Serious injury to crew is possible due to the swift and uncontrolled action of the boom and associated gear sweeping across the boat and crashing to the (now) leeward side.
[1][better source needed] For dinghy sailors, a death roll is a common type of oscillation while running downwind.
While on the dead run, off the wind, the force exerted by the sail lies almost parallel to the center line of the boat.
IOR (International Offshore Racing) boats in the 1970s and 1980s were known for death rolls due to their small mains that made them unbalanced downwind.
Additionally, as their speed increases on the broad reach, their apparent wind changes to allow them to point lower.