MAIB report on loss of Yacht Ouzo

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has issued its report on the loss of three lives when the yacht Ouzo, a Sailfish 25, sank without trace approximately 6 NM south of St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight. The report's main conclusion was that the yacht was involved in a collision or near collision with the P&O ferry Pride of Bilbao.

The report is available from the MAIB website at http://www.maib.gov.uk and should be read in full. Among the issues discussed are the following.

• The intensity of yacht navigation lights, particularly if the lens has become crazed.
• The possibility that photochromic spectacle lenses, worn at night, may significantly reduce the wearer's ability to spot lights, and the possibility that these effects are exacerbated by the age of the spectacles.
• The scientific evidence for a 15 minute adjustment before effective night vision is achieved.
• The problem of small yachts' radar cross section, even with a standard octahedral radar reflector properly fitted in the catch-water position, being such that they do not shown on big ships' X-band radar with automatic clutter control, when there is a sea running.
• The desirability of yachts carrying handheld water-proof VHF sets, EPIRBs and hydrostatically released liferafts in order to improve the chances of survival following a catastrophic event, such as befell Ouzo.