sailinghigh

Possible I agree but 16ft seas and the wind strength at that reported time 50 mph blowing. Perhaps trapped with the air pocket. Just a coincidence the USA waited 48 hrs approx. the time before they mounted the search. The time the PLBS where flat. The next on kin complained why did they wait so long. They uscg had the last lat long co ordinances but claim could not hom. Pure speculation on my part I must admit.

Thanks all you guys - valuable information and very educational. The moral on the story re Cheeki Rafiki the Young Skipper obviously did not know all this info and the passed history re the design. The bilge pumps obviously where insufficient like most sailing, and motor vessels. My experience with vessels I have crewed on, visited and during discussions I have determined most vessels seem to have bilge pumps with less than a total capacity 1000 gph, with a lot having only 500 gph & 750 gph. This is mainly due mainly due to expense and thinking a major leak will not happen to

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27462450

US Navy finds wreck of missing yacht Cheeki Rafiki Saturday 24 May 2014 "The US coast guard has confirmed the life raft aboard the capsized sailing vessel Cheeki Rafiki was secured in its storage space in the aft portion of the boat, Friday, indicating it was not used for emergency purposes. It said a US navy warship helicopter crew discovered the overturned hull 1,000 miles off Massachusetts. A close inspection of the debris confirmed the identity of the yacht, which had been flooded. It said: "The swimmer determined the boat's cabin was flooded and windows were shattered,