Bad Times in Mobile

[PuffyJman]

Third victim identified. Search continues for fourth body.

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (AP) - Authorities on Wednesday identified the third person killed when a powerful storm struck a sailboat race off the Alabama coast and said they will search one more day for three boaters who remained missing.

The body of William Glenn Massey, 67, of Daphne was found near a gas platform in Mobile Bay, the Coast Guard said. An angler spotted the body Tuesday and notified officials.

Massey, who lived in his sailboat in a marina on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, was the third person confirmed dead since the boating disaster happened Saturday afternoon. His Facebook page featured of photo of him at the helm of a sailboat.

The other victims were Kris Beall, 27, of Pineville, Louisiana, and Robert Delaney, 72, of Madison, Mississippi.

Searchers have covered more than 6,500 square miles of water looking for possible survivors and victims, and volunteers walked shorelines looking for any signs of the missing.

Capt. Duke Walker, commander of the Coast Guard in Mobile, said the search would continue through sunset Thursday, but crews will go back to normal duties afterward.

Searchers have combed the surface of Mobile Bay, dove to sunken boats and flown 20 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico looking for signs of life, he said. "You're looking in a very large area for a very small target, so it makes it challenging," said Walker.

The families of two of the boaters who are still missing held a news conference Tuesday at Dauphin Island to thank emergency responders and others. They identified the missing as Adam Clark, 17, of Mobile and Jimmie Charles "J.C." Brown, 71.

Clark's mother, Angie Tew, choked up when discussing his plan to be a software engineer someday.

"Adam is an amazing kid who loves his brother and his sister so much," she said. Brown's stepdaughter Jennifer Hoffman thanked sailors who helped save people when the storm hit Saturday afternoon during the Dauphin Island Regatta.

In Louisiana, Amanda Allbritton Beall said a funeral will be held Friday for her husband, Kris, who was working hard to build his construction business.

"He had unending energy," she said. "I don't know where all his energy came from. He never stopped. I mean, he always made the most of every day. He was not a sitter. It drove him crazy just to sit."

Robert Delaney was the owner of the Cal 24, his crew were the ones we pulled from the water. I'm relieved they found him for his family's sake.

 

[Fast Freddie]

Seems like two more body's have been found.

 

[Group9]

I was anchored behind the FloraBama in my 42 foot sloop, when it hit. I had two anchors out, (a CQR on mostly chain and a Danforth, most line but some chain) but mainly just to hold me out of the narrow channel, to be more our of the way of drunken powerboaters. I was in my 11 foot dinghy going from the boat to the Florabama when it hit. I've been sailing this area for 30 years, and I've been through so many thunderstorms, I've lost count. Mobile Bay is famous for being rough in one. (If you live around there and you decide you're not going to not sail in Mobile Bay with the threat of a thunderstorm, you're going to be sailing a lot less in your life). But, I've never seen anything like this.

Just as I pulled up behind the Florabama it hit, going from 5-10 knots to 55 or 60 in mabe a minute or less. It completely spun my dingy around and waves (2-3 feet) started to pile up in a really protected area of water behind the Florabama (between the barrier island the Florabama sits on and Ono Island) that really doesn't ever even get waves except for boat wakes. The beached powerboats were coming loose and looked like toys in a bathtub with a kid making waves with his hands. I ran downwind back to my boat, and could barely board it due to the waves. I cranked the motor up, ready to drop the anchor lines and go if the drug. It lasted for a good 20 minutes or more and was the worst storm I have ever actually seen from a boat. Knowing how rough Mobile Bay can get in a thunderstorm, I was not surprised, but was saddened, to hear of the fatalities.

I would not like to have been caught in this thing with my sails up in Mobile Bay (or in a small boat) and I can see how it caught so many people by surprise. I hope it was once in a lifetime event for me.

 

[Notquitecapnron]

Did the boat that reportedly ran over the 4G still have sail up?

 

[surf nazi]

Vibroman described it exactly how it rolled: "As far as I can tell there was no cloud formation visible that would warn people just an increasing darkening overcast. The cold wind off the tops approached at 65 knots! most boats were towards the SW part of the bay so by the time the squall line hit the water and became visible out of the gloom it was too late."

Max- The description matches overhead development of a severe thunderstorm but I submit that is to be expected given the forecast and the cold air mixing with relatively very warm Gulf waters over Mobile Bay. I am not saying novice sailors would have recognized these signs but the NWS watches and warnings provided at least a hint that the weather could turn SEVERE on Saturday afternoon. What is the solution to best ensure this does not happen again? I am not sure but it is worth discussion by this community to try and identify the warning signs in the hopes that the next time the conditions mirror Saturday's events, sailors will seek safe harbor sooner if possible.

