Ken Read interview - part 2

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

When she sank the bow sustained some damage. "We might have hit bow first, because it definitely Titaniced - the rudder came up, the bow went down," says Read. "But it was only in 50ft of water and if you think about it, the bow pointing down is already more than half to the bottom. So it couldn't have hit that hard. I was just blown away by how fast it sank. When it went the mast was hauling arse. It goes faster than you think..."

Fortunately there was no damage to the all-important keel/mast structure. "The main structural area was fine. The mast jack tension was to the pound of where it was when we started. That was the first thing we checked while the boat was sitting on the bottom. We went over to the shrouds and had a feel - they were bone tight and it was 'pheeww - at least we've got a structure down there.'" It has just been announced that New England Boatworks are to construct a new bow for her.

Continued on page 3...

Up periscope! U-77 emerges from the bottom of the Pacific