S/V Cynthia Woods Investigation Status Report

Crew of S/V CYNTHIA WOODS Steven Guy, Jim Atchley*, Joe Savana, Travis Wright Steve Conway, Ross Busby, Roger Stone *Former coach, not a crew member. August 1, 20082SO Report to BOR

Investigation Plan 1. Preserve the Evidence 2. Test the Evidence 3. Analyze the Evidence 4. Report Findings August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR3

Investigation Plan 1. Preserve the Evidence DONE! 2. Test the Evidence 3. Analyze the Evidence 4. Report Findings August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR4

Regata de Amigos S/V Cynthia Woods starts the race at approximately 1:00PM on Friday, June 6, boats started the 630 nautical mile (725 mile) race from Galveston, TX due South to Veracruz, Mexico. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR5

Inverted Vessel Showing Missing Keel June 10, 2008 photograph of S/V Cynthia Woods’ hull. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR6

Salvage Operation in Freeport, TX On June 10, 2008, T & T Marine Salvage hauls out the S/V Cynthia Woods for temporary storage at the Freeport Launch Services, Inc. facility. After multiple inspections, on June 20 th the boat was moved to a storage facility in Galveston. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR7

TAMUG and T&T Locate Keel On June 19, 2008, TAMUG employees aboard a T&T Marine Salvage vessel use sonar to locate the keel at 28º 29.42’ N LAT/94º 58.67’ W LON, about 32 miles SE of Freeport, TX. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR8

Boats Secured in Warehouse On June 20, 2008 the S/V Cynthia Woods and its keel were stored in T&T Marine Salvage’s Galveston warehouse. On July 14, 2008, the S/V George Phydias was moved to the same location. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR9

SIAD Preserving Evidence u Conducted 30 interviews of university staff and student offshore sailing team members u Analyzed all expenditures for the S/V Cynthia Woods & S/V George Phydias u Responded to hotline reports u Reviewed offshore sailing team’s processes and procedures u Reviewing Applicable Sailing & USCG Guidelines for Best Practices August 1, SO Report to BOR

OGC Preserving Evidence u Coordinating the internal investigation u Gathering over 2,900 documents u Coordinating salvage, transport and inspections of the S/V Cynthia Woods and her keel u Coordinating activities involving all interested parties, including their attorneys and marine experts August 1, SO Report to BOR

Interested Parties u United States Coast Guard u Texas Parks & Wildlife Department u Stone Family Representatives u Texas A&M University at Galveston (owner) u Bruce Marek (designer) u Cape Fear Yacht Works (builder) u Payco, Inc./Galveston Yacht Service (ship yards) August 1, SO Report to BOR

Investigation Plan 1. Preserve the Evidence DONE! 2. Test the Evidence IN PROGRESS! 3. Analyze the Evidence 4. Report Findings August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR13

USCG Requested Destructive Testing On July 1, 2008 all interested parties met with USCG to develop a protocol and take core samples of the boat to send to a lab for testing. This process took two 10-hour days. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR14

Cooperative Effort USCG had a private marine expert present to oversee the taking of samples. All interested parties’ marine experts worked together to develop a sample protocol. USCG logged almost 30 samples. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR15

Developed Lab Testing Protocol On July 3, 2008, USCG personnel and marine experts for the interested parties worked five hours to draft a four-page letter of instruction to the lab. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR16

Lab Analysis u 16 samples were collected and sent to a lab for testing. u Lab is tasked with conducting physical analysis to determine: measurements, fiberglass to resin ratio, laminate schedule, and material identification. u USCG anticipates results in several weeks but will not release the results to all parties until its report is published. August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR17

Investigation Plan 1. Preserve the Evidence DONE! 2. Test the Evidence IN PROGRESS! 3. Analyze the Evidence 4. Report Findings August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR18

Brendan Dobroth u Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from University of Michigan u 28 years designing, building and racing sailboats u Boats with his keel designs have won Etchells World Championship, Dragon World Championships, and Olympics u Structural Engineer for Maxi yacht Condor, Cornwall, England; the only two-time winner of every major ocean race August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR19

Investigation Plan 1. Preserve the Evidence DONE! 2. Test the Evidence IN PROGRESS! 3. Analyze the Evidence 4. Report Findings August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR20

Report Findings u USCG will publish a report finding facts and drawing conclusions u USCG has not indicated when the report might be completed u A&M System will issue its report after the issuance of the USCG report August 1, 2008SO Report to BOR21

Ongoing Activities u Assisting USCG u Working with marine engineer/naval architect retained by A&M System u Identifying best practices & documenting areas for operational improvements u Drafting portions of A&M System report not dependent on release of USCG’s report August 1, SO Report to BOR