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The
Officers, Directors and Members of
US SAILING
are
pleased to present the
ARTHUR B. HANSON RESCUE MEDAL
to
for the rescue as follows:
On June 15, 2002 in the Chicago to Mackinac Singlehanded Challenge
race, run by the Great Lakes Singlehanded Society, Fred Ball was sailing
Lucretia, a 50’ Newick trimaran 20 miles east of Racine, WI in
55-degree air and water temperature, when a late day thunderstorm with
50 knot winds and 1-2 foot seas forced Ball to run from the storm,
leading to his running the main and jib sheets, burning the skin of his
palms, eventually pitchpoling, with the hull fracturing and capsizing.
Prior to the storm, Ball had donned his orange Mustang survival suit.
The boat now upside had trapped Ball underneath the netting. Ball had
torn his rotator cuff during the capsize. Ball swam out from under the
boat and struggled to climb on the upturned hull. With a severely
injured shoulder and no inverted egress to the boat, a swim to get
inside the hull to get at emergency equipment was out of the question
and all Ball could do was wait. Night came, and the cold set in. Ball
sat there for 12 hours in the cold water.
Before sunrise, at about 5 am, Ball saw the lights of a boat heading
his direction. Ball yelled for help. Cal Karr competing with his Island
Packet 45 Belle heard the call and came to Ball. Karr dropped sails,
turned on his motor and backed up to the trimaran to make it as easy as
possible to board Ball who was stiff with hypothermia. Karr then treated
Ball’s hands and hypothermia, while heading the boat straight for
Milwaukee, retiring from the race.
Congratulations to the Cal Karr for coming to the aid of a stricken
sailor, rescuing the sailor, treating his injuries and getting him to
medical attention promptly. US SAILING is pleased to present the Arthur
B. Hanson Rescue Medal in recognition of this event.
Ronald C. Trossbach
Chairman, Safety at Sea Committee
By Direction
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The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue
Medal was presented to Cal Karr
on January 18, 2003 at Bayview Yacht Club, by
US SAILING past Secretary Ted Everingham
on
behalf of US SAILING. |
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Left to Right, Fred Ball, Ted Everingham,
Cal Karr and USCG Chief Warrant Officer, Jeff Bradbury |
Left to Right, Ted Everingham, Cal
Karr and Fred Ball |
Fred Ball, Ted Everingham, and Cal
Karr |
Cal Karr |
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DETAILS:
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I did have the surgery at Mayo, July 1. Very successful, but still
lots of rehab. Hand burns were from throwing off sheets and were treated
in Milwaukee-- minor really. Hypothermia set in after I fell off the
boat, yes, yelling to Cal. Pure excitement there, but underscoring the
fact that one fall during those twelve hours may have been fatal. I was
rigid and could hardly move once aboard the "Belle". I had two
Mustang suits aboard. Mine and a spare. You can guess the one I threw on
prior to the storm-- wrong one. There was no inverted egress to the
boat, and my injury discouraged any late night swims. The boat suffered
major failure during the run away from the storm, prior to pitchpole.
"Lucretia" is dearly loved by all the boys and girls in my
family. We all hope for her speedy repair. Dave Rearick's story in
midwest "Soundings" this month may shed more light. Thank You,
Fred Ball
Nominators Name: Fred Ball
Event Name: Chi-Mac Singlehanded Challenge 2002
Sponsoring Yacht Club: GLSS
Date of Event: June 15,2002
Event City: Chicago
Event State: IL
Date of Incident: 6/15/02
Body of Water: Lake Michigan
First Victims Name: Fred Ball
First Boat Name: Lucretia
First Boat Length: 50'
First Boat Make Model: Newick 50 Trimaran
Rescuing Skipper 1: Cal Karr
Rescuing Boat Make Model: Island Packet 45
Rescuing Boat Name: Belle
What was the nature of this incident: Rescue
Did a Mayday call go out: No
Was any injury sustained by the victim: Y
Was a PFD worn: Y
What type: Mustang Survival Suite
What position was the victim working before they went in: 20 miles off
Racine, WI
Was this day or night: both
Wind speed: 5-50kts
Wave height: 1-2
Water temperature: 5
Air temperature: 55
How much time did the victim spend in the water: 12 hours
What recovery method was used: Backdown
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: Orange
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: Y
Was a Lifesling aboard: Y
Was it used: N
Was the race sailed under ISAF regulations: N
What happened: Lucretia fractured and capsized in 50 knots of
thunderstorm wind. Skipper trapped beneath netting and injured getting
out. Sat on turtled boat for twelve hours in 55 degree water.
"Belle" passed (race participant--Call Karr) heard call,
stopped, backed up to try and helped "Lucretia's" skipper
aboard. Cal rendered Skipper assistance for hypothermia and hand
injuries, dropped out of race. Took Skipper to Milwaukee to begin
salvage work on "Lucretia".
-Fred Ball
What type hypothermia included: Rotator Cuff tear, hand burns and
hypothermia.
How did victim help himself back onboard: Climbed on the boat. |
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