|
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 October 2, 2003 during the 2003 Rolex
International Women’s Keelboat Championship at Annapolis Yacht Club in
Maryland, Gorilla Girls was going downwind in 4th
place to the finish line in 30 knots of wind on their J/22 with the
spinnaker flying in the cool 55-degree air.
A gust broached the boat dumping three crew overboard and pinning
the skipper on the low side. The
spinnaker sheet, guy and halyard had gone out to the blocks and with the
chute filled far out from the boat (like a kiteboard), with the boat
staying pinned down.
Peter Pirate was following, having lost
their spinnaker pole earlier on the same leg, under control flying a jib
and main. Peter Pirate
observed one of the inflatable PFD-clad crew in the water and dropped
their jib upon approach. With
the wind so strong, stopping the light boat long enough to pull the
victim aboard was difficult. After
performing three figure-eights and three stops, they finally were able
to physically lift the victim out of the water, without being pulled
overboard themselves which was an imminent threat.
The victim had been in the water for over five-minutes.
Other craft rescued the three remaining members of Gorilla
Girls.
Peter Pirate re-set the jib and crossed the
finish line, later filing for redress to recover finish points lost
during the rescue and received them.
Congratulations to Peter Pirate including
skipper Corrie Clement, crew Anna Tunnicliffe, Ali Sharpe and Nataleigh
Vann for rescuing a fellow competitor in hypothermic and challenging
conditions. 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
|
The
Arthur B. Hanson Rescue medal was presented April 27, 2004 at the
Old
Dominion University Athletic Awards Banquet by
US SAILING Board
Member Mitchell Brindley. |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
From left to right, Nataleigh
Vann, Corrie Clement, Anna Tunnicliffe, and Ali Sharpe. Photograph by friends of
Corrie. |
From Left to Right, Corrie Clement, Anna Tunnicliffe and US
SAILING Board Member Mitch Brindley. Photograph
by Old Dominion University Athletic Department.
|
|
DETAILS:
|
|
Dear
Anna:
Out of curiosity, did Peter Pirate consider seeking redress for rescuing
the victim, to help gain back the points lost while off the course (this
is not a rescue medal related question)?
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Glenn
Dear
Glenn,
The other two members of the boat that fell overboard were picked up by
coach/rescue boats hanging out by the finish line.
These two members fell off further down the course and were
spotted by the coaches. Peter
Pirate was granted redress for her lost positions in the race.
Hope this can help
Anna
Dear
Anna:
Using my fingers, I think that leaves one on board Gorilla Girls,
"and their boat was refusing to right itself in the strong
winds." What happened
to the sole sailor left on Gorilla Girls?
Did she get the boat back up, get the sails down and get things
back under control?
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Glenn
Glenn -
I don't exactly know what happened on Gorilla Girls, after seeing the
video on shore, they looked like they were kiteboarding downwind with
their kite flying off the top of the mast pounding them into the water.
I believe Greg Fisher, North Sails rep, climbed aboard and cut
the spinnaker lines to right the boat.
After that I do not know what happened. I believe one of the
girls went to the hospital for an x-ray on her ribs, but I'm not sure
which girl it was.
Anna
Dear
Greg
Fisher reports –
He saw GG in 5th or 6th place get knocked down and
stay down with three going overboard.
All lines (mainsheet, halyards and chute sheets were released,
with the chute way out away from the boat full of air.
The skipper was pinned on the leeward side, and the chute would
dump from time to time bringing her up for air.
On his Boston Whaler, he moved in from the leeward side when the
chute re-filled and the boat sailed down on him and he leaped aboard.
Greg started releasing lines while another coach boat came a cut
some of the lines allowing the boat to get back on its feet and Greg
pulled the skipper out of the water.
Gorilla
Girls:
Prop was getting close to skipper, when boat tipped over again
entrapping the powerboat inside the rigging.
They killed the engine and pushed themselves out of the rigging.
Dear
Greg:
Do you have any idea what coach boat
pulled the other two crew out of the water? If not, do you know
someone who might know the name(s) of the people on that coach boat?
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Glenn
Hi Glenn
There are no lifelines on a J/22 so she was holding onto the cockpit
edge. When the sheet was finally cut free, the spin halyard dropped and
the main dropped, the boat stood up and I simply helped drag her in over
the side...not a big deal. I don't know if she gulped water.
Scott Nixon was the guy who picked up the crew (I think) and he
eventually cut the sheet free which initiated the chain of events that
led to the eventual rescue. Like I said it was a team effort...on
my whaler Matt Beck and Vic Snyder helped drive the boat once I got on
Terry's boat and Matt tried to cut the sheet when we approached the
spinnaker.
Terry Shertz may be the best to talk to as well as she was the one in
the water and it was her boat. She would know more about the boat who
picked up her crew mates.
Hope that helps...again there were lots of people who were
involved....and all contributed.
Greg
Scott
Nixon picked up the other two.
Using the Quantum Avon inflatable 15’ they saw the two girls get
separated from their boat, so Scott grabbed two of them out of the
water. Eventually putting
them back on board Gorilla Girls. Then Scott removed Greg Fisher.
Girls were wearing PFDs.
Nominators
Name: Anna Tunnicliffe
Event Name: Rolex Women's Keelboat Championships
Sponsoring Yacht Club: Annapolis YC
Date of Event: September 2003
Event City: Annapolis
Event State: MD
Body of Water: Chesapeake bay
First Boat Name: Gorilla Girls
First Boat Length: 22'
First Boat Make Model: J/22
Rescuing Skipper: Corrie Clement
Rescuing Boat Make Model: J/22
Rescuing Boat Name: Peter Pirate
Rescuing Boat Length: 22'
What was the nature of this incident: Man over board
Did a Mayday call go out: no
Who responded: Corrie, Anna, Ali, and Nataliegh
Was any injury sustained by the victim: n
Was a PFD worn: y
What type: inflatable horseshoe
What position was the victim working before they went in: bow
Was this day or night: day
Wind speed: 30+kts
Wave height: 5+
Air temperature: 55ish
How much time did the victim spend in the water: 5-10 mins
What recovery method was used: figure 8
Was electronic MOB function used to locate the victim: n
Was a rescue swimmer put in the water: n
What color clothes were visible above the water: yellow
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: kind of
Was a Lifesling aboard: n
Rescuing Crews Names: Anna Tunnicliffe, Ali Sharpe, Nataleigh Vann.
How
did victim help himself back onboard: Held on for dear life once Anna
and Ali had gotten a hold of her, but it was too wavy for her to swim to
the boat.
How did the victim get hoisted onto the deck: Anna and Ali pulled her up
|
|
