Worst Sailing Races! [Compilation]

[@equarg]

The last story where the guy’s voluntarily disqualified themselves by shouting a warning to the other racing yachts are the real MVP’s. They probably saved lives by doing that. That rule is stupid, especially if it’s a legit warning to other teams!

[@Waffen511]

they changed it after, over 40knts required to warn

[@jypsyjewels2854]

well said

[@brerobsym]

I remember that S2H, it is a race that captures the imagination of even those who don't sail. The destruction and death from that year is imprinted into the psyche of the country. Every bad weather system that hits the race now is compared to that race, and it has changed the thought processes of a lot of sailors. Retirement from the race is no longer seen as 'weak' but is deemed 'being a responsible human being.'

[@peachishihara5885]

I giggled over the fact he “stole his son’s sailboat” to provide a visual. That’s so charming, and I just love the personality in moments like that. These videos offer a lot of knowledge, but they also offer a lot of much-needed focus for my mind

[@waterlinestories]

🤣👍🏻

[@bobcornwell403]

An excellent presentation. I did find one error. Wider beam does not lengthen the waterline. What wider beam does do is it improves the initial stability of the boat (from, say 0 deg to 30 deg of heel). This gives the boat the capability of handling greater sail area per given weight. Initial stability is different from ultimate stability in that it exists within a relatively small range of heel, where ultimate stability covers a much wider range but is generally not effective in granting sail carrying ability. In simpler terms, a wider boat is generally faster than a narrower one per given waterline length. This is especially true if the boat is light. Designers have a huge incentive to maximize initial stability while providing what they see as adequate ultimate stability. Back in the IOR Era, 110 degrees was considered sufficient ultimate stability. Now, I think that has been increased to 120 degrees.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks, that's helpful

[@angelachouinard4581]

Great explanation. Thank you very much.

[@PopularMonsterUSA]

How am I supposed to get any work done if I keep watching your videos? I just can’t stop. Thanks! 😂❤

[@waterlinestories]

Glad to hear you’re ‘ submerged’ or is that immersed. 🤣

[@PopularMonsterUSA]

@@waterlinestories Oh, you're good! 🤣

[@NiteCourt]

I really appreciate your effort to get everything right. It takes a ton of effort to do that like you do. I am never sure if there is a team working with you. If you do, my hat's off to all of you as well! I race sailboats on Lake Michigan, so I am fascinated with all your videos. I lost a fellow sailor and friend when he fell off his 38 foot boat racing in a solo race on Lake Michigan. People back then didn't use safety harnesses like we all should have. The ones around when he was lost, hooked to the lifelines. You had to unhook to pass each section. It wasn't something we could use to respond to problems quickly. Today I am hooked in to the cockpit, and can move easily on deck. The bar after the race, is where all the stories are told. Good times!

[@tamaramullen9036]

You have the most calming voice to listen to. I love the way you tell each story, I'm obsessed with this channel. ❤

[@waterlinestories]

🤣 thanks. I really appreciate that 👍🏻

[@wallacejeffery5786]

I live in Mobile, weather forecast was for horrible weather. Friends who did not race but anchored up , pulled anchors causing massive damage. These sailors had been thru numerous hurricanes. This is how dangerous this storm really was.

[@Team33Team33]

What a JOKE that people claim from the organising yacht club !!! When you enter a race in Europe you sign up for the race and take FULL responsability for yourself and your crew, as well as your craft. NOBODY forced you to step on your boat that day and race against anyone if YOU - as a responsible skipper - didn't want to. End of story. There is NO sueing the céun for bad organisation and certainly not for bad weather ! The only claim you can make against a race committee is about the International rules of sailing and possibly the rating they've given your craft. Gotta LUV the 'Mercan spirit. Truly awful.

[@AndyUK-Corrival]

I sailed many times with Glynn Charles when he moved from dinghies up to big boats. I was onboard when he did his first Fastnet and we won the RORC St Malo race overall by 9 secs on corrected time most likely due to Glynn’s amazing helming and never ending energy to win. A very sad loss to sailing and his family, every time I watch a documentary like this I remember the great times I had sailing with Glynn and how much I learned from him despite being several years his senior. RIP Glynn. Andy UK

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@seawench555]

Story 1: Commodore Gary Garner should have been held accountable for this terrible disaster, what person allows vessels to sail in that weather. Rip 🇦🇺

[@LindaYariger]

I'm really shocked at the selfishness. Maybe because this is a rich man's sport, with a high percentage of high-functioning psychopaths. The fact that it would be "shameful" to break radio silence and warn the others.

