Lessons from the sea: Elfida’s close call and the Swiss Cheese Effect
Ron Parker writes…
I’m writing this piece on Remembrance Day – a time of reflection that coincides with the news that Elfida’s repair is complete, with a plan for relaunch on 14th November. The purpose of this account is to share the incident as an educational experience for the Club.
Setting sail in the Solent
At the beginning of September, four of us set out on Elfida for a couple of days of local sailing in the Solent. I was the skipper and had arranged the trip a few weeks prior, guaranteeing at least one crew member. I hadn’t sailed a Club boat since May, after enjoying a couple of weeks in Southern Ireland on Jocalia. Aware that I also hadn’t sailed Elfida since last season, I initiated some Club sailing in August, managing three days at sea to get back up to speed with the boat.
The weather was poor when we mustered – heavy rain and a decent, but possibly variable, wind forecast, with gusts up to Force 6. The various weather apps were inconsistent about where the narrow trough of low pressure would settle as it moved through the area. After weighing up the possibilities, we decided to set off towards Cowes with the tide and reassess our destination at that point, depending on conditions.
There was no rush, so I carried out a fairly thorough briefing, particularly highlighting the major differences on Elfida, especially her reefing system, as I planned to use the second reef. With that, we slipped our lines, passed through the lock, and were on our way.
Once clear of Portsmouth, we set a two-reef main and a suitably rolled headsail. The boat made good progress towards Cowes, where the weather started to clear, and the wind eased. With a good tide under us and improving conditions, we decided to press on to Lymington.
When the holes in the cheese line up
At this point, we began shaking out the reefs. The genoa was easy, but Elfida’s main reefing system has a lot of friction, so the process took longer than expected. Three of us were focused on this when the helmsman – always in sight of Gurnard North Cardinal Mark (NCM) – made an error in judgment about which side to pass.
At the same time, the wind eased to light and as it veered through about 90 degrees, reducing our apparent wind and slowing our speed through the water. Our proximity to Gurnard NCM became hazardous. I made the call to start the engine, but the helmsman’s unfamiliarity with Elfida and the difficulty of access for another crew member meant the engine wasn’t started in time.
A loud crunch followed as Elfida struck the buoy on her starboard quarter. The 1.5 to 2-knot tide swept us past, leaving us all a bit shocked. The helmsman was understandably distraught, and after quickly assessing the situation, I made the call to head into Cowes to take stock.
Assessing the damage
Once inside the harbour, we picked up a mooring buoy and inspected the boat. Surprisingly, there was no evident damage to the gelcoat in the impact area, although inside the cabin, there were signs of movement in the starboard aft hanging locker. Nothing like a cup of tea to settle everyone down. Over a brew, we discussed our next steps and agreed that, since there seemed to be no structural issues evident, we would continue to Newtown Creek (now a nice NE wind) for the night.
The next morning, we returned to Port Solent, where Madge Marine staff met us on arrival. They examined the boat and confirmed that a more detailed inspection was required.
The Swiss Cheese Effect
In aviation (and increasingly in medicine), accidents are often analysed using the Swiss Cheese Model. Each slice of cheese represents a safeguard – procedures, experience, teamwork – but if the holes align, an incident can still occur.
In this case, we identified two key failures:
- Engine start procedure – I failed to highlight the starting procedure and the possible difficulty of access in my briefing.
- Crew assumptions – Another crew member, who had noticed the developing situation, failed to alert us in time, as he felt that such an experienced helmsman must have the situation under control.
Repair and relaunch
The survey and repair of Elfida were carried out by Madge Marine. Although the gelcoat surface looked undamaged, there was some disruption to the furniture inside, indicating a significant impact and possible distortion of the structure.
The gelcoat was stripped back, the hull examined, and a new lay-up of fibreglass applied. The boat was then recoated, painted, and polished before the cabin furniture was rebuilt. Each stage was documented and photographed. Some of the images make you wince, but the final result looks as good as new.
A collective lesson
Collectively we apologise to the Club for taking Elfida out of service for two months. We all agreed that this was a team failure. As a crew, we have decided to share the insurance excess between us, and more importantly, to share this account so that everyone in the Club can learn from it.
Sailing is a shared responsibility. No matter what role you play on board, your awareness and communication can make all the difference. Let’s all take these lessons forward into our next adventures, ensuring our fleet remains safe at sea.
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