OzOne wrote:
From the article.
The supplier of the hydraulic cylinders that controlled the canting
keel on Skandia in the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race was found to have
breached their contract and supplied inadequate hydraulic cylinders
for the duty specified by the yacht’s designer.
IOW, the yacht designer did not have the necessary knowledge to design
the rams.
He instead gave a duty spec to the experts (the ram suppliers and
their engineers) who supplied rams that did not meet the duty spec.


Well, I'm not trying to be a jerk, but how did they know
that the spec was not exceeded by the stresses on the boat
in the storm?

The only way to be sure the rams were strong enough is if
the boat's hull broke around them.

This is a matter of professional interest for me.


Oh and it's not about deep pockets.
Skandia was built using Wharro's own money, he sold his house to
complete the yacht which was uninsured.


Right, I read the same... now *that's* devotion. I hope he
manages to get the yacht sailing again.

The 'deep pockets' phrase refers to lawyers (at least here
in America) going after the richest target to sue; not
necessarily the most culpable party if they have fewer
assets to plunder. For example, don't sue the MacDonald's
counter help for serving coffee so hot that it causes severe
burns if you're clumsy enough to spill it on yourself... no
no, sue the MacDonald's chain corporation. It happens in
medical suits, also.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King