US SAILING

Safety At Sea - Hanson Rescue Award Recipient
 
The Officers, Directors and Members of
 US SAILING
are pleased to present the
ARTHUR B. HANSON RESCUE MEDAL
to the crew of

Vicki

for the rescue as follows:

On August 5, 2000, at dusk, a 36’ catamaran with three on board had flipped upside down in the 25 to 30 knot wind speed, in the three to four-foot sea conditions off of the California coast. The victims in their 50’s and 60’s, wore PFD’s and dark stealth-like clothing while standing on the trampoline while partially submerged in the cold 68-degree water.

Vicki, an Andrews 70, was surfing downwind in the Santa Barbara to King Harbour Race and spotted this object and dropped her spinnaker. Working back upwind, they assessed that rescue was required. Next the Mainsail was dropped and the motor turned on to control their ultra light displacement boat (ULDB). By making multiple passes past the overturned cat, Vicki was able to throw a line and pull the victims, one at a time, to their boat. For those who have not had the opportunity to sail a ULDB, controlling a ULDB in conditions like this is truly a formidable task. One was brought up over the side and the other two were slid up the ramp of the sloped transom after being in and out of the water for 25 to 30 minutes.

The victims were given blankets and hot coffee. The sails were re-raised and the engine shut off. The U.S. Coast Guard was notified to give them a warning of the hazard to navigation. They contacted a commercial salvage vessel as well.

Vicki was off the racecourse for 37 minutes. In a redress hearing, Vicki was awarded this time taken for this rescue, earning "first to finish" in the race.

For maintaining a vigilant watch, for communicating a hazard to navigation to the United States Coast Guard, for organizing the removal of the hazard to navigation, and for saving three souls, congratulations to the rescuing crew on Vicki, which includes Skipper Al Schultz, Mark Olson, Steve Steiner, Jeff Littell, Dave Kurt, Ben Mitchell, Chris Peterson, Valerie Hoskins, Ron Hoskins, Tyler Prentiss, Rick Abbott and Tim "Tiny" Eyers. 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 by US SAILING Vice President Mike Schoettle at the  Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs Annual Installation Dinner held at Del Rey Yacht Club on January 12, 2001.
 


DETAILS:
 

Nominators Name: Ben Mitchell
Event Name: Santa Barbara to King Harbour Race
Sponsoring Yacht Club: SBYC and KHYC
Date of Event: Aug 5, 2000
Event City: Santa Barbara
Event State: CA
Date of Incident: Aug 5 2000
Body of Water: pacific ocean
Victims Name: unknown three crew members
Victims Boat Length: 36
First Boat Make Model: 36' catamaran
Rescuing Skipper: Al Schultz
Rescuing Boat Make Model: Andrews 70 ULDB
Rescuing Boat Name: Vicki
Rescuing Boat Length: 70
What was the nature of this incident: Rescue of three crew
Was any injury sustained by the victim: n
Was a PFD worn: y
Was this day or night: dusk
Wind speed: 25-30
Wave height: 3-4ft
Water temperature: 68
Air temperature: 75
How much time did the victim spend in the water: 25-30 minutes.
What recovery method was used: happened fast enough to never lose sight.
What color clothes were visible above the water: blue, very hard to see.
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: n
Was a Lifesling aboard: y
Was it used: n
What happened:
On the leg from Anacapa Is. to Point Duma of the Santa Barbara to King Harbour Race there was a strong sea breeze of about 25-30 knots of wind providing the fleet with some exciting downwind sailing. At about 5:00pm we noticed an overturned boat which we quickly identified as an overturned catamaran with crew standing on the cross beam or trampoline. We immediately took down the spinnaker and turned back upwind to determine if assistance was necessary. It was quickly determined that assistance was required as the crew( not in wetsuits) had been in and out of the water for about 25 minutes. Next we took down the mainsail to maneuver closer to the overturned boat and made several passes by the boat trying to get close enough for the tired crew to be able to swim to the line we threw toward them. After two or three passes we were able to pick up one crew member on each successive pass. It was very difficult to hold position with a big ULDB in that much breeze hence the necessity for taking so many passes. Once all crew were aboard and given blankets and hot coffee we put the mainsail back up turned off the engine and resumed course and rehoisted the spinnaker. From start to finish the time was 37 minutes. We notified the Coast Guard of the position of the overturned cat and they indicated that they would be on the scene in an hour or so. Next a salvage vessel was contacted to try and tow the boat back to shore.

How did the victim get hoisted onto the deck:
First one we threw a line to an brought him up over the side and this was a bad idea so the next two we threw a line to and brought them up over the stern of the boat. The oldest victim was in his 60's the other two were late 50's but in ok shape. They threw the victims a line and pulled them around to a modern sloped transom and physically pulled them up the "ramp."

SANTA BARBARA TO KING HARBOR RACE
The annual 81-mile Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race last weekend was Mr. Toad's Wild Ride for 125 entrants. Just about everyone experienced knockdowns, ripped spinnakers, or some sort of damage when the race switched gears from the doldrums behind Anacapa Island to a fast and windy 25-30 knot run to Redondo Beach. Many racers reached their personal best in speeds; the Henderson 30 hit 18 knots and a Farr 40 reported doing 20 knots.

Two Roland 36 catamarans were unofficial racers when organizers refused their entries for lack of safety equipment. One of them later flipped in heavy seas and its crew was rescued by the sled VICKI. At least one dismasting was reported. Some damage was reported even before the race started. The 70 foot GRAND ILLUSION suffered major keel damage off of Conception when they hit a whale while surfing downwind on their way to Santa Barbara.


 


US Sailing Association
The National Governing Body for the Sport of Sailing