[cosmicrowbar]

One of the sailing world's great events, the Chicago to Mackinac race, had it's first true tragedy in 103 years, the drowning death of two sailors in an unprecedented storm incident. The reports are chilling, and all sailors mourn the loss of two comrades, both highly experienced sailors, on Wingnuts.
No matter how much experience you have on the Lakes, you cannot take them for granted, or as friends.
http://www.sail-world.com/Newsletter_show.cfm?nid=461197

http://www.freep.com/article/20110720/NEWS06/110720012/Gripping-YouTube-video-shows-power-storm-killed-2-aboard-WingNuts-sailboat?odyssey=nav|head

[magellan]

A cyclist riding with a group of 30 was struck and killed by a car earlier this week East of Grand Rapids (Lowell). Tragedies in local sports all around.

[Retroit]

Maybe they should have bought one of those new-fangled weather radio thingamajigs and sought shelter when they heard a storm was coming?

...or would that be the "sissy" thing to do?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Maybe they should have bought one of those new-fangled weather radio thingamajigs and sought shelter when they heard a storm was coming?

...or would that be the "sissy" thing to do?

Sailing on the big lakes is pretty insane, a lot like fishing in Alaska. Storms crop up in Wisconsin and they can be bearing down on you in 45 - 60 minutes, and it might take you more than two hours to reach "safe harbor" in one of the ports. You can't just pull a sailboat of that size up to the beach, you have to hit one of the channels/inland lakes like Muskegon, Ludington, Manistee, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, etc..

One of the worst areas I hear is around Sturgeon Bay, because there are no safe harbors between Harbor Springs and Mackinaw (a really long stretch).

cross village, mi - Google Maps

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by magellan

A cyclist riding with a group of 30 was struck and killed by a car earlier this week East of Grand Rapids (Lowell). Tragedies in local sports all around.

I had not heard of either but it's sad to hear. I also heard about a motocross rider who passed away from complications from heat stroke he suffered from while racing at Red Bud. I was so saddened to hear because I had met him and my son got his autograph at the track years ago. You just never know. 23 years old and he's gone.

[cosmicrowbar]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Maybe they should have bought one of those new-fangled weather radio thingamajigs and sought shelter when they heard a storm was coming?

...or would that be the "sissy" thing to do?

Guess you've never been on a sailboat, huh? A Sunfish on a pond doesn't really count, by the way.

The race has been run since 1898, many thousands of boats with tens of thousands of crew members have sailed it since then in a variety of conditions from dead calm to hurricane force winds.
The tragic deaths this year are the first in the history of the race.

WingNuts was 13 miles from the mainland and 10 miles (into the wind) from Fox Islands, so running for cover isn't an option in such circumstances. You secure the boat, prepare safety equipment, and push on. That's not a "sissy" thing...that's a sailor thing.

The men and women who sail the world's longest annual freshwater race (330+ land miles) are as prepared for safe sailing as anyone can be, but that doesn't mean, obviously, that freak conditions can't occur. Many boats (361 were entered in the race) sailed thru the storm safely, and a dozen or more broke off the racing, sailing to and staying at the scene to help search for and rescue the survivors while the storm raged around them.
"Sissys" would have run for cover and left their fellow sailors at the lake's mercy.
Where would you be, Re?

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by cosmicrowbar

Guess you've never been on a sailboat, huh? A Sunfish on a pond doesn't really count, by the way.

The race has been run since 1898, many thousands of boats with tens of thousands of crew members have sailed it since then in a variety of conditions from dead calm to hurricane force winds.
The tragic deaths this year are the first in the history of the race.

WingNuts was 13 miles from the mainland and 10 miles (into the wind) from Fox Islands, so running for cover isn't an option in such circumstances. You secure the boat, prepare safety equipment, and push on. That's not a "sissy" thing...that's a sailor thing.

The men and women who sail the world's longest annual freshwater race (330+ land miles) are as prepared for safe sailing as anyone can be, but that doesn't mean, obviously, that freak conditions can't occur. Many boats (361 were entered in the race) sailed thru the storm safely, and a dozen or more broke off the racing, sailing to and staying at the scene to help search for and rescue the survivors while the storm raged around them.
"Sissys" would have run for cover and left their fellow sailors at the lake's mercy.
Where would you be, Re?

Nope, I've never been on a sailboat. I always assumed they had a small motor to get them to harbor in case of emergency or no-wind conditions. I wouldn't put myself in a position where I couldn't reach land safely in the event of an approaching storm, so I guess sailboats are out for me (not like I could afford one anyway).

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Nope, I've never been on a sailboat. I always assumed they had a small motor to get them to harbor in case of emergency or no-wind conditions. I wouldn't put myself in a position where I couldn't reach land safely in the event of an approaching storm, so I guess sailboats are out for me (not like I could afford one anyway).

when you are speaking a small motor to get to harbor in case of bad weather, that isn't feasible when you think of it. The ones they have will only push a boat through the water at 5 or 6 knots and if they were 13 miles offshore or 10 miles from the Fox Islands you are talking 1.5 - 2 hours away using the motor at top speed and under ideal conditions. A storm can blow across the Lake in less than 1/2 that time if it is a strong one. There isn't a chance at outrunning a strong storm.

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by Bydand

when you are speaking a small motor to get to harbor in case of bad weather, that isn't feasible when you think of it. The ones they have will only push a boat through the water at 5 or 6 knots and if they were 13 miles offshore or 10 miles from the Fox Islands you are talking 1.5 - 2 hours away using the motor at top speed and under ideal conditions. A storm can blow across the Lake in less than 1/2 that time if it is a strong one. There isn't a chance at outrunning a strong storm.

Well, I don't remember what the forecast was for that day, but I find it hard to believe that the NWS didn't issue some type of marine thunderstorm warning for that day with more than 2 hours warning. If they didn't and this truly was a freak storm that popped up unexpectedly, then I sincerely apologize for my comments. I just hope people aren't endangering themselves and others just so they can win a race. Life is the greatest trophy of all.

[NATIVEYOOPER]

They had warning and were prepared according to Petoskey News and Review. The 2 deceased were unable to unclip, the other 6 aboard were rescued by another competitor. Condolences to the relatives and friends from Saginaw and beyond.

A gust estimated at 75 mph hammered WingNuts, flipping it over. The capsized boat heaved up and down in 4- to -6-foot waves as six members of the crew managed to cut or unclip their safety lines attached to the boat, cling to the hull and signal for help.
But their beloved skipper, Mark Morley, and crew member Suzanne Bickel could not free themselves.