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Nominators Name: Kirk Culbertson
Event Name: Adult Education Class
Sponsoring Yacht Club: Baltimore's Downtown Sailing Center
Event City: Baltimore
Event State: MD
Date of Incident: May 20th, 2001
Body of Water: Baltimore Harbor
Victims Boat Length: 18'
Victims Boat Make Model: motor boat (standard ski boat)
Rescuing Skipper: Scott Livingston
Rescuing Boat Make Model: J/22
Rescuing Boat Name: Jetstream
Rescuing Boat Length: 22
What was the nature of this incident: Motor boat was sinking.
Did a Mayday call go out: 911 cell phone call.
Who responded: Fire and police marine units.
Was any injury sustained by the victim: n
Was a PFD worn: Y
What type: Type 3
What position was the victim working before they went in: Standing on
bow
Was this day or night: day
Wind speed: 15-20 knots
Wave height: 1 foot
Water temperature: 60
Air temperature: 60
How much time did the victim spend in the water: Less than a minute.
What recovery method was used: figure 8
Did the victims boat lose site of the victim: o
Was a rescue swimmer put in the water: n
Did the victim have a strobe light or whistle: n
What color clothes were visible above the water: Color PFD
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: N
Was a Lifesling aboard: Y
Was it used: N
What type hypothermia included: Close to hypothermia
How did the victim get hoisted onto the deck: 2 Adults over quarter
stern side
Rescuing Crews Names: Kelly Pittlekow, Steve LeGendre, Michael Erdek
What happened: ***Baltimore’s Downtown Sailing Center Class Saves
Little Girl !***
On Sunday, May 20, 2001, the Downtown Sailing Center embarked on a
routine adult education class. As the eight J/22 keelboats passed the
Broadway Pier in Fells Point, a distressed father and young daughter, on
a 19-foot motor boat, rushed up to the last sailboat and frantically
cried out that their boat was sinking.
Ironically, Scott Livingston, Assistant Director for the DSC, was
preparing to instruct his students in the "man over board
drill", which is part of the normal adult curriculum. The DSC
promotes safe boating practices by preparing students with step-by-step
procedures to handle many emergency situations. However, it is difficult
to simulate panic situations and the importance of remaining calm, cool,
and deliberate.
Livingston's students were now placed into a real life situation.
During this 15-20 knot day, the students followed Scott's instructions
perfectly, dropped the jib and placed the boat in the safety position.
In this position, the boat is flat and the boom is luffing controllably
in a beam reach, outside of the boat. As the crew placed the fender over
the other side of the boat, they waved the motor boat to safely come
along the side.
But during the excitement of the situation, the father's protective
instincts overrode his rational thought. He stopped the motor boat,
grabbed his 8 yr. old daughter, who thankfully was wearing a personal
floatation device, and THREW her into the water. Perhaps he saw the
"Titanic" too many times. He then yelled for her to swim to
the sailboat.
Unfortunately, a sailboat, unlike a motor boat, has difficulty
stopping immediately in the water, and Kate could not swim fast enough
to catch the sailboat. Livingston did a textbook example of the Quick
Turn Recovery recommended by the United States Sailing Association.
Scott focused on controlling the sailboat and keeping his crew calm,
cool and collective, so that no other problems would complicate the
situation. By safely tacking the boat, and coming up to Kate slowly, the
crew was able to pick up the young girl, who was scared to death.
Fortunately, Livingston's crew included Kennedy Krieger's, Kelly
Pittelkow, who comforted the girl, dried her off, and got her into warm
clothes. Meanwhile, the motor boat still needed assistance, and the
father did not have a radio or cell phone on board. Livingston proceeded
to call 911 to alert the Marine Police and Fire Department's Rescue
team. 'I was amazed at the speed in which they responded' said
Livingston. In less than 7 minutes, the marine and fire department had
two pilot boats and the large Fire Department tanker on the scene. The
tanker would have been pivotal if the boat really sank. However, the Marine Police was able to tow the sinking boat to
safety, while the fire rescue team returned Kate to her father.
Fortunately the Downtown Sailing Center was there to help, but things
could have turned out much differently if a trained instructor and
knowledgeable DSC members hadn't helped. Livingston says that all
boaters should take the Department of Natural Resource's Boat Safety
Certification course, which is only 8 hours long. People born after July
1st, 1972 are required to take this class, but it highly recommended for
everyone, so that they are prepared to handle situations like these.
People interested in taking this class should call the Department of
Natural Resources at 410-974-2040.
The Baltimore’s Downtown Sailing Center is a non-profit 501 (c) (3)
volunteer-run sailing organization which offers the community affordable
access to quality sailing programs, education, and water safety skills,
for all levels and ages. For more information about Downtown Sailing
Center, call (410) 727-2884 or visit their website at
www.downtownsailing.org.
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