Yacht Club to hold Inquiry on fatal race

4:21 AM Thu 19 Nov 2009 GMT

'Carbon fibre from Andrew Short Marine Shockwave 5, washed up on Corrimal Beach with Towradgi Point in the background. Flinders Island is seen on the horizon, just under the sunlit storm clouds.' Peter Andrews

After the tragic deaths of sailors Andrew Short, the owner/skipper of Andrew Short Marine and crew Sally Gordon, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) Board of Directors has resolved to hold an inquiry into the incident that occurred during the Flinders Islet Yacht Race on 10 October 2009.

Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Retired) has accepted the invitation of the board to chair the 2009 Flinders Islet Inquiry Committee. Other members of the committee include Past Commodore John Brooks and Past Commodore and current ISAF Treasurer David Kellett AM.

In an official statement the CYCA said 'In accordance with the terms of reference, the inquiry may seek input from various parties including, but not limited to, the crew of competing yachts, members of the race committee, the Bureau of Meteorology, emergency services involved in the incident, and such other persons as the inquiry sees fit. The inquiry may also receive written submissions.

'On behalf of Rear Admiral Oxenbould I now invite members of the CYCA who wish to provide a written submission for the consideration of the inquiry committee to do so by close of business 4 December 2009.'

Written submissions can be posted to:
The Chairman
Flinders Islet Race Inquiry
Cruising Yacht Club of Australia
1 New Beach Road
Darling Point NSW 2027
Or send via email to: flindersislet.inquiry@cyca.com.au

Flinders Island near Wollongong - Google Earth

The Inquiry Committee has been requested to provide an interim report by 12 December 2009 and its final report by 31 December 2009. This would mean that if the interim report recommended a simple to implement tightening in offshore safety equipment or procedures that could be possibly implemented in time for the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race.

by Sail-World.com