[SIZE=medium]I was not on the water on Saturday, but was aware of the tornado watch that expired at noon. While T-storms are always a possibility here, this implied to me that the worst of the weather would be passed by then. The NWS is usually pretty good about that sort of thing down here, including tracking strong cells and streaming to the minute when they will hit the various towns across the bottom of the TV.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We were in the Gulf Shores area (20-25 mi east of Dauphin Isl) that afternoon. We got caught outside (on land) when it first hit and ran for cover and then the car, drove in it for a bit, got out/in again (in the rain) and then drove awhile through the rest until it passed. While clearly not just a shower, we were surprised at the amount of damage that we saw along the way – trees and lots of limbs down, numerous billboards trashed, power / traffic lights out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Again, maybe because I wasn’t following the weather, and I (probably) would have paid a little more attention to it if I was actually going out on the water, but the severity seen in the aftermath of this storm was somewhat surprising to me.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]A couple other items to reiterate (for you to interpret as you please):[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=medium]Many / all of the catamarans caught by the storm had finished the race and were on their way home.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]The Catalina 22 that sank and had three crew rescued from the water was because they were literally run over by another, larger boat and not because of their abilities or lack thereof.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]It has been reported, but I can’t confirm that it’s true, that only about 10-20% of the 50 or so plucked from the water were in the race, the rest were “civilians” out cruising.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]This race and many others have been run in the Gulf, from FL to TX, for decades and nothing like this has happened before (that I’m aware of). My reading of all of this is that while perhaps not completely unpredicted / unpredictable, the storm event was a bit of an anomaly. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again. Condolences to all affected.[/SIZE]

I did a GORC race back in the day, the 100 mile on out to a oil rig and back so more of an offshore deal. It went to shit and a friend didn't make it when his boat got hammered. He got washed overboard and they couldn't get back to him. I was on a IOR one ton and the waves were higher than we were long. 80 mph winds I was scared shitless the whole time. I was 17 and learned exactly what could happen if you were unlucky even if you had your shit together. Also the last time I ever thought someone was a wuss for heading back in when they decided the conditions were too much for them. I hate thinking about that race.

I was in that GORC race too as a youngster. Actually, it was a 200 mile ocean triangle from gulfport to the miss river sea bouy (100 mi ) then to Mobile sea bouy then back to gulfport.. I drove a north american 40 a long time during the night and was never so happy to see a sun rise as I was that morning. Driving in those huge waves in complete darkness was challenging to say the least. The owner of the boat who had been a big time new england/ new york racer never stepped foot on the boat again and gave up the sport.

When we got back to the dock there were scores of wives and children asking if we had heard from boat so and so. A lot of boats lost masts and therefore communication. This was not many years after the fastnet tragedy and we all were very afraid that the death toll was going to be larger. Still very sad that the one young man, a student at Tulane, lost his life. they now host a regatta in his honor.

 

[DryArmour]

I was anchored behind the FloraBama in my 42 foot sloop, when it hit. I had two anchors out, (a CQR on mostly chain and a Danforth, most line but some chain) but mainly just to hold me out of the narrow channel, to be more our of the way of drunken powerboaters. I was in my 11 foot dinghy going from the boat to the Florabama when it hit. I've been sailing this area for 30 years, and I've been through so many thunderstorms, I've lost count. Mobile Bay is famous for being rough in one. (If you live around there and you decide you're not going to not sail in Mobile Bay with the threat of a thunderstorm, you're going to be sailing a lot less in your life). But, I've never seen anything like this.

Just as I pulled up behind the Florabama it hit, going from 5-10 knots to 55 or 60 in mabe a minute or less. It completely spun my dingy around and waves (2-3 feet) started to pile up in a really protected area of water behind the Florabama (between the barrier island the Florabama sits on and Ono Island) that really doesn't ever even get waves except for boat wakes. The beached powerboats were coming loose and looked like toys in a bathtub with a kid making waves with his hands. I ran downwind back to my boat, and could barely board it due to the waves. I cranked the motor up, ready to drop the anchor lines and go if the drug. It lasted for a good 20 minutes or more and was the worst storm I have ever actually seen from a boat. Knowing how rough Mobile Bay can get in a thunderstorm, I was not surprised, but was saddened, to hear of the fatalities.

I would not like to have been caught in this thing with my sails up in Mobile Bay (or in a small boat) and I can see how it caught so many people by surprise. I hope it was once in a lifetime event for me.

Great account from someone with experience. Thank you for providing 30 years (That's a lot) of historical perspective. As you noted I hope that at a minimum lessons are learned by those of us who were not there but may someday face a similar weather onslaught. Be safe this week everyone.