[@charonstyxferryman]

The skippers, i.e. captains, are responsible for the safety of the vessel and the people onboard a vessel, so Mr. Garner can't be responsible for sunken boats, damaged boats, injured people, and people lost at sea.

[@rossprentice4975]

Bullshit

[@SoloSailing77]

On Lake Michigan during the Chicago to Mackinac in 83, we were in 15 footers. We were surfing North near the Manitou Islands. Once between the Islands and Michigan Shores, we had a wind and wave switch. We had the back of the boat, stern, on top of a wave. Then we got hit by a monster wave on the bow, front, and it stood our 41 foot boat straight up on the nose. Face first knockdown. The mast actually touched the water in front of the boat. The violence of the boat righting itself was crazy. Waves are completely different on the Great Lakes. 15 footers on the ocean are long and smooth. I love being in the middle of any body of water. The views at night are unreal.

[@anja2716]

Fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed the meteorology lesson too.

[@waterlinestories]

🤣 good stuff. Hope all is well with you.

[@stevewindisch7400]

Just to keep perspective... According to US Coast Guard, power boats have about 8 times more accidents than sailboats, even after taking into account there are several times more power vessels than sailboats in the US ("per capita"). So if you want to take your family out on the water in safety, learn to sail ;) A 25 foot sailboat is a good place to start... fairly deep cockpit, the sails are easy to handle, and most can safely hold 4 people. They also usually have a small outboard motor, a VHF marine radio, and a "porti-potty". You can get going for less than $3,000 , and if trailerable, they can usually be hauled by a 6 cylinder vehicle.

[@samiraperi467]

Importantly power boats are much more dangerous to onlookers than sailboats are.

[@pforce9]

Power boats mostly have steering wheels which make people think that driving a boat is like driving a car and nothing could be further from the truth. Most people will not take a sailboat out without some sort of instruction but with power boats it is put the key in and go.

[@charonstyxferryman]

Planing boats are horrible in rough seas.

[@scarletsuzuki1390]

Then spend 10k on training, safety equipment and certificates. Don't just buy it and "figure it out"..

[@nancyjones6780]

The second story literally had my heart racing. I simply cannot imagine going through something like that. They had good foresight with the life raft!

[@juliatarrel1674]

My brother was invited to crew in the 'night Sydney-Hobart race. He decided not to, because his kids were very young. Best decision to make, I think.

[@ktktktktktktkt]

28:27 I wonder if he did his research. Sayonara is often translated as "goodbye" but there's a connotation that you're never going to see this person again... so not sure it's a good name to give to a yacht...

[@boathousejoed1126]

Never heard that before!

[@johnoneill5661]

It could be worse it could have been called Titan 1c 😬

[@foo219]

In my experience the name of a ship doesn't affect its seaworthiness, but it's worth researching

[@aprilt7080]

Yes, it’s goodbye in Japanese. But it’s something you say at the end of the day, which doesn’t mean you NEVER see that person again. More like “See ya”. If I were Larry Ellis, I’d say that at the start of the race. You’re not going to see me again till the finish! A darn good name for a fast racing boat!

[@seawench555]

Incredibly well presented, very informative and thourally researched, thanks for sharing 🇦🇺

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@aloysiusjones3985]

Sydney to Hobart one of our great traditions. RIP to those souls. Thanks for an informative and detailed presentation. 🇦🇺👍🍺

[@somethingelse4424]

I'm committing the sin of commenting before the video is over, but the prohibition on sharing weather data between boats seems irresponsibly dangerous. Sacrificing safety and human lives for the fairness of a little boat race.

[@chrisrailson24]

Seriously...that's like murder in a way

[@LindaYariger]

So commercial ships instantly relay info and rush to give aid. But in this rich man's sport, it's "shameful" to pass on weather data, plus people might lie to discourage competitors...

