“Look, over there!” one crew shouted and pointed as the skipper maneuvered our bow in their direction. When we got close enough we threw lines over their shoulders and were able to drag the soaking sailors around to our swim ladder and help them climb aboard. First thing one said was, “My dad, my dad, he’s still out there.” Their boat, a 20’ sloop, had been blown over and took on too much water, sinking under them. The waves blew them quickly away, but their dad had tried to stay with the boat. Turning our boat to search the waters we soon discovered the eight feet of their mast, with sails still attached, sticking out of the water, but dad was nowhere to be seen. The look of despair on faces was heartbreaking. We continued to crisscross the area in vain, though we saw three others in the water being recovered by another boat. I retrieved my phone from the bag below so our survivors could make contact with family. Soon we got a call back and learned the news that their dad had been picked up and all were safe. Everyone celebrated with hugs all around and we continued up the bay toward home base. Later, when I drove our survivors back to the island to rendezvous with their family, we learned that others were not so fortunate. It was reported that 10 boats sank this day and six recreational sailors lost their lives. The media coverage was relentless, each insinuating there should be someone or something to blame. I was interviewed as were several other race survivors, but I tried to emphasize that all of us who sail know that we take risks every time we untie the lines from the dock, and this day, Mother Nature was letting us know who is really the boss. If there are any lessons learned, one is that those personal flotation devices we so often have hidden in a seat locker are there for a purpose, and there is no such thing as being over prepared for the worse nature can throw at you when you are on the water. Our prayers and sympathy go out to the families of those who perished this day. If there is any consolation, they were all doing something they loved, that made them feel alive, and made their lives more fulfilled.
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Cruising Outpost 139
7/30/15 12:36 PM