Ken Read interview - part 2

Today the Stars & Stripes helm recounts the story of USA-77 sinking, AC sail developments and North Sails' role

Continued from part 1 yesterday.

While it is tempting to imagine Long Beach as having San Diego-style perpetually light conditions Ken Read says this was not the case and that almost every day they'd start out with 8-13 knots while in the afternoon a 20-21 knot sea breeze would kick in. "It's an amazing place if you want to go test - I was blown away. We didn't lose a single day due to no wind or too much or storms. I don't think it rained the entire time we were there."

It was of course during their training off Long Beach in July that USA-77 suffered a rudder breakage and sank. Read was on board U-77 (as the team have rechristened her) at the time.

"It was blowing about 21 knots. We were about to start speed testing. We had full sail up, there was a big bang, I looked over the side and there as the rudder... Robbie Myles jumped down below and came up looking a little pale and said 'we've got major water coming in'."

Fortunately their tenders came alongside in a matter of seconds and quickly loaded on board pumps and airbags that they carry for just this eventuality. But running pumps and the buoyancy of three air bags were not enough to counter the effects of gravity. "The guys did a great job steering the boat with the sails to make sure we didn't spin into a tack and possibly lose the rig. I just thank God, that no one was hurt and no one was trapped below when she went down, because, man, did she go fast."

U-77 disappeared below the waves in just 4.5 minutes. "Three of the guys stepped off the scoop straight onto the rubber boat as the boat disappeared under their feet, which was phenomenal." continued Read. "I was kind of ticked off I wasn't one of them - as it disappeared from under my feet, I jumped. But there was definitely some suction. The only scarey part was counting heads after everybody got to the rubber boats, because I knew Robbie and Greg and Del were down below pumping up airbags. Several people were running around screaming, 'it's going down - get out, get out.' But in the turmoil of the last 30 seconds or so you really just don't know if everyone's out or not."

The flood came about due to an 18-20in hole in the bottom of the boat caused by the breaking of the rudder 'box', so although no more details have been released it would suggest USA-77 has - or at least had - a bottom bearing that is of a bigger diameter than the stock.

Continued on page 2...

USA-77 is recovered from the seabed