To:  USWA Officers & others:

Jane didn't accompany me on this year's Chesapeake cruise because I decided it was no longer safe for the two of us sailing together.  Jane's sailing skills are limited and I'm getting too old to adequately assure her safety should a mishap occur.  Also, she doesn't enjoy rough water.  On the other hand, with Tom Goldsmith who is a competent sailor as my partner I felt very comfortable and we both enjoyed the cruise immensely.  We were safe.  Please keep this thought in mind as you read the following account.

 "We found them!  They were at the marina on Smith Island."  It was a 'Man Overboard', they said.  "The man was still soaking wet and pretty exhausted.  They had just gotten in."  We were at Tangier Island and the time was about eight PM, Monday, May 26.  Those of us still on the dock were greatly relieved.  The Harbor Patrol had only then returned from a search and rescue for one of our boats.  Without those three patrolmen, and their big Zodiac, we would have been hard pressed to know whether our friends were safe or in serious trouble.

Our seven Wayfarers - 14 people - departed Smith Island Marina for Tangier Island shortly before 11:00 AM.  The day was bright and sunny, with a SW wind of 15 to 17 knots, and waves two to three feet.  Tangier Is. was a beat of 11 NM due south.  Last to leave were Jeff & Fran, followed by Al & Hans.  We were sailing the west shore of Smith Island which faces the big part of the Bay.  Four Wayfarers had put in reefs, while the remaining three were with full sail.  There was sufficient spray that after about an hour I was pretty wet and chilled, so I decided to pull on my foul weather gear. 

About this time the formation of the fleet was:  a) Kit & Mark about 1/2 to 1 NM out front.  b) A clump of 5 Wayfarers were grouped in the middle.  c)  Jeff & Fran barely visible way back.  Al & Hans had worked their way up from behind to join the middle group.

By 4:00 PM six of the group were tied up in slips at Parks' Marina, on Tangier Island,  All arriving within 30 to 40 minutes of Kit & Mark.  No one had seen Jeff & Fran for quite a while - I think at least a couple of hours.  At five o'clock everyone met at the Fishermen's Corner for dinner.  The restaurant which normally closes at 4:00 was staying open for us.  At that point I was still hoping Jeff & Fran would show up.  In the past they have shown a pattern of being slow sailors and arriving late.  At the 2012 cruise they had arrived three hours late at Slaughter Creek Marina on the Little Choptank River.  On that occasion I was on the phone with the Coast Guard when they finally showed up..  

During dinner several of the group with cell phones tried unsuccessfully to reach Pauli at Smith Island to see if the Kirks had turned back.  Cell coverage on Tangier Is.is very poor.  Tom Goldsmith then went over to Milton Parks house to see if he could phone Smith Island Marina.  That didn't work either.  Finally, I asked the restaurant manager if she could call the Harbor Police for me.  They had assisted a couple of our boats coming into the marina.  That worked.  

I informed the police desk we had an over due boat, giving them as much detailed information as I could.  Could they notify the Coast Guard?  The man replied that they would issue an alert, but would also send out their patrol boat.  I'm not sure they have complete confidence in the Coast Guard.  Finally, something was about to happen.  Within 20 minutes the big Zodiac was headed north on its way.

Not until much later did Carolyn Tate receive Pauli's email saying that Jeff & Fran were safely in at Smith Island.  The next day, Tuesday, four of our Wayfarers returned to Smith Is.

What Happened?  Piecing together bits of conversation with Jeff and Fran the is what I believe happened.  Jeff missed a tack when his PFD caught on the boom.  The boom came back and hit his head at the same time the lee rail dipped under.  Being on the leeward side Jeff then fell backwards and out of the boat.  Fortunately, Jeff managed to grab a trailing line, enabling him to get two hands on the transom.  Fran lowered the sails.  This happened around 3:00 PM when they were better than half way from Smith Is. to Tangier Is.

The problem is Jeff is a large man and over weight who has had several joint replacements.  He has limited noble.  Even with Fran's help Jeff was unable to get back into the boat.  But luck was with them:  a) The water temperature was not real cold.  b) They were relatively close to shore when the accident happened.  c) The western side of Smith Island at this location is shallow and all sandy.  d) The SW wind was pushing them towards shore.  

Tuesday, after visiting Watts Is. Kit & Mark returned to Crisfield.  Wednesday, the Kirks returned to Crisfield along with the Tates and Ken Butler & grandson Jordan.  Also, the same day splitting off from the others Tom Goldsmith & me, Al & Hans, and Annmarie & Allen sailed for Weona on Deal Is.  We returned to Crisfield Thursday.

Discussion.  As certainly would be expected, there was a lot of discussion about this incident and concern expressed for Jeff and Fran.  This was a close call for them.  In cold, rocky waters, with strong tidal currents, such as found in Maine waters, Jeff may not have survived.  The group felt that procedures need to be implemented so that no one is ever left behind again.  Two recommendations were made:

1)  There should always be a designated sweep boat - an experienced last boat that keeps the fleet in front of them.

2)  An alternative to this would be making sure all slower or less experienced boats are paired with an experienced buddy.

4)  How to address the problem of a slow boat needs to be addressed.  Any boat that is unable to sail - within reasonable bounds - of keep up with the general fleet can significantly retard progress.  This poses a safety problem to themselves and others.  I feel that as a group Wayfarer cruises have done very well teaching newcomers the ropes regarding honing sailing skills and how to tune their boats to obtain good sailing performance.  What we haven't done and need to is recognize those who may have a limiting physical conditions.  We need to find ways to keep them included in events without putting them or others at risk.           

I would like the above points to become a discussion.  I would also like to reach some kind of agreement on implementing improvements before the Hermit Island rally in August.