[@somethingelse4424]

@@LindaYariger It seems like they could just punish lying about weather data with disqualification instead of prohibiting the sharing of potentially life saving warnings. I suppose I won't waste any tears if rich people WANT to risk dying over something so foolish.

[@budgiefriend]

@@somethingelse4424 Do you really cry for strangers? Be honest.

[@somethingelse4424]

@@budgiefriend Figure of speech. Maybe if something particularly cruel and tragic happens to a stranger I might get misty eyed.

[@HotakaPeter]

Discription of length of waterline to speed was correct until the commentator said adding beam adds to hull speed. Incorrect. The hull speed is unchanged for a wider boat. What added width (beam) does is. (1) Increases righting moment, which is the resistance for the sails trying to lean the boat over and (2) Reducing draft for a given length and weight by increasing planform area. This in turn gives flatter hull sections and improves dynamic lift, aiding in getting a boat to plane.

[@00BillyTorontoBill]

correct !

[@REDRoverMike]

God I love listening to these stories while I work…… on the road. Not water lol

[@waterlinestories]

😂 drive safe

[@norbertschmitz3358]

Always suffered from seasickness.....became a hang glider and mountaineer instead. Gave it all up when my wife told me in 1983 i was going to be a father. Now I'm 68 and still alive! Cheers from Australia

[@gordonpeden6234]

As a yachting/Sailing "Tragic" Who lives in Australia. I love your forensic breakdowns. I've been in a couple of "Blows" But generally . When in doubt "I wouldn't put out" And I'm still here to tell the tale, with my wife and children too. Love your work BTW.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. Old sailors and bold sailors, not old and bold sailors.

[@SamBroadway]

This is absolutely fascinating coverage

[@waterlinestories]

👍🏻

[@dmmchugh3714]

Fastnet anniversary: 45 years next week. I don't know anything about sailing (and I'm afraid of the water), but shortly after this tragedy happened, I read about it in a Reader's Digest article. The story stayed with me all these years. Interesting to hear the event analysis in more detail than a simple article could provide.

[@briantremblay9157]

What a way to wake up on a saturday mooring!!! cheers

[@nicholasbell9017]

Mourning? Is this what they call a malapropism?

[@briantremblay9157]

@@nicholasbell9017 auto typo lol thanks for pointing it out lmao

[@koharumi1]

Lol it is Sunday for me here.

[@loobielou6965]

42 whole minutes 😍 yaaaas, Happy Weekend waterliners 💙

[@Roger_and_the_Goose]

I was living in Hobart during the 1998 Sydney to Hobart. About 2 days before this all happened, Hobart was hit by a massive electrical storm which produced flooding and damaging winds with lightning I've never seen before. The next day I looked on the SBS weather watch which covered the whole of Tasmania, and just off the east coast of Tasmania, there were 3 tornadoes clearly on the map. To this day, Bureau of Meteorology have never revealed any charts, maps or data (to my knowledge) over this period.

[@OEF-OFS-0331]

Water is an unstoppable force in the exact same moment that it is an immovable object in the sense that it has absolutely zero room for persuasion outside of the surface of your vessel. Fair winds.

[@aerotube7291]

Yes. Safety gear is absolutely essential too, you can't just hop out and walk

[@aerotube7291]

Great comment!

[@brianmcdermott5880]

The mother nature of run-on sentences. Thank you for that!

[@fatovamingus]

Poetic

[@allenfitzpatrick8485]

The Hobart race was a convergence of 2 low pressure systems.

[@billt6116]

as you look at the map of bass strait, You can almost see a funnel for wind coming from the West. Combined with the shoal against the surrounding seas spells "DANGER Will Robinson!"

[@scottmeredith3359]

I mean, how many times do you need to get pitch poled before you decide to ask for help? Insanity.

[@WeeJasperVetClinic]

I was a spotter on the aircraft searching in 1998, We took off from Albion Park. That same year sydney got hit by the worst hail storm of all time, ruining many roofs on houses. Costing more than any other disaster

[@mattilindstrom]

In story 2, having one's skull fractured by a can (even a large one) indicates the movements of the hull must have been extremely violent. A truly nasty situation.