 

[DarthSailor]

Vibroman described it exactly how it rolled: "As far as I can tell there was no cloud formation visible that would warn people just an increasing darkening overcast. The cold wind off the tops approached at 65 knots! most boats were towards the SW part of the bay so by the time the squall line hit the water and became visible out of the gloom it was too late."

Max- The description matches overhead development of a severe thunderstorm but I submit that is to be expected given the forecast and the cold air mixing with relatively very warm Gulf waters over Mobile Bay. I am not saying novice sailors would have recognized these signs but the NWS watches and warnings provided at least a hint that the weather could turn SEVERE on Saturday afternoon. What is the solution to best ensure this does not happen again? I am not sure but it is worth discussion by this community to try and identify the warning signs in the hopes that the next time the conditions mirror Saturday's events, sailors will seek safe harbor sooner if possible.

[SIZE=medium]I was not on the water on Saturday, but was aware of the tornado watch that expired at noon. While T-storms are always a possibility here, this implied to me that the worst of the weather would be passed by then. The NWS is usually pretty good about that sort of thing down here, including tracking strong cells and streaming to the minute when they will hit the various towns across the bottom of the TV.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We were in the Gulf Shores area (20-25 mi east of Dauphin Isl) that afternoon. We got caught outside (on land) when it first hit and ran for cover and then the car, drove in it for a bit, got out/in again (in the rain) and then drove awhile through the rest until it passed. While clearly not just a shower, we were surprised at the amount of damage that we saw along the way – trees and lots of limbs down, numerous billboards trashed, power / traffic lights out.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Again, maybe because I wasn’t following the weather, and I (probably) would have paid a little more attention to it if I was actually going out on the water, but the severity seen in the aftermath of this storm was somewhat surprising to me.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]A couple other items to reiterate (for you to interpret as you please):[/SIZE]

• [SIZE=medium]Many / all of the catamarans caught by the storm had finished the race and were on their way home.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]The Catalina 22 that sank and had three crew rescued from the water was because they were literally run over by another, larger boat and not because of their abilities or lack thereof.[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=medium]It has been reported, but I can’t confirm that it’s true, that only about 10-20% of the 50 or so plucked from the water were in the race, the rest were “civilians” out cruising.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]This race and many others have been run in the Gulf, from FL to TX, for decades and nothing like this has happened before (that I’m aware of). My reading of all of this is that while perhaps not completely unpredicted / unpredictable, the storm event was a bit of an anomaly. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again. Condolences to all affected.[/SIZE]

I did a GORC race back in the day, the 100 mile on out to a oil rig and back so more of an offshore deal. It went to shit and a friend didn't make it when his boat got hammered. He got washed overboard and they couldn't get back to him. I was on a IOR one ton and the waves were higher than we were long. 80 mph winds I was scared shitless the whole time. I was 17 and learned exactly what could happen if you were unlucky even if you had your shit together. Also the last time I ever thought someone was a wuss for heading back in when they decided the conditions were too much for them. I hate thinking about that race.

I was in that GORC race too as a youngster. Actually, it was a 200 mile ocean triangle from gulfport to the miss river sea bouy (100 mi ) then to Mobile sea bouy then back to gulfport.. I drove a north american 40 a long time during the night and was never so happy to see a sun rise as I was that morning. Driving in those huge waves in complete darkness was challenging to say the least. The owner of the boat who had been a big time new england/ new york racer never stepped foot on the boat again and gave up the sport.

When we got back to the dock there were scores of wives and children asking if we had heard from boat so and so. A lot of boats lost masts and therefore communication. This was not many years after the fastnet tragedy and we all were very afraid that the death toll was going to be larger. Still very sad that the one young man, a student at Tulane, lost his life. they now host a regatta in his honor.

You are correct 200 mile triangle. I was confusing it with another out and back race.

 

[AJ Oliver]

The Weather Channel is reporting that all six deaths were from the racing fleet?

Is that correct?

Again, deepest condolences from the Sweetwater Seas.

 

[wingonwing]

Condolences to the fellow racers who were lost in this storm. Very sad.

