Sad story. C-Dory in Sitka.
- Thread starter JT
- Start date
T.R. Bauer
New member
Terrible. No other words for it. The ocean can be such an unforgiving place.
Terrible with loss of a life. Our prayers to the family of the person lost, and those injured.
The newspaper story cites observations of rescuers nearby when the boat was compromised as:
I wonder if the boat had lost power? In any case it was near the rocks and was pushed into the rocks, hit by another wave, swamped and capsized. If the boat was swamped, a capsize does not surprise me. We have no information as to why the deceased was trapped in the cabin. The water temperature near Sitka was 45*. There could have been cold water shock syndrome, trapped or panic involved.
Were there survival suits, adequate life vests, or other safety/survival gear available? An inflatable life vest could play a role in being trapped in an overturned boat. Training should consider that possibility and the response. Emergencies happen so fast, that victims have to react immediately.
Be safe!
The newspaper story cites observations of rescuers nearby when the boat was compromised as:
I wonder if the boat had lost power? In any case it was near the rocks and was pushed into the rocks, hit by another wave, swamped and capsized. If the boat was swamped, a capsize does not surprise me. We have no information as to why the deceased was trapped in the cabin. The water temperature near Sitka was 45*. There could have been cold water shock syndrome, trapped or panic involved.
Were there survival suits, adequate life vests, or other safety/survival gear available? An inflatable life vest could play a role in being trapped in an overturned boat. Training should consider that possibility and the response. Emergencies happen so fast, that victims have to react immediately.
Be safe!
Yes, sad to hear & horrible for those involved. We’ve been through this area a half dozen times or more & around Three Entrance Bay & Cape Barunof can definitely be a dangerous place, when the swells are up. Small islands & shallow water with swells reverberating back, combined with tides can cause confused seas or just the swells growing into large steep possibly breaking waves, making navigating difficult to avoid shallow water & reefs. It appears they had good visibility, but in that place under those sea conditions, I can see how it could happen even if they didn’t lose power.
I came very close to having this happen to me last summer about 40 miles north of Sitka , when entering Piehle Passage by myself, off the open Gulf of Alaska. Swells & trying to avoid unexpected kelp got me with in just feet of waves breaking on rock, while trying to get motors going again. In trying to avoid the kelp which I didn’t, I didn’t pay enough attention to the correct course to avoid getting too close to the rock & very fortunate to not end up rolled over it.
Jay
I came very close to having this happen to me last summer about 40 miles north of Sitka , when entering Piehle Passage by myself, off the open Gulf of Alaska. Swells & trying to avoid unexpected kelp got me with in just feet of waves breaking on rock, while trying to get motors going again. In trying to avoid the kelp which I didn’t, I didn’t pay enough attention to the correct course to avoid getting too close to the rock & very fortunate to not end up rolled over it.
Jay
thataway":1ku4pbfb said:
Well, Bob; you know better than most, the number of variables that can stack up out there. Compound that with the cold and wind and waves, ages, physical capabilities and luck of the draw…. It is a tragedy, no matter how you stack it. Very few smaller craft have survival suits, let alone time and room to put them on in a small boat. I don’t know the weather in Sitka today, but it’s 17F at my house and earlier forecast was high winds out in Lynn and Stephens. I know it doesn’t really relate to the weather over in Sitka, but still, likely wasn’t real pleasant.
thataway":38htmv5t said:
Well, Bob; you know better than most, the number of variables that can stack up out there. Compound that with the cold and wind and waves, ages, physical capabilities and luck of the draw…. It is a tragedy, no matter how you stack it. Very few smaller craft have survival suits, let alone time and room to put them on in a small boat. I don’t know the weather in Sitka today, but it’s 17F at my house and earlier forecast was high winds out in Lynn and Stephens. I know it doesn’t really relate to the weather over in Sitka, but still, likely wasn’t real pleasant.
smckean (Tosca)
New member
This tragic story has a silver lining for me. As I travelled down Vancouver Island's west coast this summer during my circumnavigation, I spend 3, 4, and even one time 5 days, waiting for gales and confused seas to subside before making a rounding. There were times I was tempted by impatience to go early....I always resisted those temptations. Once I even turned back and waited another day after driving 3 miles straight out beyond the coast (just that 180° turn in those waves, was a bit of a "white knuckler"). This sad story validates my decision making.
The trick, I guess, is to have the time to wait. Thankfully, I planned my trip with plenty of time to spare. I never felt I needed to rush.
The trick, I guess, is to have the time to wait. Thankfully, I planned my trip with plenty of time to spare. I never felt I needed to rush.