If the frontal area of the rig had been factored in, says the report, the Lloyd's Register calculations would have decreed that her main and secondary anchors be 80% heavier at 1080kg and 756kg.

The boat's heaviest anchor was just 600kg.

The boat's designer, Ron Holland, shot the IMMA report down in a personal response that points out that while DNV was the classification society for the boat, Lloyds rules had actually been used for her anchors.

"It was clear to me during the Mirabella V design process that DNV anchor requirements, being less than Lloyds requirements, should not be incorporated, " says Holland's response, "and with 20:20 vision we look smart to have specified anchors and chain based on Lloyds rules."

Holland says her anchors are perfectly capable of holding in the wildest conditions: "I've been aboard Mirabella V off Corsica and Sardinia solidly anchored in over 50 kts gusts."

Skipper Johnno Johnston also came in for criticism in the IMMA report for deciding too late to move from a lee shore and for not paying out more chain as the conditions deteriorated.

Talking to the Yachting World website, the owner's son, Joe Vittoria Jnr, said: "If Johnno didn't take all prudent measures last summer, he sure is now! That event has left a scar on him that will never go away and he will be a better captain for it."

BBwonders which portion of Johnston's anatomy shows the greatest scars?. .

Holland's response concludes: "The bottom line is that if Mirabella V had been anchored with greater anchor chain length (or deployed both anchors with 5:1 scope), it is very unlikely she would have dragged her anchor".