Why Small Sailboats Are Outlasting Big Yachts

For decades, size and luxury were sold as safety at sea. Bigger hulls, deeper keels, more systems — all meant to promise strength.
But real-world data tells a quieter story.

In this documentary-style analysis, we break down why small, simple sailboats routinely outlast much larger yachts. Using physics, fatigue mechanics, maintenance realities, and historical case studies, this video explains why simplicity survives — and why complexity often fails under long-term stress.

00:00 – Why bigger yachts promise safety — and why that belief persists
01:30 – How the industry equates size with strength
02:34 – What “strength” actually means at sea
03:18 – Load paths, fatigue, and why simplicity matters
04:26 – Why small boats absorb stress better over time
04:35 – Inspection and maintenance: access vs neglect
05:07 – Crew workload and physical limits on large yachts
06:24 – The mathematics of size, weight, and force
07:15 – Failure cascades and why big systems fail harder
08:03 – Draft, inertia, and loss of tactical shelter
08:25 – Ownership costs and deferred maintenance risk
09:35 – When repair economics decide survival
10:35 – Case studies: Cheeki Rafiki, Fastnet Race, and Suhaili
10:59 – Why endurance favors simplicity

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