Cheeki Rafiki
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Cheeki Rafiki |
| Owner | Fast Sailing Ltd |
| Operator | Stormforce Coaching |
| Port of registry | Shoreham-by-Sea, UK |
| Route | Antigua to Southampton |
| Ordered | 2006 |
| Builder | Bénéteau |
| Launched | December 2006 |
| In service | December 2006 - May 2014 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Sailing yacht Bénéteau First 40.7 |
| Tonnage | approx 15.54 gross (est.) |
| Length | 11.92 m |
| Beam | 3.78 m |
| Draught | 2.4 m |
| Decks | 1 |
| Propulsion | 1 Diesel Engine |
| Sail plan | Sloop, sail area 74.89 m2 |
| Capacity | 12 |
Cheeki Rafiki was a Bénéteau First 40.7 sailing yacht. The yacht lost her keel in the Atlantic Ocean about 720 nautical miles (1,330 km; 830 mi) southeast of Nova Scotia, Canada, 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.