Cheeki Rafiki: safety lessons 

Safety lessons from the loss of the yacht Cheeki Rafiki and her four crew

The RYA welcomes the conclusion of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigation into the loss of the yacht Cheeki Rafiki and her four crew whilst on passage from Antigua to the UK in May 2014.

Over the course of the past year, the RYA has provided information and assistance, working closely with those involved and other organisations, and speaking to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Government, to actively contribute to the MAIB investigation following the tragic incident.

In the absence of survivors and material evidence, the causes of the accident remain a matter of some speculation. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch believes that the yacht capsized and inverted after the keel became detached. 

It is thought that past groundings and ensuing repairs to the keel and matrix may have weakened the yacht’s structure where the keel joined the hull.  The deterioration of one or more keel bolts is also possible.  A loss of structural integrity may have enabled movement of the keel which was made worse by the deteriorating sea conditions.

There are opportunities to highlight important safety messages following the tragic loss of Cheeki Rafiki and the MAIB has highlighted a number of key points:

• After all groundings there should be an inspection for possible damage by a suitably competent person
• Be aware of the danger of keel detachment and have procedures in place to reduce the risk - particularly with vessels of bonded matrix construction
• Ocean passages require comprehensive risk assessment and contingency planning
• Due to the SAR limitations presented by ocean passages consideration needs to be given as to how the alarm will be raised
• When on a long passage consideration needs to be given to the location of the liferaft to ensure it is available for use in the event of a catastrophic event

The loss of the four yachtsmen was deeply felt by all those who go to sea and our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of the missing yachtsmen.

The full MAIB safety flyer is available on the MAIB website.

Read more safety information.