If I were on one of the area RCs (or maybe they even have a multi-club Yacht Racing Assoc. as we do in many places), I would make the following changes pronto:

1. For all area races, either as standing association rules or adopted by each club and signed on to, modify the RRS in each NOR and SI to state that "Personal Flotation Devices are required to be worn at all times when racing. This modifies the RRS and Flag Y will not be flown." I have raced all over the world and am still surprised that in some places (e.g. in the Solent, unless this has changed in the past year or so since I've been gone), unless the Y flag is shown, people still race without PFDs on, in 15 plus knots, and are dancing all over the pointy end. Things happen fast in racing - I am less concerned about people's ability or inability to swim or to do a proper MOB retrieval, but people can get knocked out or incapacitated on the way over, and the only thing that will save your life is a PFD that keeps your head above the water and keeps you breathing air instead of water until help can come, whether you are inshore or offshore on a calm sunny day or in a squall. Tethers and jacklines are also awesome, but difficult to implement depending on boat/crew unless you are seriously going offshore or overnight. I do like to tether in when shorthanded.

2. Require racing boats to carry VHFs. Strongly suggest that the VHF is water proof and that there is at least one handheld carried on the skipper's person. Strongly suggest that larger boats have a below-decks VHF with greater range than a handheld tuned to 16 while the skipper has her/his VHF tuned to the racing channel. I have a VHF below decks and also have a waterproof handheld that I securely clip to my PFD. It is turned on and is on my person at all times when skippering a race. We also have the rule on my boat that when something comes across the radio, everyone stops talking so that it can be heard in case it is an emergency call, a change in course, etc.

 

[Edith Bicknell]

No. 2 - ok

No.1 - Fuck off

 

[Rasputin22]

VHF's were mandatory for all boats in the Dauphin Island race, even the beach cats. I did read of one case though where the VHF on a cat was in the drybag on the tramp and the boat blew away from the crew. There is a great tale of a young (15 year old) girl who was out sailing for her FIRST time ever on a H16 who spent nearly three hours in the water with her skipper who was able to get his unsubscribed (no active account) iPhone to dial 911 which apparently still works without an active account. (who knew?) The skip had a handheld GPS in his PFD pocket and she got passed off to the CG by 911 and she read off co-ordinates to the CG who relayed to the Sheriff boat. The rescue boat still couldn't spot the two in the water and she could see them and gave them specific directions 'Marker X and then turn due South', and brought the rescue boat right to them.

 

[wingonwing]

If you have a problem wearing a PFD, then get a better PFD. Or, you have a death wish, so don't wear one, and then let someone in your fleet protest you if the SIs require it.

To me, racing without a PFD is like going backcountry skiing without an axe and a beacon. Yeah, 99% of the time you aren't going to need them, but you never know when that 1% of the time is, and no matter how great or perfect or competent of a sailor you are, there are other people out there on the water who are less competent, possibly drunk, or completely clueless, and there is also Mother Nature, who is by definition completely unpredictable.

I'm on the board of several clubs, run racing for one of those clubs, and have also looked at this from the liability standpoint. As an RC, you definitely want to require the use of PFDs in your NOR and SI. If racers don't want to comply, then it's on the skipper. This is a very good way to help limit your liability as an OA (which we know does not have liability anyway, technically, but that doesn't stop people from trying to blame the Committee.)

 

[Rasputin22]

I was reading yesterday about parachute use while soaring. My club instructs with no parachute for instructor or student as do many. I bought one as soon as I solo'ed and wear it when flying alone in my single place. In aircraft if one person wears a chute, then all wear a chute. Good logic in that. One comment I thought would apply here was 'better to wear a chute and not need it that to not wear a chute and need it'.

 

[surf nazi]

Condolences to the fellow racers who were lost in this storm. Very sad.

If I were on one of the area RCs (or maybe they even have a multi-club Yacht Racing Assoc. as we do in many places), I would make the following changes pronto:

1. For all area races, either as standing association rules or adopted by each club and signed on to, modify the RRS in each NOR and SI to state that "Personal Flotation Devices are required to be worn at all times when racing. This modifies the RRS and Flag Y will not be flown." I have raced all over the world and am still surprised that in some places (e.g. in the Solent, unless this has changed in the past year or so since I've been gone), unless the Y flag is shown, people still race without PFDs on, in 15 plus knots, and are dancing all over the pointy end. Things happen fast in racing - I am less concerned about people's ability or inability to swim or to do a proper MOB retrieval, but people can get knocked out or incapacitated on the way over, and the only thing that will save your life is a PFD that keeps your head above the water and keeps you breathing air instead of water until help can come, whether you are inshore or offshore on a calm sunny day or in a squall. Tethers and jacklines are also awesome, but difficult to implement depending on boat/crew unless you are seriously going offshore or overnight. I do like to tether in when shorthanded.

2. Require racing boats to carry VHFs. Strongly suggest that the VHF is water proof and that there is at least one handheld carried on the skipper's person. Strongly suggest that larger boats have a below-decks VHF with greater range than a handheld tuned to 16 while the skipper has her/his VHF tuned to the racing channel. I have a VHF below decks and also have a waterproof handheld that I securely clip to my PFD. It is turned on and is on my person at all times when skippering a race. We also have the rule on my boat that when something comes across the radio, everyone stops talking so that it can be heard in case it is an emergency call, a change in course, etc.

