The Marinervideo
Marine Accident Investigation | Roaring Meg of Cowes
26 November 2025 · 37 min · 26K views · Southampton Water
Yacht navigating Southampton Water with crew on deck
What this video covers
An IMX-38 racing yacht named Roaring Meg of Cowes suffered two accidental jibes in Southampton Water on 20 May 2006, injuring two crew members: one sustained multiple leg fractures from the mainsheet, and a second suffered a severe head injury when the boom struck her during the second jibe.1:33 Chris works through the UK Marine Accident Investigation Bureau (MAIB) report on the incident, adding commentary from his own quarter-million miles of sailing experience as a charter captain.2:45
The yacht, dry-sailed and just relaunched after eight months on hard standing, was carrying nine paying passengers on a sailing taster day run by Sail UK Limited.4:57 The nominated skipper was unwell and remained in his bunk; a replacement skipper — the company director, with only four years in professional yachting — took command.6:28 While tacking back toward the River Hamble in Force 6–7 gusting 8 from the west-southwest, the replacement skipper asked a day-skipper passenger to start the engine.24:42 That crew member's safety line snagged on the wheel, distracting the skipper at the critical moment; the first jibe followed seconds later.25:06 Concern after the first injury contributed directly to the second.28:24 Chris argues the mainsail should have been dropped after the first jibe, and that a preventer would not have helped given the point of sail.32:13 Distraction, inadequate boat preparation, and a skipper whose experience was insufficient for the conditions combined to turn a routine day sail into a serious accident.
Boats in this video
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