Sunk in five minutes >> Scuttlebutt Sailing News

When 2022-23 Golden World Race entrance-runner Tapio Lehtinen was woken by a loud sounds, he had 5 minutes to escape his sinking boat. Translated from Finnish publication Ilta-Sanomat, he shares some details from a cargo ship en route to China:

Lehtinen, 64, managed to reduce the daily life raft into the h2o, and thanks to the fantastic weather, he was able to calmly wait around for the rescuers, who arrived a working day later.

He continue to just can’t believe that soon after mindful planning, the Asteria boat sank in five minutes.

“During people 5 minutes, the believed that this could not be attainable was working by means of the back of my head. I was able to respond to the circumstance without the need of panicking and without obtaining anxious, but I also had a little bit of a dilemma with me due to the fact the weather conditions was so good.”

After reaching the everyday living raft, Lehtinen watched his beloved boat sink below the floor of the water. Right after two times because the accident, the cause remains a mystery to him. Asteria was wholly rebuilt five years in the past before the preceding spherical-the-entire world sailing arranged in 2018.

“It was developed as a bomb-evidence tank, so that I would never have assumed that out of the 36 boats collaborating in these two races, it would be the Asteria that would sink.”

In accordance to Lehtinen, the boat did not crash into nearly anything, noting how he woke up to a bang from the stern of the boat, which might could have been inside of or outdoors the boat.

“I lived in symbiosis with the boat for 13 months, so even in my dreams I reacted to the boat’s alterations.”

It took the skipper about 20 seconds to get out of his cramped sleeping quarters, by which time h2o was quickly coming in from the stern place.

The boat had a few watertight bulkheads in the bow and two watertight bulkheads in the stern, and all the hull penetrations were being on the again aspect of the forward bulkhead at the stern of the boat. If a hose had been to split, the leak would be confined to the stern of the boat, which it wasn’t.

“The water was coming from at the rear of at these a high speed that the only matter I can consider is that a single of the biggest openings would have unsuccessful completely and loaded the rear compartment with drinking water and led to the failure of the watertight bulkhead. But I still surprise if a gap with a diameter of ten centimeters is enough to fill the boat in 5 minutes.”

Additional: In a website post by Peter Foerthmann, he speculates how the stern might have incurred important destruction because of to the auxiliary rudder system. For photos and information, click on in this article.

Party facts – Entry checklist – Tracker – Fb

2022 GGR competitors:
Abhilash Tomy (43) / India / Rustler 36
Arnaud Gaist (50) / France / BARBICAN 33 MKII (long keel variation)
Elliott Smith (27) / United states / Gale Drive 34
Ertan Beskardes (60) / British isles / Rustler 36
Person Waites (54) / Uk / Tradewind 35
Ian Herbert Jones (52) / British isles / Tradewind 35
Jeremy Bagshaw (59) / South Africa / OE32
Kirsten Neuschäfer (39) / South Africa / Cape George 36
Michael Guggenberger (44) / Austria / Biscay 36
Simon Curwen (63) / United kingdom / Biscay 36

Retired
Edward Walentynowicz (68) / Canada / Rustler 36 (dropped out, Sept. 8)
Person deBoer (66) / United states of america / Tashiba 36 (ran aground, Sept. 16)
Mark Sinclair (63) / Australia / Lello 34 (retired in Lanzarote, Sept. 22)
Pat Lawless (66) / Ireland / Saga 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 9)
Damien Guillou (39) / France / Rustler 36 (retired in Cape Town, Nov. 14)
Tapio Lehtinen (64) / Finland / Gaia 36 Masthead sloop (sank off Cape City, Nov. 18)

About the 2022 Golden World Race
On September 4, 2022, the third edition of the Golden Globe Race started out from Les Sables d’Olonne, France. Sixteen skippers will experience eight months of isolation sailing 30,000 miles across 5 oceans solo non-cease and unassisted.

In 1968, while gentleman was making ready to consider his 1st ways on the moon, a moderate mannered and modest young gentleman was location out on his have report breaking voyage of discovery. He experienced entered the first Golden World. 9 gentlemen began that first solo non-end sailing race all-around the Globe. Only one particular finished. He was 29 12 months previous Sir Robin Knox Johnston. History was produced. Navigating only with a sextant, paper charts and an exact and reputable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world.

In 2018, to rejoice 50 yrs because that very first record breaking accomplishment, the Golden World Race was resurrected. It right away attained traction with adventurers, captivated by the spirit and chance. Eighteen started with five finishers.

To embrace the authentic race, rivals ought to sail in generation boats among 32 and 36 feet total and designed prior to 1988 that have a comprehensive-length keel with rudder connected to their trailing edge. Moreover, sailors have restricted conversation products and can use only sextants, paper charts, wind up clocks, and cassette tapes for tunes.

Resource: GGR