Why we don't go out on bad days

Very bad judgement on the part of those on board "Bad Wolf". Not only on going out, but the boat was not equipped for the weather. Also it appeared that they had no knowledge of sailing. Only a headsail will always pull the bow off--and putting the helm down will only hasten the trip to the beach.

It looked like the first to respond was a surfer (who often do save lives in rough weather). Note that Bay Watch, (La County Life Guard boat) and the King Harbor patrol boat were just off the pier both in very dangerous situations to try and help. They, and the life guards put their lives on the line when foolishness like this happens.

I lived aboard in King Harbor for a number of years in the early 1960's. There was one trimaran which went out every time the wind was exceptionally strong--and every time, the mast would come down, and they would be towed back in by one of the rescue boats (Long before Boat US or Sea Tow.)

Hopefully no one was killed or injured.
 
I agree wholly with Bob. They were not equiped, knowledge wise for those conditions. Good all survived. Where that boat was, it's gonna leave a rash though, before they get it out of there.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
An anchor is a boat's emergency brake when all else fails. It might have delayed their bad end to a rough day long enough for Bay Watch or the sheriff to tow them to safety. The race committee shares responsibility with the boat owner. There was a small craft warning! What imbeciles.
 
Said before, Gramps, an old Navy man:

"The sea merely waits for the innocent
but actually stalks the careless, the unprepared
and the arrogant."

Aye.
 
I did a bit of reading; Media, KHYC sailing instructions, Sailing Anarchy, (where there were posts from someone who had sailed on this boat) plus seeing a video of this specific boat (Martin 242) sailing last year.

First a photo/diagram of King Harbor and the pier. The boat hit the pier just about where "Redondo Pier" is lettered. Just a little further the boat would have made it into the harbor.

redondo%20map%202.jpg

The pier is at the head of Redondo Submarine Canyon. This is deep and is a navigation feature. The waves break when they hit the steep face of the submarine bluff under the outer part of the pier. This is also why use of an anchor might not have been possible. The proper scope's length out, the water is 60 feet deep--and one would close to the surf line--once in the surf line--game over.

The boat was entered in the first race of the 2017 "Twilight Series"; the first gun was at 6 PM, and there were several classes. The wind velocity was 10 to 12 knots at the start of the race, but big waves. Wind gusted over 30--maybe as high as 38 knots during the race.

The boat had just dropped the main (reason unknown)--before the video. As long as there was some main filled, there was control of the boat. The boat jibed several times, and the jib sheet fouled. The crew was trying to stow the main and clear or re-rig jib sheet. Perhaps the attention was diverted and way was lost--when caught in the breaker--all over. It is always difficult to be a second guesser when an accident happens.

One of the crew had back injuries, one a dislocated shoulder--and all had scrapes--the water was 60*--and all had slight hypothermia.
 
The weather wasn't all that bad, given that other boats were sailing nearby. Hard to say what happened, but with the boom lying on the deck, I'd guess that the main halyard parted. I'm not sure what the problem was with the jib, but it was up enough for steerage. The problem was the choice of course. The skipper tried to get back into the harbor. Should have run a broad reach parallel to the shore until assistance came (why no assistance?). Looks like running down wind was the original plan, and then changed.

Probably no anchor aboard (saving weight during a race?). Sea anchor would have been a good idea. Even trailing rain gear tied to a line.

Easy for an armchair sailor to diagnose.

Mark
 
As I used to sail in my previous life, a few factors tell me this crew was very
inexperienced, incapable and/or unknowledgeable and should not have been out
there to begin with despite the kudo for the 'experienced owner'.

There was no obvious auxiliary power. Even the 'optional' 2 - 3.5 hp outboard
offered on that boat would have been practically useless in the observed sea state.

There was poor control of flogging sails. The mainsail, flapping around, was not
reefed and secured making the boom another hazard to those in the cockpit as
well as hindering efforts to free and trim the headsail, the only means of
propulsion and steering w/o the main or auxiliary power.

No anchor or drogue attempt in those conditions (small craft warnings?) with the
above all heading for a lee shore. The helmsman did not demonstrate knowledge
of controlling the boat; no heave to attempt or lying a hull to minimize downwind
movement toward shore/pier.

Was there VHF radio on board to call for help early on with the original problem
(medical, mechanical, etc).

Just my thoughts.

Remember, going out for a boat ride is always optional. Returning home is
mandatory.

Aye.
 
This was a "nearshore" race--and the vessel is required to:
boat shall have a watertight handheld VHF radio or a handheld VHF radio with waterproof cover. This radio shall have DSC/GPS capability with an MMSI number properly registered to the vessel.
Click to expand...

Also an anchor is required. No auxiliary propulsion is required by racing rules.--and it is not unusual for this size and type of boat to be dry sailed,--or even if the boat is kept in a slip--to sail in and out of the slip. If there was an outboard aboard, it would have been on the cabin floor. M 242 Class rules do mandate:
All yachts must carry an outboard engine with a suitable bracket.
Click to expand...
The weight allowance for this is 30#.

Anchoring was not a realistic option in the area where the boat is shown to be sailing. (See my prior post--It is too deep. 0.03 mile it is 50 feet, 0.06 mile it is 100 feet 0.15 mile it is 132 feet, 0.3 miles it is 225 feet deep!)

One of the most important mental assets for any boater is situational awareness. I believe that the skipper (person in charge) lost any situational awareness. He did have options--and did not take any which would have saved the boat, and injury to the crew (and even death)

The USCG defines situational awareness thus:

Situational Awareness is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening to the team with regards to the mission. More simply, it’s knowing what is going on around you.
Click to expand...
Even for active duty CG personal, 40% of errors of "navigational mishaps" were do to loss of situational awareness.

CG notes the following for lack of Situational Awareness:

• Confusion or gut feeling.
• No one watching or looking for hazards. • Use of improper procedures.
• Departure from regulations.
• Failure to meet planned targets.
• Unresolved discrepancies.
• Ambiguity.
• Fixation or preoccupation.
Click to expand...


For many people it is taking their concentration off the important things and playing with some social media device. In this boat's case--there apparently was a sail problem. There did not appear to be a valid plan for action, and assignment of tasks for each crew member. The skipper did not plan ahead--issue a distress call, if necessary, did not take the proper course, or attempt to sail to an area where he could anchor. He appears to be attempting to "scull" the boat using the rudder, instead of getting a motor (if present) attached and running). He did not allow enough factor for leeway and set due to the wave conditions when setting his course for the harbor. He did not seem to be aware of the propensity for waves to break just before they got to the pier. (On a calm day, you can sail a few feet off the pier--might PO some fishermen--. But it would appear to be "safe".
Loss of situational awareness may be fatal--in cars, boats and airplanes.
 
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