Capsized Boat

I was reading this article about this person's boat capsizing and self-righting afterwards. I am not much of an sea/ocean expert, so can someone explain why and when these boats capsize, they don't sink. I would imagine that they need to be kept very watertight. Looking at some of the photos on the Vendee Globe website, these boats look to be a fair size and look like they would sink if the capsizing does any damage to the integrity of the boat's structure.

Sailing alone for 46 days in the gruelling Vendée Globe round-the-world race, Mr. Hatfield's boat – the lone Canadian entry in the prestigious contest – capsized in heavy seas off Tasmania. Mr. Hatfield spoke to The Globe and Mail by satellite phone en route to Australia for repairs on his damaged boat. Here's how he described the experience:

Full news article here.

I am far from being a sailor, but my guess would be air trapped in the hull, and possibly built in buoyancy. I once read a book 'bout a group of guys to set out for New Zealand from OZ in a triple cat sailboat. Somewhere out there they rolled it over, ended up living in the upside down boat for something like two months before floating ashore back on OZ. They even cut holes in the "bottom" of the boat so that they could to into the hull and then back out on "deck"...

Most boats that I have experience with have all cavities in the hull filled with foam. If every open space in my boat was full of water, it would still float. Granted, there might only be an inch or two of the hull above water, but it wouldn't be on the bottom.

Welcome Newguy!

I used to work the oilfields too, hot dirty work...

Thanks.

Not too hot up on the Slope right now...

Probably not!!!

Self righting technology in Naval architecture involves the use of watertight 'voids' or compartments near the keel ( cold,bilge water accumulating compartments 6'2" californians barely fit in to repaint under the guidance of bigoted oregonian senior petty officers.)and the use of lighter, ie aluminium superstructures.
Older designs, like USCG 36535, my first 'command' employed a heavy, solid bronze keel paired with a double ender design and LOW CIG that took real genius to capsize in the first place.
They retired that boat on me, sent it on display with credit to another station and gave me a lousy 44' MLB- which I did in fact flip when the port engine head cracked. It seems this senior, oregonian petty officer forgot to connect both hot starts.then I was senior to him, and HE painted voids, another self righting feature of staying level headed in adversity or storms.

As a disclaimer,so asnot to get Old Man Neptune mad at me, ALL ships CAN SINK.It's a simple matter of putting enough stupidity in command to outwiegh anything that would normally float.

As single-handed racers of substantial length, these boats do indeed have voids filled with foam for added buoyancy. Being sail boats their keels can way as much as the boat itself. Hence the self-righting ability. Most skippers when they do go below do close the hatches during bad weather. This would prevent some water from coming in and swamping the boat. Evidently, as part of the training on the boat he did have it capsized with a crane to experience what happens. Never been that kind of situation but similar ones at the hands of others.

Anyone visiting Washington State should visit the lifeboat school on the Columbia. Rolling a boat is an experience few have, and fewer want to repeat. I think the record was 3 complete rolls in a 44' the local navy submariners were very boastfull of wht their 'boats' could do. Then they were taken for a 'ride.'

Chris:

Thanks for the info on capsizing. Is the lifeboat school...specifically rolling the boat open to public? I would try something like this, but only once....

No, it's not open to the public,,,,,and no, you don't want that thrill because you won't necessarily be breathing afterwards!!

A Surfman's job and training is not for thrills, or the foolhardy.

Thanks Wildman.

Please note I said that "I would like to try this" Would and could are two different realms. I would like the chance to try something like that, but could I actually do it if ever given the chance...thats completely different!!

Sons #1&2 were looking at the USCG until they saw a special on the newest MLB's and the things trainee's got through in school. Both are now looking at USAF.

I was about to yak just watching, I cannot fathom (ha how about that turn of phrase) enduring that pounding at the mouth of the Columbia (i think).

The older 36' MLBs had a forward cockpit in the bow for a crewman to pass lines and use grappling hooks . It was aptly named 'the glory hole' and an old initiation was sitting in it going over the Bar and getting a real 'watering down' party now done with 3.2 beer.
My misadventeure happened when one engine died with a cracked head just as I was going into the bar. We fell off heading and I was reversing engine and spinning helm when the equivelent of wet cement at speed hit us. You are in a wet suit, Bell motorcycle helmet, MK 1 lifejacket and survival belt with knife etc.You are at least buckled in with 3" aircraft grade webbing. You can't move, if you have any air in your lungs you're lucky and it's totally dark and cold.It's seems to last an eternity, but you pop up ( hopefully) in a matter of seconds as the boat self rights.
My 44' did, though the radar array was shorn off, the safety cage behind my seat was twisted like a DNA helix and my swimmer was in shock with a broken collarbone. My engineman had something crack his helmet but was conscious and I had what turned out to be a hairline skull fracture.
Then we finished the SAR by towing the disabled fishing boat out beyond the bay and wait for a helciopter medivac from Astoria and our sister MLB to come out.
Somebody decided a QM really belonged on cutters and not MLBs and I got transferred to a icebreaker and a southpat. Then somebody decided Northwest Lifeboat coxswains should be designated 'surfmen' with a pin, an a insult to our mates on equally dangerous coastlines elsewhere.
So, months later I'm digging on whales and icebergs when the 'Old Man' hands me my surfman pin. We weren't big on formal ship's assemblies, given the weather and all. He pins it on me, we exchange salutes and a handshake. Then he kind of looked deep into my eys. 'Kav, promise me you won't try any MLB stunts with my cutter,o.k.?'

I've been slowly building a R/C U-boat for our local, man made lake.I figure I can sit at the landing, drinking beer and eating calamari while terrorizing the local electric boat Ancient Mariners.
It's much safer.

Not an actual ride on one of their boats, but you can contact their PAO (I don't have the link handy, but if you do some googling you will find it). I had an appointment set up for a tour of their facility and a boat, had to cancel due to my bum shoulder...

OBG, you were smart.
Anybody who shows up at a CG station with a bum shoulder, but standing upright longer than 5 minutes is going to get a recruiting pitch.

"...get a recruiting pitch..."

Please tell me that the Coasties are not in such bad shape that they would want an old bald guy, with a bum back, bum shoulder, bum ears, who can get seasick pretty easy!!!

I lost the name and e-mail address of the PAO, but here is the link for the [url=mailto:D13-SG-NMLBSInstructors@uscg.mil]instructors[/url] at the USCG motor lifeboat school in WA.

And if you want to see what they do, go here for some videos...