1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground off San Francisco

Status
Not open for further replies.
Feb 26, 2004
23,004
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground during race o

Conditions yesterday from the marine forecast: WNW wind 20 to 24 kt, with gusts as high as 31 kt. Sunny. Mixed swell...W 7 to 8 ft at 13 seconds and WSW 2 ft at 15 seconds. Wind waves 4 ft building to 7 ft.
 
Jul 8, 2011
704
Catalina 30 Sidney B.C.
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground during race o

10 Ft waves and they got hit by a larger wave
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,004
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground during race o

The "mixed swell" is a giveaway. It was a washing machine out there, with swells coming from two directions.
 

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground during race o

It is SO hard to steer in those conditions.
 
May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground during race o

Sad news. It is a shame but this can be a dangerous sport. I know of sailors who were lost at sea in the Chesapeake Bay during the Governor's Cup. Tragic events.
 

higgs

.
Aug 24, 2005
3,708
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground during race o

Life is dangerous.
 

LuzSD

.
Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground off San Franc

so sorry to read this; there have been some very very windy and nasty water conditions down here south of SF. I wondered often this weekend how many of the scheduled races were cancelled. But....as stated above, this is sometimes a sport of danger. Hoping for the best outcome possible in this tragedy.
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
1 Dead 4 missing after yacht is rolled by breaking wave

Not a grounding, this was a knock-down by a breaking wave. Poor odds swimming in 10 ft. waves on a rocky shore. Hypothermia in the mix.
 
Mar 14, 2012
131
Beneteau Oceanis 40CC Brisbane, CA
Not a grounding, this was a knock-down by a breaking wave. Poor odds swimming in 10 ft. waves on a rocky shore. Hypothermia in the mix.
To be fair, no one knew exactly what happened when this thread was started.
 

RECESS

.
Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground off San Franc

The wave size must have really jumped up in the hour since that video was taken.
 
Oct 26, 2008
6,243
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground off San Franc

A case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time? It sounds like the location of the surf was a factor that they were definitely conscious of. But sets of waves can break further out and it sounds like they may have been cutting too close to the inside. The fact that 4 of them washed into the rocks so quickly seems like an indicator that they were very close to the surf zone. Trying to make up time by rounding the island too close would be a bad combination. The very nature of the race seems to place safety in some jeopardy - rounding a rocky shoreline with high surf ... these conditions must be common for this race. Seeking that edge where safety and the clock conflict. It's a hard lesson to learn ...
 

RECESS

.
Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
Re: 1 dead, 4 missing after yacht runs aground off San Franc

I think the real lesson here is owning a safety harness and not wearing it in rough conditions is not a good practice. One I am very guilty of doing. We got caught in a bad storm and all I asked my wife to hand me was the wet weather gear. By the time it got to the point I NEEDED the safety harness, I would never have had my wife come up to the cockpit to give it to me. Now I keep the harness next to the wheel.

When you need it, is the wrong time to put it on.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.