Keel failure for new Farr X2

The Farr X2, the newest project by Farr Yacht Design to serve the short-handed market, had sought to be a thoroughbred race boat.

Built in Singapore by XSP, the first hull was launched in Australia in May, but while completing an overnight offshore qualifier off the coast of New South Wales on July 2, the keel attachment for this boat failed resulting in a capsize.

Named Nexba, the 9.2 metre boat was sailing into a building breeze and significant sea way at the time of the incident. As reported on the sailing team’s Facebook page, the boat has made landfall in Coledale at Sharkey’s beach (see photos).
——————
Here’s the statement from the company on July 4, 2022:
We are very thankful that the two crew were safely recovered and for the swift action of the Royal Australian Navy Destroyer HMAS Brisbane for rescuing the sailors in very challenging conditions.

Attempts are underway to recover the vessel to allow a thorough investigation process into the cause of this incident.

We take the safety of all the crews who sail on boats of our design very seriously and our design team is working with the builders, component suppliers and the composite structural engineers of to identify the root cause and to implement any necessary design, material or build process changes required to insure this cannot happen again.
——————
Here’s additional comments from the racing team:
As our close followers may be aware, team ‘nexba’ capsized in the very early hours of Saturday morning (July 2). The team was completing a 100nm qualifier and had left Pittwater early Friday afternoon to be back in Pittwater by early to mid-Saturday morning.

Around 1am on Saturday morning, as the team made their way home to Sydney in light to moderate breeze and 1-2m seas, the boat capsized. After spending 15 hours drifting out to sea with the upturned vessel, the team was rescued and are now safe on land, and have recovered in hospital with minor injuries.
——————
Hull # 2 was shipped to San Francisco for the 2022 Pacific Cup race to Hawaii but is no longer listed as an entrant. At least eight boats have been sold.