One classic keelboat sank this afternoon, a 1936 Victory, sail number Z15. Owned and skippered by Gareth Penn, Dunlin sank 200 metres off the North Gurnard Ledge. The young skipper described the incident:

“We were running downwind in a following sea and decided to drop the kite. We gybed, however the boom caught the backstay, with the main backed, the boat broached, taking on water and sank within just a few seconds. We were picked up by the yacht Tudor Rose and transferred to the Meridian TV boat.”

He continued, “We are in discussion with the insurers in an effort to have the boat raised… It seems one gybe in a victory and it’s all over.”

A Daring named Dreamer, sail number DAK36, also sank this afternoon. The crew were rescued by RIB.

A Sonar, named Puff Pirate with four crew onboard, including one blind and one disabled crewmember, capsized. The disabled crewmember, Martin Chesire was taken off the boat and to hospital as a precaution. The blind mainsheet trimmer, Dennis Manning took charge and sailed the boat and two remaining crewmembers back to Cowes. Martin Chesire is now back in Cowes, determined to be sailing again tomorrow. He described the incident as “avoidble, caused not by gear failure” rather, “reaching for a Mars Bar at the wrong moment.”

Picture: A Mermaid suffers a broken mast