WOW! Dauphin Island Regatta Storm

This looked bad :
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SAILBOATS_CAPSIZE_SAILORS_MISSING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-04-26-16-21-21

This looked bad :
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SAILBOATS_CAPSIZE_SAILORS_MISSING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-04-26-16-21-21

I am pretty sure the missing and drowned are cat sailors. I was hoping someone on here would already know.

My understanding is that all cat sailors are safe and accounted for although most of their boats are damaged, some beyond repair.

I was out there in the storm on our H16. All the cat sailors are fine. I know an 18HT Javelin and a Hobie 20 were damaged beyond repair. I've seen pictures of the Javelin but not the 20.. Stuff was ridiculous where we were. Honestly it was much more intense than any of the videos I have seen from other boats. The best way I can describe it is based on what I saw on the radar on my phone shortly before we got hit. There was one smallish area on the radar that was in the red. Dauphin island was more in the green radar area. Our boat and my uncle's boat were literally in the red area when we encountered the storm.
Someone from al.com wants to talk to me tomorrow so I'll post up the interview when I find it posted. My uncle Ron also talked with the Mobile press register.. There was a phone interview I did with the local NBC 15 news station that aired yesterday.

They showed some video on the news of single hulls. Looked real windy, but oddly not too high of waves. At least in the vids I saw. Must have been horrible to have been caught in that storm...

Edited by goodsailing on Apr 27, 2015 - 10:06 AM.

waves, wind and storms often do not look very severe in video, esp gopro type video
i am sure it was much worse than it looked

i am blown away no one had lifejackets on - not to mention real foulies

i am blown away no one had lifejackets on - not to mention real foulies

+
Crazy.

New video interview of Chris and Mark Ederer talking about their experience on the (former) Javelin 18HT, sounds like Chris really got slung around when the boat got knocked down. I'm really glad they were so close to shore that they managed to swim in. That boat is EXTREMELY light.

http://www.wlox.com/story/28912528/os-sailors-share-harrowing-story-of-survival-after-tragedy-strikes-mobile-bay-regatta

I've wondered about the hook on the harness causing a pinge problem especially if you were under the surface.... let alone being swung around like a rag doll at winds' mercy. Better design needed? What training is necessary for emergency release etc..

A safer design already exist.

http://www.murrays.com/01-1212.html

Magic Marine Quick Release Spreader Bar

http://www.westcoastsailing.net/default/magic-marine-spreader-bar.html?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=CPDD_O2emcUCFSZo7AodcgwARA

Here's a very nice interview with skipper Ron Gaston and crew 15 year old Hana Blalack (first time sailor) who got knocked over on their Hobie 16 and spent two hours in the water.

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/04/teen_and_boatmate_lucky_thankf.html

Interesting tip along the way about the phone they used to call for help. An old out-of-service cell phone can still call 911, so they were carrying an old iPhone in a waterproof case and used it to talk to the coast guard, they were also able to give the CG their exact coordinates because they were carrying a hand held GPS.

For years now I've been carrying a waterproof VHF and a GPS whenever sailing in salt water. Seemed a little silly considering how "sheltered" most of the gulf waters I sail are, but I started doing it after a friend and his daughter were separated from their boat and it taking quite a while to find them despite it being the fairly enclosed area off Ocean Springs Yacht Club.

Great job Ron and Hana.

I always carry a VHF, cell phone and GPS even on inland lakes. Better safe than sorry.

Has there been anyword on the 4 that were still missing? What handheld GPS would you recommend? I would need it to be resonably afforable. We recently had a shroud break on one of my captains in a gust that was on the front end of a pretty heavy thunderstorm, started pouring and surf picked up and I couldnt spot them from our rescue jetski because of poor visibilty and his mast fell. There was a young family on board, but luckily they drifted to the north end of the island. Could have been much worse....

Edited by si_beachcats on Apr 29, 2015 - 03:50 PM.

Surface marker buoy used by divers is good. Some are 6' long and inflated by mouth. Surface Marker Buoy

Edited by goodsailing on Apr 30, 2015 - 03:55 PM.

I am really sorry to hear of the loss of lives and boats. One person mentioned of a bimare Javelin being destroyed. I too have one of those boats and parts are not so easy to come by. If anyone knows how to contact him let me know.

PM me and I will give you his number. The HT group is tight and well connected as a group.

Thank you Philip, Mark Ederer is an amazing sailor and team player not to mention a great guy ( his son too )
I do Slip to Ship and Island hop every year in ocean springs MS as well as Juanna's Good Time regatta - Navarre FL- and always see them. We've got a great Hobie 20 here in town for Michael since his boat was destroyed as well. Praying these guys can get back up and running before too long.

Mark told me yesterday that he plans to try to find another 18HT, so isn't looking to sell his parts just yet.

My brother and I were two of the H16s in the 2015DIR. We're both looking for masts in the ATL or NE TN or South Alabama areas if anyone knows of one for sale. Thanks.

Can ship 2 H-16 masts to nearest large town near you for $500 total. See my classified. Pete 909-800-5237

Someone was asking about GPSs,

I have a Garmin eTrex 20 Velcro-ed to my boom with a bungee lanyard attaching it firmly to the boom. It is cheap and easy to use.

I also have my VHF and iPhone Velcro-ed to the boom with lanyards. They are all out of the way but within easy reach.

Make sure to use the industrial Velcro 

shipchips1 wrote: Someone was asking about GPSs,

I have a Garmin eTrex 20 Velcro-ed to my boom with a bungee lanyard attaching it firmly to the boom. It is cheap and easy to use.

I also have my VHF and iPhone Velcro-ed to the boom with lanyards. They are all out of the way but within easy reach.

Make sure to use the industrial Velcro 

I use a Garmin Quatix (on my wrist) and keep the VHF (small Icom) and Iphone (in waterproof case) in the pockets of my life jacket. No guarantees that I can stay with the boat in a capsize and having communication equipment on my person is critical, as it was for the sailors is this storm.

No guarantees that I can stay with the boat in a capsize and having communication equipment on my person is critical, as it was for the sailors is this storm.

+1

I also have my VHF and iPhone Velcro-ed to the boom with lanyards. They are all out of the way but within easy reach.

yea if you have extendable rubber arms that can reach out to the boat that is sailing away from you while you're taking a swim you'll be OK but I think not :-O

Edited by goodsailing on May 08, 2015 - 08:46 AM.

Here's what goes into finding your butt. I don't think I'd do this work without exposure suit and EPIRB. Guy was pretty creative in saving his own life and he was lucky they hadn't called off the search based upon CG computation of how long one could survive the cold. It's a big ocean. Be careful out there. With the disaster above I would have tried to stay with the wrecked boat if floating. Easier to spot hulls than a head etc..

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/magazine/a-speck-in-the-sea.html?_r=0