|
The
Officers, Directors and Members of
US SAILING
are
pleased to present the
ARTHUR B. HANSON RESCUE MEDAL
to the
crew of
for the rescue as follows:
During the 2000 North Star Sail Club Detroit Regional Yacht-Racing
Association Tune-Up Race on May 13, 2000 in a building 68F west wind, Epic,
a Beneteau 42S7 owned by Ray and Winnie Adams had an accidental gybe and
broach in a 34kt puff that threw two crew overboard into the 58F water
of Lake St. Clair. In the 3-4 foot seas, Epic threw a
horseshoe float to the victims but was pinned on her beam and the
horseshoe drifted away rapidly. The male victim was not wearing a PFD,
while the female victim had an inflatable PFD, yet could not find the
cord to inflate it. The male victim found the cord and inflated the
female victims Type III PFD and they clung together.
Night Train, a Thomas 35, owned by Chris and Sabrina Herriges had
not yet set a spinnaker and saw the two victims in the water 150-yards
down wind. She immediately dropped her headsail, performed a Quick-Stop
by sailing just leeward of the victims and heading up into the wind and
dropped their mainsail to weather of victims. Night Train threw a
Lifesling to victims, pulled them to her stern ladder and they climbed
aboard after being in the water for six to seven minutes.
Congratulations to the rescuing crew on Night Train for a job
well done, including Chris Herriges, Sabrina Herriges, Kevin Flood,
Scott Deshetler, Bill Jenkins, Marc Sokacz, Seth Brady, Matt Vale and
Jeff Jarzombek. US SAILING is pleased to present the Arthur B. Hanson
Rescue Medal in recognition of this event.
Ralph Naranjo,
Chairman, Safety at Sea Committee
By Direction
|
The
Arthur B. Hanson
Rescue Award was awarded at the Detroit
Regional Yacht-Racing Association awards dinner on November 3, 2000
by US SAILING Vice
President Ted Everingham
on behalf of US SAILING. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DETAILS:
|
|
Chris Herriges Report:
Here's what we have.
I was driving, and we were preparing to set our kite when the mainsail
trimmer, Scott Deshetler, saw the broach on Epic and identified that
they had people in the water. Realizing that Epic may not be in a good
position for an immediate recovery, we dropped our jib and changed
course to assist.
During that time, Sabrina Herriges (my wife and co-owner), and Kevin
Flood, pointed and directed me toward the victims in the water. We
approached from leeward, turned head to wind to stop the boat. As we
approached, Kevin prepared to deploy the Lifesling while Sabrina
continued to "point". As we stopped head to wind, the crew
dropped the mainsail while Kevin threw out the Lifesling to victims -
off our starboard stern, (we were close enough that he basically hit
them with it). Kevin pulled them in toward the boat. Kevin, Bill
Jenkins, and Marc Sokacz all assisted in getting the victims out of the
water and on board.
Other crew mostly assisted in sailing the boat and taking down the
sails Seth Brady, Matt Vale, & Jeff Jarzombek, Scott Deshetler.
Nominator's Story: Commodore Ronald Rabine
During the 4th leg of a 5 leg W/L race (the first of the year) in a
building west wind EPIC had a gybe broach in a 34kt puff (up from 21kt)
that thru two crew overboard. EPIC threw a horse shoe float to crew but
were pinned on her beam and drifting way rapidly. MORNING LIGHT (the RC
boat) was in route to take finishes and diverted from 1/4 mile abeam.
NIGHT TRAIN (a competitor) had not yet set a kite and saw 2 people in
water 150 yards down wind. She immediately dropped headsail, tacked
abeam of MOB and dropped mainsail to weather of MOB. MORNING LIGHT
arrived at that time but backed away and stood by as back up. NIGHT
TRAIN threw a Lifesling to MOB (they were hanging on to each other)
pulled them to her stern ladder and they climbed aboard.
Winnie was wearing full foul weather gear and a type 3 pull cord life
vest but could not find cord, Eric was in jeans and shirt, he swam to
her and inflated it for her.
|
|
