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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
August 12, 2003 while cruising the Joaquin River in California in the
mid-afternoon with 20-25 knot winds, 1’-2’ seas, 60-degree water and
75-degree air temperature, Kevin and Karen Kelly were under mainsail on
their 26’ Clipper Marine when they observed a disabled 23’ powerboat
with a number of people in the water, near the leeshore and immediately
headed that way.
They
found a 9 year-old girl and two 15 year-old boys were holding their
300-pound uncle afloat in the water.
The girl and one of the boys were wearing PFD’s, the second boy
was holding his PFD and the uncle was not wearing a PFD.
The
Kelly’s turned into the eye of the wind to stop, leaving their
mainsail up for control in order to stay off the leeshore.
The victims all spoke a foreign language and were screaming
frantically. Both Kelly’s
knew some of the victims foreign language and were able to give
directions. First, the teenage boys passed the young girl out of the
water to the Kelly’s. Second,
the Kelly’s deployed a rope ladder that the uncle wrapped his arms in
as he dangled in the water. Third,
the two boys climbed up the topsides while being lifted by the
Kelly’s. Next, they couldn’t get the uncle out of the water and
proceeded to get a PFD on him, one arm at a time.
Finally
the victim’s family unfouled their propeller and came along side the
Kelly’s boat. Using the
victims powerboat’s swim platform and a metal ladder, the uncle was
able to climb back onto his powerboat. The victim had been in the cold
water for 30-minutes. Then the three children were passed back on board
their boat.
Congratulations to Kevin and Karen Kelly
for maintaining a watch, recognizing other mariners in peril, and
saving four souls. 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 at OCSC Sailing, #1 Spinnaker
Way, Berkeley, CA on January 31, 2004 by US SAILING President
Janet Baxter
on behalf of US SAILING.
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DETAILS:
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Nominators
Name: Antonia Hare
Event Name: N.A. Cruising
Event City: Delta
Event State: CA
Date of Incident: August 12, 2003
Body of Water: Joaquin River
First Boat Name: Powerboat
First Boat Length: 23 ft.
Rescuing Skipper: Kevin
Kelly
Rescuing1 Boat Make Model: Clipper Marine
Rescuing1 Boat Length: 26 ft.
What was the nature of this incident:
Crew overboard
Did a Mayday call go out: No
Was any injury sustained by the victim:
Not evident
Can your story be published: Yes
Can you provide articles about this event: No
Was a PFD worn: Yes
What type: Type II
What type1: Type III
What type2: Type III
What position was the victim working before they went in: Crew/ Skipper
Was this day or night: Day, 3 pm
Wind speed: 20-25 kt
Wave height: 1-2 ft.
Water temperature: 60 F
Air temperature: 75 F
How much time did the victim spend in the water: Over 30 minutes
What recovery method was used: Quick turn
Was a rescue swimmer put in the water: No
Did the victim have a strobe light or whistle: No
What color clothes were visible above the water: White t-shirts, blue
PFDs
Was the victim able to help in the recovery: Yes
Was a Lifesling aboard: No
Was it used: No
Rescuing Crews Names: Karen Kelly (wife)- Kevin's crew
What happened: Kevin Kelly produced the following account of the event:
"After sailing up to the their boat, we realized that the
people in the water were in trouble and needed a rescue. We found a
young girl, 8-9 years old; two boys, 14-15, all three trying to keep
their 300 lb. uncle from drowning. Everyone was screaming - those in the
water, and their family on their disabled powerboat. The girl and one of
the boys were wearing life jackets. The other boy was holding a life
jacket. We were able to get the children on board and put out our rope
ladder for the uncle to hold onto and get a life jacket on him. Finally,
their family was able to unfoul their prop and come along side to pick
up the rest of their party. They had a swim platform and a ladder that
the uncle was able to use to climb up on to."
How
did victim help himself back onboard: The teenage boys were able to
assist in passing the young girl out of the water and on to the Kellys'
boat.
How
did the victim get hoisted onto the deck: Kevin and Karen Kelly were
unable to get the 300 lb. man into their boat so they put down their
rope ladder for him to hang on to. When the victim's powerboat unfouled
their prop, the swim platform was used to get him out of the water. |
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