[@sauter1]

29:40 "The boat starts heeling SLIGHTLY.." .. Demonstrates 60+ degrees of heeling! Lol..just messing with you. Your videos are very well done. :)

[@waterlinestories]

🤣

[@ExplainwithShaun]

Nice I had no idea you had this channel!

[@waterlinestories]

Hey bud. Yeah started a while back and it’s done pretty well. Hope you’re well. Have you been back to Malta?

[@ExplainwithShaun]

@@waterlinestories The last time I was there was 2019 Covid kind of got in the way 2020. I am in college now so I haven't had time to go back yet. Maybe in the next few years.

[@waterlinestories]

@ExplainwithShaun 👍🏻 what are you studying?

[@wazzazone]

I remember the sheer terror being reported about the 98 race sad.

[@davidferry548]

I realise you focused on the disaster of these races but if you want to read a master class on how to handle a light boat in extreme conditions read the story of IFR Midnight Rambler over all winner of that Syd Hobart. Just 35 foot long and handled with consummate skill by her crew, all sailors should read their story

[@waterlinestories]

Sounds good. 👍🏻

[@saym2756]

Would love to watch those success breakdowns. I remember reading the Pardey’s book on storm tactics years ago. And they were really big on heaving to. Do you know if boats did this in the Sydney Hobart race? I will look it up.

[@davidferry548]

@@saym2756 no, heaving to was not an option for that style of light yacht. Many got into trouble once they turned around and tried to run for cover . These were seriously big seas radar altimeters on rescue helicopters were regularly reading wave heights of 80 feet and these were often breaking

[@davidferry548]

@@saym2756 no wasn’t an option given the hull types proximity to a Lee shore etc

[@msnovtue]

Even as a very casual boater, I'll say it again: God bless the Coast Guard.

[@sandrakiefler4649]

Why in the freaking Hell would you either want to be the person that &/or want to have a person with you that has never been on a sailboat before’s first experience be during a damn race!? Like….WHAT!? So bizarre to me, but what do I know 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤨

[@alayneperrott9693]

My late husband, who was an expert in tropical climate change, was signed up to crew one of the boats that sank during the notorious Fastnet Race. Luckily, as it turned out, I had just been let down by a colleague who was due to help me with geological research in Mexico, a country he was unfamiliar with, and lured him to join my adventure instead. At the very least, he was saved a terrifying experience.

[@elizabethturner9671]

Me anytime a new Waterline Stories disaster, in my best Charlie/CritikalMoist voice: WOOOOO

[@waterlinestories]

😂

[@Team33Team33]

ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT EARLY ACCESS TO VIDEOS GIVES ME ????????? an anyone explain please.

[@GlendoveerEngineering]

Skippers have a resposability for crew. Choose the right boat and then contend with what the sea gives u. Storms are nasty especially in the atlantic but prepare for the worst and then you wont be caught out. Myself i flattened my yatch alone every season to test the boat. Maybe others should try same

[@YevonZ]

Almost expected the Donald Crowhurst incident to be included. Maybe a future ep?

[@waterlinestories]

Maybe a future one.

[@YevonZ]

@@waterlinestories wow thanks for replying. Honestly didn't expect you to reply. But the Crowhurst incident is a good story, even a couple movies made of it.

[@waterlinestories]

@YevonZ I didn’t know if it. It’s in the list now. Thanks for that

[@JohnSchofield-j4i]

S.A. Seafarer, L.M.Gemsbok? Two in Table Bay 1966 and 1975.

[@YevonZ]

@@waterlinestories hey no problem. Love your vids

[@420alphaomega]

Keep up the great work

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻

[@neilmccubbin4011]

Video omits to mention the the Grymalkin was found afloat after the storm. Abandoning was a panic driven error. Had the crew stayed on board they could have cared for the poor guy who died. Perhaps it would have been ineffective, but who knows Reading the full report in the race reveals that if liferafts had been prohibited, fewer people would have died. Major cause of death was getting into them or liferaft sinking when the abandoned mothership survived

[@pforce9]

I am disappointed. You missed the "Double handed Farallon race of 82. Start at the San Francisco around the island and back was the plan. A force 9 gale came out of nowhere. Boats were sunk and people died in that race. I was blown up on Duxbury reef.

