Source
ADSWNJ🇬🇧•

Makes sense to me. You have basically lost the race if you capsize these boats, and you clearly need to gift the race to the opponent, and then get everybody to assist.

18
blitzkrieg9•

In 2017 when NZ capsized this was the case. The lead boat stopped foiling and instructed their chase boat to immediately assist.

But, even then, they drove around for 10 minutes before the RC cancelled the race.

This rule change is long overdue.

13
NellyG123•

The article says that the designs were originally designed to be self righting, just how feasible is that without a heavy keel like a traditional monohull sailboat?

8
i_just_peed_myself•

The foils and foil arms are still quite heavy. The boats can and have self-righted by lowering both arms all the way down. American Magic was likely not able to self-right because their electronics stopped working when they took on water. At no point after the crash do you see the foils moving under their own power.

14
Stuman-•

I am not an expert but if they cant both foils down I would think it would probably right itself. The article seems to hint that it was tried and didn't work. Either way, the teams probably chose not to do it because of possible damage and to check for damage as to not make something worse after a capsize.

8
Upstairs_Rain3121•

The Kiwi boat came right back up a few weeks ago, but they lowered the foil and weren’t sinking.

6
JamieLambister•

Have another look, it didn't self-right, it was towed forward which I presume provided the righting moment on the starboard foil

5
Upstairs_Rain3121•

I hadn’t noticed that. I also heard an interview with the Ineos team. Their protocol to get the boat up is to tow with the chase boat.

1
Dwight_js_73•

No way around it, you need weight to bring the boat upright. I'm not sure how self-righting would help in a case like American Magic anyway since the boat had a hole in it.

5
Mutant321OP🇳🇿•

I believe the self-righting system was only designed to stop the boat from tipping below 90 degrees after capsizing. But this article seems to contradict that...

5
shakawhenthelolsfell•

From Article:

The new safety rule will see a boat instantly ruled out of the race the moment it capsizes to allow quicker rescue assistance.

6
awesomesuperballs•

I'm more interested in hopefully seeing Course E at some point. The wind can absolutely rip through that area and the swell can be deceptive. The currents are more predictable in that area and the wind shifts won't be quite as severe, but it will still be a tactically challenging course.

3