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Fastnet Yacht Race (4/6)

This is also part of this series: Surviving Disaster (6)

Subjects: Disaster Preparedness, History, Ocean, Sports, Weather

Grade Level: SrH-Adult
Producer: BBC
Closed Captioned: No

Running Time: 60 mins
Country of Origin: Great Britain
Study Guide: No

Copyright Date: 2006
Available in French: No

In August 1979, a Force 10, 60-knot storm slammed into 303 yachts taking part in the Fastnet Race. Helicopters and lifeboats struggled to rescue the sailors for 20 hours. Matthew Sheehan survived, but had to watch powerlessly as his father was swept away by the storm. The 600 mile Fastnet race began in fine weather, but became a terrifying ordeal for the men and women sailing in it.

Three hundred yachts set out, but a transatlantic storm hit the race and scattered the yachts in mountainous seas. Crews faced impossible conditions as a force 10 sixty knot storm swept across the Atlantic, slamming into the fleet. For 20 hours, sailors were smashed by breaking waves, while rescue helicopters and lifeboats struggled to save them.

Surviving Disaster reconstructs this dramatic race, based on first hand accounts of a variety of eye-witnesses, including the crews on board two small yachts - a father and son and a group of friends - who battled desperately to survive in the treacherous seas.

It was the greatest disaster in the history of yacht racing. Fifteen people died and 24 crews abandoned ships. Seventy seven yachts capsized and five yachts sank. Only 85 boats finished the race.

The programme looks at the aftermath of the race, which raised many safety issues, with the Royal Ocean Racing Club made many changes to its rules for offshore racing as a result of the lessons learned.

PLEASE NOTE: The series contains some disturbing and graphic images.

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