What Happens When an Incident Occurs

A keel incident that involves fatalities, has a newsworthy search and rescue component or is in a prominent race (ie Sydney Hobart) is likely to attract attention and be reported via the incident reporting options. The same keel incident where there is no loss of life, the crew are rescued in a short time frame, and the boat is competing in an offshore club race is likely to attract minimal attention. Same keel failure different result.

Add in cruising boats with no reporting obligations outside possibly collecting insurance and we are not learning much about keel failure through incident reporting.

What Should Be Reported

Australian Sailing’s Special Regulation 2.02.5 see Further Reading outlines the types of incidents that should be reported if doing so may improve safety incorporating keel failure but not groundings.

This reporting pathway takes you through to World Sailing and facilitates the setting up of a committee to investigate via World Sailing criteria World Sailing (WS) and Australian Sailing (AS) via “Incident Reports.” – WS Incident list See Further Reading (1)(2)

The incident system cover all forms of sailing incidents in all types of boats. This system is far from adequate in properly investigating keel failure specifically and is only likely to attract profile incidents as discussed above.

This movie clip is from Geoff Van Gorkom from Van Gorkom Yacht Design LLC . USA. http://www.vgyd.com/ He has given us permission to reproduce here on RWS Sailing Safe. “I put together for a talk at the New York Yacht Club several years ago. It’s a compilation of clips and photos from some of the more infamous keel losses. Perhaps you can use this as well.”

Geoff wrote the article in 2013 “Keels are Falling Off” and it was published in the Scuttlebutt magazine. It is one of the best articles on forces on the keel and technical data in a easy to understand format. Further Reading

Reporting Pathways

Depending on the type of vessel and incident, reporting may follow different routes:

• Sanctioned racing events → AS/WS Safety Reporting
• Cruising or recreational vessels → NSW Maritime Incident Form (PDF)
• Commercial vessels → AMSA Incident Reporting

But none of these systems specifically track keel failures or consolidate data to improve design, inspection, or maintenance standards.

Where the System Falls Short

1. Limited Scope of Reporting

Only incidents tied to sanctioned races under WS or AS are routinely captured. Cruising yacht incidents—often just as serious—fall outside this framework unless voluntarily reported.

2. Underreporting Is Common

It’s estimated that only one-third of keel failures are reported. See Further Reading Many incidents go undocumented unless they involve fatalities, insurance claims, or media coverage.

• Groundings are rarely reported unless they trigger a rescue or insurance process.
• Owners may avoid reporting to protect reputations or avoid scrutiny.
• Boatyards are not required to keep public records of keel repairs or failures.

3. No Centralised Follow-Up

Even when inspections are mandated—such as after groundings in Category 1–3 races—there is no compulsory reporting, record-keeping, or follow-up system.

Overall, therefore, we are not gaining an accurate indication of the extent of keel failure, number and nature of groundings and damage incurred, from most boat owners from any of these sources in the absence of mandatory reporting.

Further Reading

Australian Sailing Special Regulation 2.02.5

World Sailing Reporting

Incidents World Sailing

Incident Australian Sailing

Why Do Keel Failures Happen … Yachting World

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