Sailing Fans Reeling Over Yacht Race Death- 4 still Missing

[panzerfaust]

3. From the article "The power of those waves is incredible."

Something which may have been forgotten, in the press of circumstance.

I too have crewed on racing yachts (Swiftsure), as well as having served in the USN for over a decade. I have also sailed the Bay - but never more than a few miles beyond the Golden Gate.

At some point one must decide how far to challenge the power of the sea. A few boats turned back, most did not, none others lost any crew.

This points to it not being the conditions so much - as in Fastnet 1979 where 8% of the fleet was lost, and 15 died - as it seems due to an overly optimistic tactical navigation decision which put the craft in harm's way too close to the rocky shore.

They were reportedly experienced sailors, yet no one is immune from forgetting the power of the elements, and focusing on trivial human concerns such as cutting a couple of minutes off an elapsed time.

It is sad, and it is a strong reminder to "those who go down to the sea in ships" that the sea has little tolerance for human needs.

“Everywhere the sea is a teacher of truth. I am not sure that the best thing I find in sailing is not this salt of reality.”
- Hilaire Pierre Belloc, ca. 1910

May they rest in Peace.