A video now shows very clearly that the new way of sailing, on foils and at top speeds, also creates new dangers for the crew members. During training, the Oracle Team USA catamaran dived from the foils into the water during a manoeuvre and braked abruptly. Grinder Graeme Spence, who was about to change sides in front of the mast, was thrown forwards overboard and fell between the hulls.
Man overboard at Oracle Team USA
"Not a good feeling," says Spence, "when you know that all four foils are in the water." With the centreboards bent inwards and T-profiles on the rudder blades, it could easily have happened that Spence would have been caught by one of the appendages. Considering the narrow profile and still high speed of the boat, it's hard to imagine what could have happened, despite the impact protection waistcoat.
But Spence had a guardian angel, fell rather centrally between the hulls and remained unhurt.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