[@kurotsuki7427]

Hey, maybe they will cover that later in another video

[@pforce9]

@@kurotsuki7427 We can only hope.

[@duncanidaho2097]

Wow I can’t wait to take boating classes, buy a sailboat and off to Hawaii from LA! Not really. Just as I wouldn’t take up rock climbing or wingsuit base jumping.

[@ln6455]

so many details yet I seem to have missed if you even mentioned who finished the race in Story 2, and who won????

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

Imagine naming a boat after a Witch’s familiar.

[@melasnexperience]

Maybe I'm landlocked and/or sheltered, but I'm genuinely surprised how many teenagers were involved in the first two stories. Is that a common thing, to have teenagers crew on sailing races?

[@DamianBlakeSailing]

It's a sport. If a kid loves a sport, we encourage them. How many Olympians are teenagers? My younger son started racing with me on bigger boats when he was 10. By 13, we were racing two handed on smaller boats and he was still racing on bigger boats doing passages.

[@Oodain]

I own an IOR designed 39 foot one off built by bjørn jive in 1995 They are very special boats to sail We reached 8 knots cross current ladt thursday in 20 knots of headwind

[@trayjosass]

Seth confessed alot during pascal he referred to the California law where he is 10 years older than Katie ( and she was a minor) felonie charges in Calif . He's just realizing now his own words are being used against him . Sad it's about finding his son .

[@idreamtiwasbackatmanderley414]

How come there has been no horrendous massive catastrophe during the Vendée Globe which is the longest distance 24 300 nautical miles ?

[@foo219]

Unfortunately it seems even the brilliance of ship designers and meteoroligists combined is no match for the lack of common sense of yachters.

[@charonstyxferryman]

That's a gross oversimplification. It's race skippers who has a different mind set than other yachties.

[@foo219]

@@charonstyxferryman You're absolutely right. I imagine that competitive spirit can really cloud one's judgment!

[@nigelbutler5040]

Sailing is much more dangerous than mountaineering.

[@franklinkz2451]

That’s almost 100ft tall! Holy Christmas!!!

[@mikehuff9793]

Dauphin is pronounced “DAW-fin.” At least that’s how us locals down here say it❤

[@ilkeravni4247]

I must admit this story saddened me brought tears to my eye's may god bless they souls. I dont understand why boats get disqualified for reporting heavy seas or wind, that rule cost innocent lives. I remember those events and the panic it caused but i didnt know about the silly regulations stupid regulations that cost so many innocent lives.

[@nicclark9791]

And you did not mention how Ted Turner never turned around to even try to save anyone...

[@mickroyton6447]

My nine metres trimaran logged 47.1 knots in the Iran Irac in Dr No matter where it was

[@ceddavis]

“Dauphin” is pronounce almost like the sea mammal (dolphin without he “l”). “Fairhope” is one word, not Fair Hope.

[@ALA9E]

So the olympian was a real hero

[@justinwalker4475]

Dam

[@pj2123]

I am normally a fan of this channel but I gave up on this video due to the over loud background music drowning out the naration. ☹

[@elitecol69]

It's amazing what some blokes will do just to get in the pants of a 15yo!

[@lisamiller6112]

This is a comment on your mindset, not his.

[@marklewandowski8474]

What?

[@TrillaCamX]

huh? Are you talking about the man and his daughter? did we watch the same video?

[@boitumelosekgothe]

Why do you use prioritize imperial measurements over the metric system? Your channel bio says the channel is based in Germany, and you clearly have a South African accent. Neither one of these countries use imperial measurements. This is baffling that you chose to prioritise your American audience.

[@aloysiusjones3985]

Because he is speaking to Americans, the rest of us have some small idea of 3/8 of 1/16 of an inch. Why you wouldn’t use metrication is baffling in itself. Cheerio. 🇦🇺👍🍺🍺

[@JohnSchofield-j4i]

But Bruce, your boat travels in knots(1,853m) You sound like a whinging Aussie. Because you lost in the rugger? ;-)

[@philippal8666]

Yes. Although fortunately he never uses yards… a yard is an area of land around a home. @waterlinestories why imperial? I do stuff in water and we use meters. For depth, for distance (then miles), but knots and nm are unique anyway. Masts come in meters…