New video features sailboat doing a 'death roll' in the southern Ocean
Digital Reporter
Friday, March 27, 2015, 3:55 PM - Terrifying new video from YouTube shows a boat participating in the around-the-world Volvo Ocean Race in the midst of a 'death roll' during harsh weather in the Southern Ocean.
The video was taken earlier this week when the MAPFRE team's boat performed an involuntary 'death roll' or 'Chinese gybe'.
Two other teams in the race performed the scary maneuver this week as well -- causing some damage but no injuries, according to race officials.
MAPFRE team member Liu Xue said he "felt like he was on the Titanic" when the roll happened, according to the race's website.
"Hopefully it’s not going to happen that often, otherwise I’m not sure if my heart is strong enough,” he added.
A death roll is defined as "a strong squall violently swinging the boom to the other side," The Volvo Ocean Race website says.
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"The main sail slams over, the boat ends up in the water with the keel on the wrong side keeping it on its side."
It turns out the maneuver didn't slow the team down: MAPFRE is currently sitting in first place, with Team Alvimedica not far behind.
When the weather conditions calmed down, the racing boats deployed research buoys to collect data for climate scientists.
Sources: Mashable | Volvo Ocean Race
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