NEWS AND NOTES
Blue Water Sailing
July 28, 2009
Savage Beauty on the rocks under the Golden Gate
'Savage Beauty sailing on San Francisco bay before the incident'
Savage Beauty was competing in the YRA Second Half Opener, during which boats head out from the Golden Gate to Point Bonita and then down hill all the way back to the Oakland/Alameda Estuary and finish at the Encinal Yacht Club. Saturday, there was very large flood tide, and many of the boats took well over an hour to get from the start area just to the Golden Gate Bridge. Savage Beauty was with a group of other boats, in a tacking duel, and got a tad closer than they should have. There was a large underlying 10ft south swell from and expired tropical storm near Tahiti a week or so ago which was mostly hidden under its 18-20 interval length. "Savage Beauty may have bumped an underwater snag," writes Erik Simonson (who also shot the compelling photos), lost momentum and was then picked up by the swell and placed closer to shore than they anticipated. Apparently they attempted to start the engine and rescue themselves, but the prop got fouled leaving them helpless."
Having sailed these waters for years, I am all too familiar with the danger. It's amazing how fast a current or swell can grab your boat and suddenly you are no-longer in control, instead, you are helpless, even with an running engine.
Read the rest of Eric's account:
Seeking relief, many boats utilize the north sides rocky shoreline, dancing within inches of the massive basalt wall on the Marin side. Savage Beauty was with a group of other boats in a tacking duel and got a tad closer than they should have or wanted to. ( I did not see the incident's onset, just the general current events)
'Crew still aboard two private boats standing by.'
There was a large underlying 10ft south swell from and expired tropical storm near Tahiti a week or so ago which was mostly hidden under its 18-20 interval length. I believe Savage Beauty bumped an under water snag, lost momentum and was then picked up by the swell and placed closer to shore than they wanted. Apparently they attempted to start the engine and rescue themselves, but the prop got fouled leaving them helpless.
'Two private boats standing by and hoping to get a towline onto SB'
A nearby recreational fishing boat called the US Coastguard almost immediately, and their response was quick. The Horseshoe Cove HQ for Station Golden Gate is less than half a nautical mile away.
'She swings back side on in the next set of swells and drives into the rocks - the crew are still aboard.'
'About to attempt to pull them off, which failed, and the Marin County Sheriff then appeared.'
Attempts to dislodge the boat initially failed, and when the Marine County Sheriff Dept arrived with USCG, they quickly accessed the situation and ordered the crew off. Between sets of swells they dashed in and grabbed crew members and hauled them into their RIB. When all were unloaded and the owner finally rescued, they hung out a bit waiting for a salvage crew to arrive and attempt saving the Flying Tiger. I'm not sure if they even got a line on her, but within an hour, the boat was reduced to large pieces of flotsam and jetsam - which littered the area just west of the Golden Gate bridge.
'The next set hit - the Sheriff’s RIB has backed off in the set - her crew are all still aboard SB.'
'Gets swung bow onto the swell.'
'Sheriff’s RIB goes in again and crew try to get off.'
'Waiting for a set of 10ft swells to roll through.'
'Now stuck fact, the rest of the crew get off - she broke up within the hour.'
by Erik Simonson / Photos courtesy of www.h2oshots.com
