The Match 42 had been afflicted with keel problems before this race and all 10 that had been built at that stage were recalled for extra laminating and steel backing plates for the keel.

Bavaria has now recalled all 150 Match 42 and Match 38s for modifications and reinforcement of their hulls in the keel area.

Now things have got messier, with statements being issued by both the chartering company, Adriatic Challenge, and Bavaria.

After Bavaria had insisted the boat must have been grounded to cause the keel to drop off, the skipper at the time and all the surviving crew members submitted sworn testimony to the effect that they had not hit anything or damaged the boat in any way.

Adriatic Challenge then commissioned its own survey of the boat. One finding was that "the bottom section of the yacht as found did not have sufficient strength in the areas designed to take the forces generated by the keel".

Bavaria dispute this and other findings of the survey and has issued its own statement claiming, among other things, the boats conform to ISO 12215-1 Small craft - hull construction - scantling - Part 1-6. Other Bavaria counter claims ask why the keel has not been recovered and examined.

Bavaria also alleges 14 out of the 19 boats in the charter fleet showed signs of grounding, which "must not be ignored".

Julian Gowing, managing director of UK Bavaria importer, Opal Marine, told BB : "Bavaria is a manufacturer. J & J designed the boat. Bavaria built the boat to the design and stress calculations of the designer and IMCI checked the production facilities."