Images of wrongside-up Groupama 3, the huge trimaran seeking to break the Jules Verne around the world sailing record, are pretty much everywhere in the sailing and mainstream press now. But inquiring minds want to know -- why was the 105-foot boat, which was halfway though its record breaking attempt, only 85 miles off the coast of southeastern New Zealand when she flipped?

The good news is that the 10-man crew were successfully airlifted from the capsized boat to the relatively nearby city of Dunedin where all were reported in good shape. The strange news is that the boat, which was only 24-hours ahead of the current record holder's pace, made an abrupt change in course the day before the capsize. That change took them almost due north, away from the shortest easterly route around the globe. That course change also brought the boat close to the New Zealand coast.

Crew reports from the day before the wreck explained that the change was necessary to minimize the boat's exposure to large seas (20 to 25 feet) and strong winds (40-plus knots) they were experiencing south of New Zealand. But questions have been raised as to whether the crew knew that the boat was in potential trouble and were heading towards an easier rescue.

Which raises a really troubling question. Position reports from Groupama 3 appear to show the boat getting very near the safety of Dunedin. The course then changed back to the east to continue the pursuit of the around-the-world record. After the course change, and after many miles, came the structural failure which led to the capsize. Could the dramatic and heroic rescue of 10 sailors off the coast New Zealand have been averted by prudent seamanship?

Inquiring minds want to know...

Image: Courtesy of Groupama 3.