Summary
On 12 June 2019, Blackwell Sailing’s self-righting RS Venture Connect keelboat sail number 307 (RSVC 307) capsized and inverted while sailing on Windermere, England. The boat was crewed by an experienced disabled sailor at the helm and a local sailing instructor who was acting as crewman.
Having been knocked down by gusty winds, RSVC 307 initially lay on its starboard side with its two crew still in their seats. The boat’s liftable keel then slid back into the hull, following which the boat inverted completely, trapping the disabled helmsman under the hull. The crewman was able to swim clear, but with the keel retracted he was unable to right RSVC 307 unaided.