Ten Too sinks after collision in Passage Race

Greg Cooper and Peter Southwell’s Adams 10 ‘Ten Too’ from Victoria sank approximately 10 nautical miles after the start of the Passage Race at Audi Victoria Week today following a collision with a second competing yacht.

Robert Tanner, the owner/skipper of a third competing yacht, Alegria 2, a Dufour 40 from Victoria, saw two yachts in difficulty and went to investigate.

“I saw ‘Ten Too’ and ‘Magic Bullet’ (Leo Cantwell’s Cavalier 350SL) locked together and one of the guys asked me to call the rescue authorities,” Tanner said this afternoon.

“I realised then that ‘Ten Too’s bow was stuck in the side of Magic Bullet. I called the Coast Guard, who in turn called the Water Police. We stood by with another boat, Highland Fling (Alex Parker’s Feeling 346 also from Victoria) until the Water Police arrived,” Tanner confirmed.

Tanner went on to say: “I saw all six crew from ‘Ten Too’ jump aboard ‘Magic Bullet’ and what seemed like a minute later, ‘Ten Too’ sank, approximately four nautical miles off Point Cook about two hours into the race.

“All the crew were fine; there were no injuries and accompanied by the Water Police, we all went back to the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria at Williamstown,” said Tanner, who subsequently retired from the race, as too much time had gone by.   

The owners of ‘Ten Too’, Greg Cooper and Peter Southwell, were unavailable for comment this afternoon.

Audi Victoria Week at: www.victoriaweek.com.au

Di Pearson, Audi Victoria Week media