With all due respect, you should stfu. There is no reason to have a blanket requirement for pfd's at all times no matter the conditions. This is an overreaction to a tragedy. VHF requirement, sure, it's good to be able to have communication and weather alerts. PFD's alone do not prevent all drownings. Some of those who died had on pfd's. It is the skipper's and individual's responsibility to take necesssary precautions. It is not yours, the governments or the yc's. Sure it's a good idea to fly the pfd flag in cold water or breezy conditions with small boats. I wear one pretty much all the time, However , such a blanket requirment doesn't take into account properly wearing the pfd, I have rescued someone freaking out because their pfd was above their heads . Are you going to check everyone for propely wearing their life jacket ? what about people that can't swim or otherwise are easliy paniced when tossed into rough seas ( most people ).

But because of people like you, I am sure there is going to be a great hue and cry for pfds all on people on all boats at all times. It won't help a tragedy like this not happen again I'm sorry to say. The sea can be very cruel and we cannot control it by making up rules.

 

[Edith Bicknell]

And, show us yer tits!

 

[Rasputin22]

 

[Maxx Baqustae]

I have to agree with SN as you can't regulate common sense; nor should it be. IMHO - that's what happened a lack of common sense to go or not. Put on PFD or not. But a tether or not. Listen to the local weather or VHF or not.

If you are getting thunder cells that are causing micro-bursts (which I'm pretty certain what happened) then pay full attention. If it's 5 to 10 knots with no chance of anything else I'm not putting my PDF and tether because the regulations say I have to? Please....give me a break!

 

[Edith Bicknell]

I have to agree with SN as you can't regulate common sense; nor should it be. IMHO - that's what happened a lack of common sense to go or not. Put on PFD or not. But a tether or not. Listen to the local weather or VHF or not.

If you are getting thunder cells that are causing micro-bursts (which I'm pretty certain what happened) then pay full attention. If it's 5 to 10 knots with no chance of anything else I'm not putting my PDF and tether because the regulations say I have to? Please....give me a break! [/quote

Don't you agree with me also ?

 

[wingonwing]

I'm saying this chiefly from the perspective of limiting one's liability as a Race Committee, and also limiting one's personal liability as a race skipper if things go sideways.

YRA of Northern California has had this rule in the San Francisco Bay for a number of years and I haven't encountered one skipper or crew who complains about using a PFD when racing. Same goes for a number of sailing clubs around the country, and quite a few charter outfits. I am not saying that wearing a PFD will save your life in any and all situations... I'm just saying that it does make the sport safer, and so if there's the option of making things safer, why not do it?

If you really have that huge of a personal issue with wearing a PFD, then no one is going to personally force you to do it. I'm talking about putting these things in writing as an RC or deciding if, as a skip, you want to enforce a rule like this on your own team.

If anyone notices, everyone on an America's Cup team wears a PFD at all times while on the water. They don't complain and actually see this as an essential piece of safety kit. They also wear helmets. And don't complain. Most world and Olympic racers wear PFDs, all the time, even though they are sailing small boats/dinghies, quite often in 5 to 10 knots, and are fantastic athletes and excellent swimmers.

If it's blowing 5 to 10 knots, you can still have an idiot crash gybe and knock people off his or her boat. You can still have a drunken powerboater t-bone you going 15 kts, and you can sink. You can have your keel fall off and capsize. There is no end to the crazy and strange situations that can happen. Calm weather conditions don't mean a lack of risk. Wearing PFDs is a risk mitigation strategy that is fairly simple to implement.

FYI - our Ocean YRA has even more regulations and required safety kit, such as PFDs with crotch straps, lifelines, etc. Maybe these things will or will not save lives, but you can be sure that they will help limit the liability of the OA if things go wrong out there. Tethers are required to have on board but there is no requirement that people clip in.

Already being on my second or third life... I just prefer to do whatever is possible to make things as safe as possible when taking calculated risks, such as racing big yachts.

 

[RKoch]

Wing, there's a big diff between wearing a PFD in windy cold SF Bay, and on the Gulf Coast where it's humid hot and usually light air.

There's also a big difference between racing 72' foiling cats at 40 knots, and a 25' 4knsb.

NASCAR requires an extensive roll cage, on-board fire suppression, fire suits, helmets, HANS device, and 5-point driver restraint. Are you suggesting this should be mandatory for an Autocross event, or even a trip to the 7-11?