Cheeki Rafiki

History
United Kingdom
NameSailboat Cheeki Rafiki
OwnerFast Sailing Ltd
OperatorStormforce Coaching
Port of registryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Shoreham-by-Sea, UK
RouteAntigua to Southampton
Ordered2006
BuilderBénéteau
LaunchedDecember 2006
In serviceDecember 2006 - May 2014
FateLost her keel mid-ocean, capsized and eventually sank
StatusSunken in mid-Atlantic
General characteristics
Class and typeSailing yacht Bénéteau First 40.7
Tonnageapprox 15.54 gross (est.)
Length11.92 m
Beam3.78 m
Draught2.4 m
Decks1
Propulsion1 Diesel Engine
Sail planSloop, sail area 74.89 m2
Capacity12

Cheeki Rafiki was a Bénéteau First 40.7 sailing yacht. The yacht lost her keel about 720 nautical miles Southeast of Nova Scotia and subsequently capsized. Rescue services found her upturned hull before it sank but the crew – four English men – were never found. Her sinking on May 16, 2014 resulted in an extended debate over the safety of modern sailing boats.