1. Knockdown and Capsizing of the Sail Training Yacht Concordia off the coast of Brazil 17 February 2010

2. Jonathan Seymour, Member of the Board Paulo Ekkebus, Investigator-in-Charge Abigail Fyfe, Naval Architect & Senior Investigator Pierre Murray, Manager of Marine Investigations, Atlantic Region

3. Sail Training Yacht Concordia

4. Occurrence Voyage Cold front forecast 300 nm SSE off Rio de Janeiro 4

5. Sail Plan 5

6. Handover of the Watch Sail plan good to 40 knots Bear off and run before any squalls Call master if weather posed a risk 6

7. Animation 7

8. 8

9. Difficulties During Abandon Ship Launching liferafts Exiting vessel on its side Unable to transmit distress alert Accounting for complement 9

10. Post abandonment Emergency beacon located and verified Difficult conditions in raft: –seasickness –high winds and waves overnight –water in the bottom of the rafts 10

11. Search and Rescue 11 Time Time after knockdown Event 1525:54 17 Feb +1 hourBeacon’s position confirmed 0806 18 Feb +17 hours JRCC Halifax receives fax from MRCC Brazil 0900 18 Feb +18 hours JRCC Halifax contacts Class Afloat and attempts beacon’s contact number 1930 18 Feb +29 hoursRafts spotted by SAR plane

12. Search and Rescue All survivors were rescued some 41 hours following knockdown 12

13. Weather Analysis 13

14. Squall Defined 14

15. Probable Wind Speed No observed wind speeds in excess of 50 knots No observed air temperature change Weather system weaker than a microburst (Environment Canada) 15

16. Stability Assessment Initially – no obvious cause for knockdown Required – detailed stability assessment Good data available – ship’s plans, stability book and a video Assessment – computer model, calculations performed & validated Details of assessment in occurrence report 16

17. Vessel Stability Limits All vessels have stability limits –Examples: Too much cargo Cargo stowed too high 17

18. Sailing Vessel Limitations Wind 27-37 knots Heel 70 degrees

19. Guidance Information 19 “Stability book” provides guidance for crew Sailing vessels require safe operating limits while under sail

20. Concordia’s Stability Limits Concordia had guidance information on board Maximum safe heel angle in gusting conditions 24 degrees Minutes prior to knockdown Concordia was sailing at 23 degrees 20

21. Squall Curves-Margin of Safety 21 Concordia’s “squall curves” provide safe wind speed information Concordia’s margin of safety decreased as squall approached Vessel was at risk and action was required Officer of the watch not aware of this information

22. Findings as to Cause Concordia was vulnerable to a knockdown The officer of the watch was unaware, unfamiliar, and untrained with squall curves Risk not recognized and no timely mitigating action taken to: –Reduce sail and/or change course –Make the vessel watertight 22

23. Findings as to Risk Knockdown preparedness Equipment familiarization EPIRB registration Search and rescue issues Safety management systems 23

24. Safety Issues Identified Many flag states do not require squall curves (or equivalent) on sail training vessels Officers are not required to be knowledgeable in the use of squall curves 24

25. Recommendation 1 - Canada The Department of Transport ensure those officers to whom it issues sailing vessel endorsements are trained to use the stability guidance information that it requires to be on board sailing vessels. 25

26. Recommendation 2 - International The Department of Transport undertake initiatives leading to the adoption of international standards for sail training vessels on the provision of stability guidance to assist officers in assessing the risk of a knockdown and capsize, and for the training of officers in the use of this information. 26

27. Action Required Squall curves (or equivalent) should be available on all sail training vessels All officers should be trained in their use 27

29. Knockdown and Capsizing of the Sail Training Yacht Concordia Off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 17 February 2010