On Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:58:06 -0400, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

Sailing is a serious
business and people ignore that fact at the peril of their very lives.

That's certainly a true statement but racers are notorious for cutting
corners with respect to safety in my opinion. I raced for many years
but tried very hard to ensure that we were properly equipped and in a
suitable boat. Unfortunately the trend is towards lighter boats with
greater sail area. That unquestionably creates a faster boat that is
more fun to sail in average conditions but the ability to self recover
from a capsize is seriously compromised.

The boat that capsized is a Kiwi 35, an ultra light design that relies
on hiking wings for stability. It has been controversial for many
years and this time people got caught off base. The race organizers
are partly responsible for allowing the boat in the race. Offshore
events like Newport-Bermuda have much stricter standards and would
never have permitted it.

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2004/images/fun%20in%20the%20sun.jpg

http://sailboatdata.com/imagehelper.asp?FILE_id=3879