2 die as boat capsizes in Race to Mackinac

[BiscuitintheBasket]

2 die as boat capsizes in Race to Mackinac: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-mackinac-capsize-20110719,0,7253916.story





In short, it was a fucking freaky ass storm and microbursts abound out there when this hit. I was well ahead of where this incident took place, but still encountered 50+ mph of downdraft and every fucking direction wind along with hail. Couldn't see 20 feet in front of you...They saw worse.



The boat that capsized was of a type that is designed for bouy (course), races that I usually loops of of shape and 3-5 miles in length. They had no chance in this storm on this race...in a course situation you are usually 1-4 miles from a harbor, and would have plenty of time to get back to shore before the shit hits the fan.



But, they did do the correct thing in that situation, it just turned out for the worst. One thing they did, that most don't, is they had personal location devices. Essentially a small transponder for the body similar to the one for the boat. They are not cheep, but never regret that I ponied up for one, especially now as that was the only way anyone knew what had happened at that moment. It most likely would have been hours later otherwise.



Most of the boats that went to the aid of the capsized boat were from my section I raced in for the past 6 years, and a couple of the boats turned back to help. Good thing that is a very competitive section with tons of very capable people, but I could only imaging trying to pull 6 people out of the water in those conditions....let alone find them at night.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Not our boat, but this will give some perspective on what was going on.



[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Bc2oFPMH4[/media]

 

[bri]

I was worried about you. I asked in the status the other day if anyone knew your name cause I wanted to make sure it wasn't you, but nobody responded so I asked Hawkmod on the OBoards. Glad you're OK, but sorry for the tragedy.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Not our boat, but this will give some perspective on what was going on.

Glad to hear you are okay. Sad to hear about this story. The video above puts it in perspective.



Twice, while offshore fishing, I have experienced sudden storms that were very harrowing. One time included two water spouts, one off each side of our boat. Another included 12 foot swells driving against them and a rogue wave washing over the top of the boat while descending a wave. Not pleasant experiences and certainly quite humbling.

 

[MassHavoc]

Just a random question and I mean nothing by it because this is a horrible thing, but didn't they have any idea the storm was coming? Or any safe guards against this sort of thing? I guess though in an event as massive as this you kinda have to just do what you can and push forward.

 

[IceHogsFan]

Just a random question and I mean nothing by it because this is a horrible thing, but didn't they have any idea the storm was coming? Or any safe guards against this sort of thing? I guess though in an event as massive as this you kinda have to just do what you can and push forward.

Ever wake up in the morning and hear a weather report stating there is a chance of severe storms? Sometimes there and sometimes there are not. Personally speaking, with the right conditions some of these storms can become very intense in a very short span of time not leaving much of an opportunity to get to cover. Depending on the vessel you are in you may be better off riding out the storm then trying to get into port where large waves can become killers when trying to enter a bay or marina in shallower water. The fact that sailboats have such deep hulls most make it much worse although I have never been much into sailing.

 

[MassHavoc]

Ever wake up in the morning and hear a weather report stating there is a chance of severe storms? Sometimes there and sometimes there are not. Personally speaking, with the right conditions some of these storms can become very intense in a very short span of time not leaving much of an opportunity to get to cover. Depending on the vessel you are in you may be better off riding out the storm then trying to get into port where large waves can become killers when trying to enter a bay or marina in shallower water. The fact that sailboats have such deep hulls most make it much worse although I have never been much into sailing.

Yeah but me and an event that it totally reliant on their weather information are two different stories. They have all the info in the world at their finger tips to provide to people for safety. I realize that nothing can be totally foreseen and avoided, but especially if these people had a boat that wasn't suitable for this type of voyage with any kind of severe weather...

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Just a random question and I mean nothing by it because this is a horrible thing, but didn't they have any idea the storm was coming? Or any safe guards against this sort of thing? I guess though in an event as massive as this you kinda have to just do what you can and push forward.

Valid question. The coast guard took control of most or all radio channels and provided information about the storm.



Unfortunately, most boats were in no position to get to a safer location quickly enough. This thing grew faster than everyone expected. Triple the expectation in size and wind speeds. The microbursts and water spouts just were not predicted at all, but were in abundance. Many boats have pictures and recordings of 100 knot winds.



