A Big "OPPS" at Key West!

One story from Key West that is a complete bummer is this one. After finishing one of their best races of the regatta, coming from well back to take first place in the second race, KINCSEM was on her way back to the Historic Seaport when she was struck by a rental powerboat in the area of the shrouds. The powerboat was being driven by a young woman who was not paying attention and was traveling at a speed of about 30 knots compared to KINCEM's 5 knots. The uppers parted and the mast came down. Nobody on KINCSEM was hurt, but the powerboat driver was injured. The KINCSEM crew hacksawed off the rest of the shrouds and the mast went to the bottom. Skipper Joerg Esdorn was disappointed, but remarkably unfazed by the incident -- "We just finished the best race of the Regatta when this happened." It left his fellow competitors shaking their heads in disbelief. One can only imagine the liability issues of this incredible screw up.  article from Sailing Anarchy

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