VOLVO OCEAN RACE INDEPENDENT REPORT INTO THE STRANDING OF VESTAS WIND The Vestas Wind Report (Version 1.2) An Independent Report that was convened by the Volvo Ocean Race following the stranding of the yacht Vestas Wind on 29 November 2014 on the Cargados Carajos Shoals 240 nm north east of Mauritius while competing in the 2014 – 2015 Volvo Ocean Race round the world. Chris Oxenbould, Stan Honey and Chuck Hawley 31 January 2015 0 Cover photo: Credit: Shane Smart/Volvo Ocean Race 1 Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 2 List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................................. 8 Report Team ....................................................................................................................................... 8 DEDUCED FACTS ...................................................................................................................................... 9 The Race .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Race Organisation ............................................................................................................................. 11 VO 65 – One-design Concept ........................................................................................................ 12 Race Control .................................................................................................................................. 13 The East African Exclusion Zone.................................................................................................... 14 The Boat – Vestas Wind .................................................................................................................... 17 How the boat was raced ............................................................................................................... 18 Navigation setup onboard ............................................................................................................ 19 What happened to Vestas Wind – The Incident ............................................................................... 21 Cape Town to the Grounding ........................................................................................................ 21 The Grounding .............................................................................................................................. 23 The Night that Followed ............................................................................................................... 25 Abandoning Vestas Wind and the Rescue .................................................................................... 28 Emergency Management .................................................................................................................. 29 Experience of Other Yachts in the Cargados Carajos Shoals Area .................................................... 31 ANALYSIS and FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................... 32 Why did Vestas Wind run aground ................................................................................................... 32 The Reason Why ........................................................................................................................... 32 General Navigation ........................................................................................................................... 33 The Quality of Hydrographic Survey ............................................................................................. 34 Passage planning ........................................................................................................................... 36 Multi-Functional Display ............................................................................................................... 40 Radar ............................................................................................................................................. 42 Depth soundings ........................................................................................................................... 42 Visual lookout ............................................................................................................................... 44 2 The boat’s organisation ................................................................................................................ 44 Electronic Charts and Navigation Software Systems ........................................................................ 45 The types of Electronic Charts ...................................................................................................... 45 The supporting Navigation Systems.............................................................................................. 48 What was presented at the Cargados Carajos Shoals .................................................................. 48 What is required of a Chart Display System ................................................................................. 52 Current Developments and Opportunities ............................................................................... 52 What’s Next............................................................................................................................... 54 Some Suggested Guidelines .......................................................................................................... 54 Race Organisation – Administration, Procedures, Documentation .................................................. 55 Notice of Race ............................................................................................................................... 56 Resources Available to Race Director ........................................................................................... 56 Conduct of the Race .......................................................................................................................... 57 Changes to the Sailing Instructions ............................................................................................... 57 Shorter Port Stays with Increased Commitments ......................................................................... 58 Emergency Management .................................................................................................................. 58 Safety Equipment and Stowage ........................................................................................................ 58 Crew Report .................................................................................................................................. 59 LFP Batteries ................................................................................................................................. 59 Crews –Numbers and Training .......................................................................................................... 59 Numbers ........................................................................................................................................ 59 Safety at Sea Survival Training ...................................................................................................... 60 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 61 Navigation Practices .......................................................................................................................... 61 Electronic Charting ............................................................................................................................ 61 Matters Relating to the Conduct of the Race ................................................................................... 62 ANNEXURES .......................................................................................................................................... 63 Annexure A ........................................................................................................................................ 63 Terms of Reference – Volvo Ocean Race Independent Report into the Stranding of Vestas Wind ...................................................................................................................................................... 63 Annexure B ........................................................................................................................................ 65 Report Team – Short Resumes...................................................................................................... 65 Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould AO RAN (Rtd) ........................................................................... 65 3 Stan Honey ................................................................................................................................ 65 Chuck Hawley ...........................................................................................................................