It's hard to believe. But boats sometime, err, sink. Case in point, the recent J24 Nationals. Here's what happened:

"On the last day of the 2005 J/24 U.S. National Championship regatta (Sunday, May 22), a 37-knot puff tossed the boats around like toothpicks. About six boats were knocked on their sides by the gust, two fully capsized, and one of those two, the Magic Hat of Snohomish, WA, turned all the way over and sank. None of the crew of the Magic Hat were injured, and rescue boats were on the scene before Magic Hat went down."

And here are the pics snagged by Scott Wirs, of Rhumbline Photography...

"I read somewhere that sailing on your side reduces drag..."


"Hey, guys! Hiking this far out of the boat is definitely illegal..."


"Heh-heh. If I can just snag that life ring, I'll be able to hold quite a profitable little auction right here in the water..."