Here's another item from last June's Marion to Bermuda Race (accompanying picture shows Marion Bermuda racer Will Taylor taking a sight during the race). Race participant Sheldon Brotman, who sails aboard his boat Whisper, provided us with a breakdown of broken gear suffered by race participants. This is an informal list he compiled from walking the dock.
"In my dock strolling talking I have found:
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1. Many sail failures- blow out heads of mains and blades
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2. Rig failures- one goose neck failure
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3. Hydraulic cylinder failure
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4. Steering sheave failure of attachment
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5. A lot of water intrusion
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6. One bilge pump failure (outlet- clog)
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7. Two toilet seat failures
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8. Many tri-sails that did not work
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9. One boat pulled out — due inability of crew to tolerate heeling — they were afraid the boat would fail?"
