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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:
On September 23, 2000, in the first race of the Big Boat Series at
St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, CA, with 8-12 knots of wind,
smooth water, and 75-degree air temperature on board the Andrews 40, the
crew was hiking hard all hanging on the lower lifeline about 20-seconds
after the start, when a six-year old custom made opening hook on the
lower lifeline broke in the middle of the boat.
Keith Ives (trimmer) and Mike Herlihy (trimmer), immediately fell
into the water and clear of the boat. Scott Dickson (tactician) at back
of boat, fell until lifeline hit a swedge against a stanchion. All three
were wearing their PFD’s. Two other boats in their section immediately
came back for assistance, dropped their jibs, and stood by. Dickson
dragged through the water still entangled in lifeline, the boat slowed,
and he was hauled back on board regaining the tacticians job. Ives and Herlihy were now 200' from the
boat and wearing foulweather gear when Growler sailed back downwind of
them, went head to wind, slowed and hauled them back aboard using the
macho lift method through the open transom. The crew had been in the
water for two-minutes. Growler and the others re-joined the race, as
they believed there were no injuries, however, later it was learned that
Dickson had broken ribs.
Congratulations to Crew of Growler, including Neil Barth, Scott
Beavis, Brad Webb, George Kellerman, Ethan Garr, David Oborn, Alan
Andrews, Scott Dickson and Will Ianson for rescuing their fellow crew, in a prompt,
efficient manner. 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
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The
Arthur B. Hanson
Rescue Award was awarded
on August, 17, 2003 US SAILING Board Member Chuck Fuller during the Cal 20 National Championship at
Long Beach Yacht
Club, Long Beach, CA. |
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DETAILS:
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Neil Barth reports that, custom fabricated hook on bottom lifeline,
attached to a similar piece on pushpit via a lashing failed. The
lifelines were standard plastic coated wire. The welded hook failed, the
lashing did not fail. He suspects that the hook "aged out",
being 6 years old. Crew and victim lists are accurate.
Scott Dickson
I'm not too up to speed on parts etc but it was a standard lifeline with
a 'nicro press' fitting. Basically a stainless (I assume) loop on a
swivel type base, and then the lifeline lashed into this, or possibly a
snap type arrangement for easy locking and unlocking. I believe this
fitting hangs out where you might have a 'gate' in the lifelines where
you can open the lifelines for boarding etc. It was the loop that just
opened up under load. So I think whether the lifelines were lashed or
simply snapped into this fitting is not important. The boat was built in
1994 and won Kenwood Cup the same year. I suspect that the lifelines
were original. I forwarded your email on to the current boat captain so
hopefully he will be able to shed some light on the subject.
Scott Dickson Reports:
Manual inflation, Stearns packs. Not inflated, crew was not in any
danger once in the water. Warm temperature, good visibility, inflation
not necessary.
Date of Event: Sept 2000
Event City: San Francisco
Event State: CA
Date of Incident: Race Day 1, race 1
Body of Water: SF Bay
First Victims Name: Scott Dickson
First Boat Name: Growler
First Boat Length: 40
First Boat Make Model: Andrews 40
Second Victims Name: Mike Herlihy
Second Boat Name: Growler
Third Victims Name: Keith Ives
Third Boat Name: Growler
Rescuing Skipper: Neil Barth
Rescuing Boat Make Model: Andrews 40
Rescuing Boat Name: Growler
Rescuing Boat Length: 40
What was the nature of this incident: Man Overboard
Did a Mayday call go out: No
Was any injury sustained by the victim: Y
Can your story be published: Y
Can you provide articles about this event: N
Was a PFD worn: Y
What type: Stearns belt type pack
What type1: same
What type2: same
What position was the victim working before they went in: tactics, trim,
trim (all hiking)
Was this day or night: Day
Wind speed: 8-12
Wave height: none
Water temperature: ? Warm?
Air temperature: 75?
How much time did the victim spend in the water: 2 minutes
What recovery method was used: Quick stop
Did the victims boat lose site of the victim: no
Was a rescue swimmer put in the water: n
Did the victim have a strobe light or whistle: n
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: Y
Rescuing Crews Names: 3 victims plus; Scott Beavis, Brad Webb, George
Kellerman, Ethan Garr, David Oborn, Alan Andrews, Will Ianson
What happened: Crew fully hiking. approx 20 seconds after the start the
lower life line broke at around the middle of the boat. Keith & Mike
immediately fell into the water and clear of the boat. Scott D (at back
of boat) fell until lifeline hit a swedge. Scott D dragged through the
water still entangled in life line, boat slowed, hauled back on board.
We then circled around to pick up Keith and Mike who were now approx
200' from the boat and wearing foulies.
Sailed back downwind of them, went head to wind, slowed and hauled
them back aboard. Assessed that there were no serious injuries,
continued with race.
2 other boats immediately came back for assistance. Race records
should indicate who they were as I believe they were given redress.
They were standing by as Growler recovered the remaining crew.
What type hypothermia included: Scott D-Broken ribs
How did victim help himself back onboard: instructed approach to pick
up Victims 2 & 3
How did the victim get hoisted onto the deck: Open transom boat. Big
strong boys on board!!
Nominated by Susan Ruhne
There is a photo of Growler picking up their 2 crew on the ‘lectronic
latitude 38 site........ I talked with one of them, Mike Herlihy. He's
the one wearing the Musto "swimming aid". The other guy had an
inflatable that he chose not to inflate. Mike said they were both fine,
not worried, and not too cold in the water (it was 63 degrees according
to our instruments). They both sailed the race & did a dog &
pony show for Yahoo after, then were at the bar! Their lifeline broke
when they were hiking out at the start - we saw them in the water
because we'd been over early & had returned to duck back over the
line. We were going back upwind, saw them in the water, but saw 3 racing
boats going back, all dropping jibs as they did. There were also a RC
tender & a Farr 40's tender heading towards them. The other boats
stood by, Growler retrieved them, and continued racing.
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