TAMU Galveston Boat Missing (Houston, Austin: school, university, live)

[AGA]

My neighbor informed me this afternoon/evening, that a boat operated by the TAMU Regatta Team is missing and presumed capsized with no word from crew or coast guard.

Her cousin is on that vessel and she would greatly appreciate any support via prayers or good wishes you could send her way.

She is getting info from links ie: TAMU media release, TV news stories etc..but if anyone knows of another reliable source she could turn to please let me know. she is also on iBoattracker.com

Thanks All

[S6Sputnik]

I'm a sailor you bet my thoughts are with them!

[love roses]

I'll keep them in my prayers

[austinaggie]

I just googled this and found an update: Evidently 5 of the 6 crew members were rescued and are doing fine. They are still looking for one of the crew members. I sure hope they find him.

[S6Sputnik]

5 Missing Sailors Found in Gulf of Mexico


By JOHN PORRETTO,
AP
Posted: 2008-06-08 08:37:20
GALVESTON, Texas (June 8) - A Coast Guard helicopter crew early Sunday rescued five regatta competitors who had drifted for 26 hours in the Gulf of Mexico after their boat capsized.

Rescuers were continuing to search for a missing sailor, identified as boat safety officer Roger Stone.

The search started after the 38-foot Cynthia Woods missed a radio check Saturday morning. The crew included four college students and two safety officers.

A helicopter crew from Air Station Houston pulled the five men from the water 23 miles south of Freeport, Texas, Petty Officer Renee C. Aiello said Sunday. They had drifted about five miles northwest of their capsized boat.

They were taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where all five were listed in good condition. They were suffering from sunburn and dehydration, said R. Bowen Loftin, CEO of Texas A&M at Galveston.

"I've talked to all of them and they're all doing fine," he said. "They were extremely happy to be alive."

Three of the students - Steven Guy, Joe Savana and Travis Wright - attend Texas A&M at Galveston, the school said in a news release. The fourth, Ross James Buzbee, attends Texas A&M in College Station, the school said.

The other safety officer was identified as Steve Conway of Texas A&M at Galveston.

The boat, which lost communication around midnight Friday, was competing in the Regata de Amigos. The race, which covers 610 nautical miles from Galveston to Veracruz, Mexico, started Friday and continues into next week.

Coast Guard officials said the keel of the overturned vessel was ripped off, indicating the sailboat may have hit something in the water, according to the school. Race director Kevin Box said the loss of the keel can cause a boat to overturn in seconds.

The five who were rescued stayed afloat with four life vests in 4 to 6-foot seas, Loftin said. A few were below deck when the boat capsized. They said Stone was not among them when they went into the water, Loftin said.

It was Conway who kept the group together in the water and used a flashlight to signal Coast Guard searchers, Loftin said.

The boat went missing 11 miles south of Matagorda, which is about 110 miles down the coast from Galveston.

[AGA]

Late this afternoon, word came that Roger Stone, the safety officer of the crew, was found in the boat. He did not survive, but from what I gather, he made sure everyone else was able to get off and have a chance as rescue.
He was a hero, and as the saying goes, went down with the ship.
Prayers an good thoughts for his family, please.

The other 5 crew members were found and after treading water for 26 hours seem to be in as good a shape as can be expected.
My neighbors family member, Travis Wright, was the last one off other than Roger Stone. He said Roger pushed him off in the last seconds before it went under.
Thanks for your concern and support.

[S6Sputnik]

The general wisdom regarding what to do when your keelboat capsizes learned from a very tragic Fasnet Race south of Ireland some 25 years ago is to STAY WITH THE BOAT until it sinks. Durring and after that race several capsized boats were found floating yet their crews were never found or not found alive.

[Driftwood1]

You are indeed correct there, the five were very lucky to be found.. if at all possible, stay with the ship.. That said..
Someone was indeed watching out for them.
Thoughts and prayers to Roger's family and friends, who, appears to have put the safety of the others above his own.. one of the best things a human can do...

Originally Posted by S6Sputnik

The general wisdom regarding what to do when your keelboat capsizes learned from a very tragic Fasnet Race south of Ireland some 25 years ago is to STAY WITH THE BOAT until it sinks. Durring and after that race several capsized boats were found floating yet their crews were never found or not found alive.

[MJinAustin]

One of the coaches was ex-Coast Guard, so you can hardly fault what they did. CG said they did everything right.

[S6Sputnik]

Originally Posted by MJinAustin

One of the coaches was ex-Coast Guard, so you can hardly fault what they did. CG said they did everything right.

No one was faulting them, I was just passing on my ocean racing experience. Often times one has seconds to make decissions as to stay with the boat or not and staying with the boat, is in most cases the best choise.