying the American flag.

Flags should be in good shape and appropriate to the size of the vessel.   Refer to your Chapman's book for specifications.

The Circumnavigation of Globe Star/Marvin Creamer

Several weeks ago, over coffee, I was speaking with a man who was interested in hearing about my experiences as crew aboard “Globe Star” and the use of celestial navigation instead of the more common forms of navigation in use today. 

Actually, celestial navigation would be a misnomer .  Primitive navigation might be a better description as we had no sextant, no compass, no watch or any electronic  equipment , not even a depth finder.  We did carry basic navigational tools on board in a ditch bag sealed by the U. S. Navy in case of emergency.  Fortunately, we never needed to use them but they were on board.  The instruments were sealed because we had to prove that they were not used at any time throughout the voyage.   We were outfitted with an Argos transmitter  which reported to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. our location throughout the circumnavigation.

The global circumnavigation of the sailing vessel Globe Star was the dream of college professor, Marvin Creamer who believed he could circumnavigate using only crude navigational skills that had been passed down from generation to generation.

Marvin Creamer studied extensively the stars and planets.  He believes ancient civilizations could have sailed the oceans thousands of years before Columbus and the purpose of the trip was to prove this point.

Prior to this circumnavigation, Creamer had crossed the Atlantic several times making near perfect landfalls each time using this same navigational method of no instrumentation.

Marv was in no way latitude sailing which would have been an easy way to make landfalls by sailing North or South to a know latitude and then heading East or West until he reached his destination.

Marv used not only astrological positions but the wave action above the surface of the water and also the heave of the underlying swells in relation to the direction we travelled.  He kept records of the estimated water temperature and also estimated salinity by tasting it as we did not have a thermometer or a water test kit.   Water color was also a very important factor in Marv’s calculations.   

Our estimated speed was determined by observing the time it would take water bubbles to move from the bow to the stern.  In counting the seconds it takes for this to take place one can determine quite accurately as to how fast the vessel is travelling through the water but not necessarily the speed at which the boat is travelling over the bottom.  Set and drift can be determined if you have the proper charts that give you approximate set and drift values. 

All of these factors combined to give a dead reckoning position.  For many years I too navigated strictly using dead reckoning.  I had made countless trips across many oceans and travelled great distances before I bought a sextant and learned how to use it.  Perhaps this is why I was invited on the trip.  Both Marv and I shared enthusiasm for this type of navigating.

Modern electronics have made mere mortal men and women great navigators, just turn on your GPS and follow the magenta line.

In my mind, I believe Marv Creamer to be the greatest navigator that ever lived.  To my knowledge no one has ever challenged his abilities as a navigator and it was a privilege to be a part of his historical voyage.

We have a new Facebook page

We have created a page on Facebook where I was able to detail many of my projects with photos.

Please check out these photos at www.facebook.com/askcaptainjesse

As always, I am available for consultation on your boat projects and I am happy to answer any questions regarding boat repairs, boat building, cruising or other sailing related topics such as pre-purchase inspections.
If you don't have questions but have a sailing story you would like to share we would be happy to receive those too.

Send questions to:  askcaptainjesse@gmail.com

Drake and Monique preparing to cross the Atlantic

39degree.blogspot

Follow Drake and Mo aboard Paragon as they make their way across the Atlantic. Monique is blogging about their travels at 39degree.blogspot .  You can also find their videos about their travels on YouTube at DrakeParagon.

I first met Drake Roberts working as a yacht broker in Oriental, North Carolina.  He was in search of a Westsail 42 and I had just happened to have listed one the week prior. He was already the owner of a Westsail 32 and convinced a larger Westsail was the vessel he needed.  Long story short , the transaction was made and the boat I had listed is now known as Paragon and is the subject of numerous videos and writings.

Years have past and Drake has sailed countless miles aboard Paragon and is currently in St. John's New Foundland

preparing to cross the North Atlantic.  I am quite confident Paragon is a sea worthy vessel capable of such an undertaking and her Captain is an experienced and qualified seaman. We wish them fair winds and look forward to seeing their videos from the other side of the Pond.

The New Year's Day Non Football Regatta

Not many years ago, a group of friends here in Oriental, were invited to crew for the sailing vessel Bounty in the annual New Year's Day Non Football Regatta.
Here in Oriental, NC, not many people are that interested in football so every New Year's Day there is a regatta during the time when most of America is watching football.  The requirements of the regatta are that you use a sailboat to circumnavigate at  least three buoys if not more in the Neuse River off of Oriental.  After this stringent qualification of passing the third mark your vessel and its crew meet the requirements set forth in the race committees rules and regs.  Basically, the name of your vessel and its captain will be placed in a felt hat.  The name drawn is now considered the winner.  The purse includes free horsd'oeuvres at M and M's and dinner and drinks at your own expense.

You may even read and return to the shelf a children's adventure book written by our very own Bernie Harberts who spent much of the race aloft in the spreaders taking photographs of other competitors and our exuberant crew.

Meanwhile, Captain John is down below taking inventory of his exquisite French wine collection which has become airborne along with his laptop, cellphone and other miscellaneous items.
Bernie caught some of the crew sleeping on the job but fun was had by all.

Did we qualify to win? Yes!  Did we actually win? No, but there is always next year.
For more adventures with Bernie check out this clip from his offshore excursion.  Bernie Harberts: 65 days Alone at Sea