T&T - NewsUnsinkability - Practical test with a flooded Etap

Fridtjof Gunkel

 · 18.04.2007

Plus: What to do in the event of water ingress

It is well known that the Belgian series yachts are unsinkable. However, the shipyard managers' demands go further: the foamed ships should still be able to sail properly when flooded.

After all, you can then actively get out of danger and head for a harbour without outside help. YACHT has tried it out and sailed across the Kadet channel between Warnemünde and Gedser with a full Etap 21i. Here are some tips on what crews can do in the event of water ingress and what equipment is useful.

Now in the new YACHT (first day of sale on 18 April)

Fridtjof Gunkel

Fridtjof Gunkel

Deputy Chief Editor YACHT

Fridtjof Gunkel was born on Helgoland in 1962; he started his sailing career there in the Opti and quickly switched to keelboats. North Sea Week, Cowes Week and Kiel Week were early stops, followed by many years in the Admiral's Cup scene on the cuppers “Container” and “Rubin” World Championships and international regattas in the Starboat, with the mini-maxi “SiSiSi” and various tonner yachts as well as participation in the Whitbread Round the World Race were further formative stations, flanked by extensive cruising trips. Fridtjof Gunkel joined YACHT back in 1985 as part of a traineeship, where he later became Head of the Test & Technology department and then Deputy Editor-in-Chief around 25 years ago. He is also responsible for the regatta and sports section. Fridtjof Gunkel privately sails a performance/cruiser moored on the Baltic coast, his favorite areas are the eastern Swedish archipelago and Brittany.

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