Comment on Sydney to Hobart tragedy: Two dead after being hit by sail boom

DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

• jam12705@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  My suspicion is that the wind suddenly changed direction and caused the two vessels to jibe unexpectedly. If you’ve ever been sailing, an unplanned jibe is very violent and fast, causing the boom to rip from one side of the boat to the other. Unfortunately it is easy to get whacked by the boom in that situation and is extremely dangerous.

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  • DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Not a sailor so excuse my ignorance. But do they wear helmets? Is the boom padded?

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    • RubberElectrons@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      No to both, questions are always welcome.

      Only on larger ships of yore would the sail be above head level, death by sail concussion was a problem on smaller board for millennia.

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