Fortunately, this boat like most of the others hunkered down or properly adjusted for the storm. Sadly head impacts will happen on a sailboat, and the result is never good. Oddly enough, the boat that did the rescuing had two people go overboard when a similar storm hit us during a course race last year. The wind just unexpectantly knocked the boat 70 degress-ish in the opposite direction of heel, which in turn made the boom rapidly sweep across the boat and knocking both guys in the upper chest and head. Being that is was day time and only 2.5 miles from Chicago, the result was a bit more positive.

 

[MassHavoc]

Thanks Biscuit, that's more what I was wondering, not trying to be critical, and definitely not trying to say this could have been avoided, was more wondering about the precautions and procedures that were in place to prepare people for this sort of thing. I was particularly curious in the role the coast guard played because I would assume they were out in full force as it was. Do you know how many accidents and such were caused? I bet they were overloaded. Unrelated, and why I'm curious, I was out on a big tall ships boat (It was the boat from wedding crashers actually, not one like it, the actual boat used) last month on the Chesapeake Bay and when we left it was beautiful and out of no where we caught a bit of a storm, nothing serious just some rain and stronger winds for about 15 minutes. It's a strange thing, we felt it was going to happen, and knew storms were in the area, but didn't really pay much attention to it. For the crew it was just another day at the office, they had the panchos out and ready.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

There were other incidents, but that one was the only man overboard officially reported. There was one boat pushed into rocks around an offshore lighthouse, several that hit shoals, many boat to boat impacts, demastings, bent booms, and lots of ripped sails. I would gather that there is well over several million in damages that insurance will cover.



Those tall ships are really just very heavy power boats, with sails that do very little, but are extremely safe. It would have spun and heeled a bit in that storm, but would have been fine. On Wednesday nights I race with the guy that runs the Windy in Chicago, he has plenty of similar stories of weather just kicking up.

 

[MassHavoc]

There were other incidents, but that one was the only man overboard officially reported. There was one boat pushed into rocks around an offshore lighthouse, several that hit shoals, many boat to boat impacts, demastings, bent booms, and lots of ripped sails. I would gather that there is well over several million in damages that insurance will cover.



Those tall ships are really just very heavy power boats, with sails that do very little, but are extremely safe. It would have spun and heeled a bit in that storm, but would have been fine. On Wednesday nights I race with the guy that runs the Windy in Chicago, he has plenty of similar stories of weather just kicking up.

Wow, from you video, and everything else said, if that was the only man overboard, then that's a pretty amazing job by some pretty amazing crews, I'm glad you got out ok, hope the boat was ok. I hope the insurance companies don't try to wiggle out of things...



Yeah, at no time did I feel unsafe, it definitely was just a giant motor board, it was nice... would have been much nicer if there weren't giant cargo barges everywhere waiting to get into the ports. haha

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Wow, from you video, and everything else said, if that was the only man overboard, then that's a pretty amazing job by some pretty amazing crews, I'm glad you got out ok, hope the boat was ok. I hope the insurance companies don't try to wiggle out of things...



Yeah, at no time did I feel unsafe, it definitely was just a giant motor board, it was nice... would have been much nicer if there weren't giant cargo barges everywhere waiting to get into the ports. haha

Usually the insurance does not screw around with the owners so much since the rates are high and only the expensive or has to be reported stuff is ever claimed.



There are freighters and several ferries to contend with on the race. Amazingly there were no freighters where the majority of the racers were. A couple of years back, during the "fog Mac", we missed a ferry by about 100 feet, and only because we rapidly turned the boat as soon as we spotted them. Freaky too since you could hear their motor, just not see them.

 

[MassHavoc]

Usually the insurance does not screw around with the owners so much since the rates are high and only the expensive or has to be reported stuff is ever claimed.



There are freighters and several ferries to contend with on the race. Amazingly there were no freighters where the majority of the racers were. A couple of years back, during the "fog Mac", we missed a ferry by about 100 feet, and only because we rapidly turned the boat as soon as we spotted them. Freaky too since you could hear their motor, just not see them.

That's pretty messed up, I almost forgot to ask how you did, and how your boat fared? Maybe I missed it in the first post.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

That's pretty messed up, I almost forgot to ask how you did, and how your boat fared? Maybe I missed it in the first post.

We did 7th out of 16 for our section. A meh type of placement, but most of us were new to the boat type, so maybe a 1/2 meh. Next year I am going to be doing it with a guy who is doing his 25th Mac race. The boat is going to be some old and slow clunker from what I hear...