Sad day for sailing, today during training on San Francisco Bay, Andrew "Bart" Simpson died after the capsized boat's platform trapped him underwater for about 10 minutes shortly after 1 p.m.

Andrew, from Britain, was crewing as strategist for Artemis Racing (Sweden), he won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and gold medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

More info on the America's Cup Site.
http://www.americascup.co…ize-ac72-during-training

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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ugh... ;-(

Sad day indeed, there is a decent abc news from frisco out there. Very sad, he leaves behind a toddler.... R

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Lake Perry KS
H-18
N-5.5 UNI +spin
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Wow, just yesterday I was trying to scare my wife about pitch poling with youtube videos and now this. What kind of boat was he on?

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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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AC 72

Quote

What kind of boat was he on?

Sad indeed, should remind us all that the sport we love comes with real risks.
Know and mitigate those risks

It should be this class, just not on the foils

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6dnOlE9sjk

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Jim
New Orleans

'83 H18 SX mods 2013 -
'65 Lavey Craft 2005 -
'69 Cal 25 1997 - 2001
'80 P16 1980 - 1996
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Artemis didn't foil, I am not sure what that has to do with it.

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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Quote

It should be this class, just not on the foils

Why not on foils?

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Rob
OKC
Pile of Nacra parts..
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This is one of the Atriums boats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYDCoMXo_rc

I don't think cup boats are allowed to foil in competition, I am just not sure I haven't followed the Cup in years.



Edited by shipchips1 on May 10, 2013 - 01:30 PM.

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Jim
New Orleans

'83 H18 SX mods 2013 -
'65 Lavey Craft 2005 -
'69 Cal 25 1997 - 2001
'80 P16 1980 - 1996
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I am not up on the rules but why would they all be using foils now if they aren't allowed to race with them?

shipchips1

This is one of the Atriums boats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYDCoMXo_rc

I don't think cup boats are allowed to foil in competition, I am just not sure I haven't followed the Cup in years.Edited by shipchips1 on May 10, 2013 - 01:30 PM.

shipchips1

This is one of the Atriums boats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYDCoMXo_rc

I don't think cup boats are allowed to foil in competition, I am just not sure I haven't followed the Cup in years.Edited by shipchips1 on May 10, 2013 - 01:30 PM.

they are allowed to foil but Artemis's foils did not work

The rules were written to not allow traditional foils, over these boats foil around that rule. Foiling is allowed, the rules just tried to prevent it.

The Artemis 72 could not foil.

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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OK, this thread was simply for morning the loss of a fellow sailor.

I'll start another thread to discuss the America's Cup rules.

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Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

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wired http://www.wired.com/auto…3/05/americas-cup-crash/ has a pretty good story as does sailing anarchy. this is very unfortunate. sympathy for the family, team, and fellow AC sailors. it is a knife edge when you push the physics and technology boundaries. these guys are like the astronauts or test pilots. where do you think the Nacra Carbon 20 was birthed? much respect to all AC designers and test pilots.

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nacra inter-18
CNBP
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Damon your right,

I didn't mean to negate the loss of a fine sailor and from all accounts a gentleman. This is a tragic and very sad loss, I am sure we are all praying for his family at this time.

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Jim
New Orleans

'83 H18 SX mods 2013 -
'65 Lavey Craft 2005 -
'69 Cal 25 1997 - 2001
'80 P16 1980 - 1996
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An important lesson to learn from it is that he was trapped under the wreckage for 10 minutes. This is why I use Bethwaite Trapeze hooks on my Tornado. They are ball & socket type--no hooks on the wearer. 6 or 7 cat sailors have died being trapped under turtled cats. Doug Skidmore of Hobie Cat I am told had a near tradgedy some years ago. Pete

i do not think that he was wearing a trapeze.

It was a tragic day for the sport and Andrew Simpson will be missed. This tragic event brings to light the stronger importance of maintaining a boat and not pushing beyond limits. The Artemis AC72, version 1.2, was not designed to foil, but the crash was caused by a fracture in the forward beam. It is painful to know that Artemis had similar cracking issues with the main beams a few months ago and had thought to had fixed them. When a boat is pushed as hard as these are, stresses on the boat are tremendous and a simple failure in a beam could end in a catastrophic crash, this time taking a life with it. Always maintain your boat and never sail when structural integrity is in question. This event could very well mean large changes for the America's Cup to ensure the safety of the competitors. The AC72's are wonderfully pushing technology, but how far is too far.

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AJ Sawyer
Nacra 20
San Diego, CA
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Sad days for the sport, sobering...
Whether he was or was not wearing a trap, Pete's advice is well taken.
Sail safe, God speed all.

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Mooched Beachcats in the past
Time to try ownership with Nacra 5.7
Port Clinton, Lake Erie Islands, Ohio
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Quite possibly my worst fear is to be trapped under a turtled cat. I think I'll find a good line cutter or chisel point knife, tarps and lines are cheap comparitively.