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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 April 28, 2001, during the Smith Island Race at Seattle Yacht
Club, Capriccio, a 30’ sailboat was motor-sailing due to a torn
mainsail. When the headsail was being lowered, one crewman slipped and
started to go over the side. The alert bow-person, Nicole Clouser,
prevented the crew from going overboard by catching the crew in the
sail. The crew in great pain suffered a wrenched knee. With reduced
crew, the decision was made to continue under power. Shortly thereafter
the engine quit. Capriccio was off a lee shore, in 30 knots of wind
without an engine, with an opposing current of 1/2 knot, the sails
stowed below, and an injured crewman. The crew put up a jib, and
proceeded upwind. The skipper reported some waves in the neighborhood of
8-feet and progress was slow. After dark it was suggested that it was
time to call for a tow. The call was answered by the Portage Bay, the
Seattle Yacht Club Race Committee boat, while on station taking
finishing times.
Race Committee skipper Denny Johnson, a retired career Coast Guard
veteran, suggested to 17 year-old Iain Christenson that he tow the
Capriccio to Shilshole. After donning a full flotation suit, Iain headed
out in the club’s 16-foot Whaler alone.
The crew of Capriccio were skeptical of the ability of the Whaler to
tow them against the wind, which was now blowing at 40 knots. Iain
stayed alongside for two hours at which point, after making no headway,
Capriccio accepted a tow. According to the skipper of Capriccio, there
were times when the Whaler was virtually vertical climbing over the
waves. Iain towed Capriccio to the Marina fuel dock. After Capriccio was
tied up, one of the crew, a professional firefighter, stated the
experience was the closest he had ever come to his own death. Iain went
back out to Portage Bay to assist in the finishing of the race.
Congratulations to Iain Christenson for risking his own safety in
securing a distressed vessel with doom close at hand. 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 presented at
the Seattle Yacht Club
Awards Banquet on November 17, 2001,
by
US SAILING National Offshore Council Chair Bruce Campbell
on behalf of US SAILING. |
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Left to right: Bruce Campbell, Iain
Christenson |
Photo by T.K. Wegg |
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DETAILS:
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Nominators Name: T.K. Wegg
Event Name: Smith Island Race.
Sponsoring Yacht Club: Seattle Yacht Club.
Date of Event: Aug 16, 2001
Event City: Seattle.
Event State: WA.
Date of Incident: April 28, 2001.
Body of Water: Puget Sound.
Victims Name: Mary White, Enrico Pozzo, Alex Charoni, Nichole Clouser.
First Boat Name: Capriccio.
First Boat Length: 30'.
Rescuing Skippers Name: Iain Christenson.
Rescuing Boat Make/Model: Boston Whaler.
Rescuing Boat Length: 17 feet.
What was the nature of this incident: Rescue of vessel in immediate
danger.
Did a Mayday call go out: No.
Was any injury sustained by the victim: Yes.
Can your story be published: Yes.
Can you provide articles about this event: Yes.
What happened:
Capriccio was returning to Shilshole Bay, in Seattle, from Kingston, WA,
a distance of about 20 miles. She was motor-sailing on headsail, due to
a torn mainsail. Halfway across the wind picked up to 30 knots with an
opposing current of 1/2 knot. While the headsail was being lowered, one
crewman slipped and started to go over the side. The alert bow-person,
Nicole Clouser, prevented his going overboard by catching him the sail.
He was in pain due to a wrenched knee. With a reduced crew, the decision
was made to continue under power. Shortly thereafter the engine quit.
Capriccio was off a lee shore, in 30 knots of wind without an engine,
the sails below, and an injured crewman. The crew got a jib up, and
proceeded upwind. The skipper reported some waves in the neighborhood of
8 fee, progress was slow. After dark it was suggested that it was time
to call for a tow. The call was answered by the Portage Bay, the SYC
Race Committee boat, taking finishing times. The skipper, Denny Johnson
a retired career Coast Guard veteran, suggested to Iain Christenson that
he tow the Capriccio to Shilshole as it was obvious they were not likely
to make it on their own. After donning a full flotation suit, he headed
out in the 16 foot Whaler. The crew of Capriccio were skeptical of the
ability of the Whaler to tow them against the wind, which was now
blowing at 40 knots. He stayed alongside for two hours at which point,
after making no headway, Capriccio accepted a tow. According to the
skipper of Capriccio, there were times when the Whaler was virtually
vertical climbing over the waves. Iain towed Capriccio to the Marina
fuel dock and then went back out to Portage Bay to finish the race.
After Capriccio was tied up one of the crewmen, a professional
firefighter, stated the experience was the closest he had ever come to
his own death. Iain is 17 years old.
What type of injuries were sustained (hypothermia included): Wrenched
Knee.
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