This afternoon Im out in the shop with a couple of customers when the box starts straining its circuit board. I grab it and read: OVERTURNED SAILBOAT, PERSON IN THE WATER, HIGGINS POINT AREA.
A buddy of mine is at the shop and can run it so I excuse myself, run in to kiss the wife and get my keys. Dont ever leave home without the kiss.
Then head 14 miles to the east.
One unit takes the freeway to the scene and I take the lake route arriving at the point 9 minutes into the call. Neither of us can see an overturned boat but the lake is very choppy with 30+ mph winds and strong gusts. I had just started to turn around at the dead end when a male comes up to me and asks, Are you looking for me? Hes wet so I ask if he was on a boat. He was who we were looking for.
After a brief interview I have the team cancel as he was our guy and the lone occupant of the vessel. Seems that this expert sailor purchased this 16 sailboat two weeks ago and decided to go sailing in conditions that would be rough for the Americas Cup. He was a couple of hundred yards from shore when he flips the boat and is launched into the water. The PFD he had was sitting on the seat next to him and he couldnt get to it after the incident so he starts swimming for shore. He has to be one tough cookie to hit the 40df water and swim 200 yards in those rough conditions.
The boat is still about 30 from shore with the mast stuck into the bottom. They will attempt to retrieve it tomorrow when conditions improve.
He needs to go buy a lottery ticket as he is one of the luckiest men alive.
A buddy of mine is at the shop and can run it so I excuse myself, run in to kiss the wife and get my keys. Dont ever leave home without the kiss.
Then head 14 miles to the east. One unit takes the freeway to the scene and I take the lake route arriving at the point 9 minutes into the call. Neither of us can see an overturned boat but the lake is very choppy with 30+ mph winds and strong gusts. I had just started to turn around at the dead end when a male comes up to me and asks, Are you looking for me? Hes wet so I ask if he was on a boat. He was who we were looking for.
After a brief interview I have the team cancel as he was our guy and the lone occupant of the vessel. Seems that this expert sailor purchased this 16 sailboat two weeks ago and decided to go sailing in conditions that would be rough for the Americas Cup. He was a couple of hundred yards from shore when he flips the boat and is launched into the water. The PFD he had was sitting on the seat next to him and he couldnt get to it after the incident so he starts swimming for shore. He has to be one tough cookie to hit the 40df water and swim 200 yards in those rough conditions.
The boat is still about 30 from shore with the mast stuck into the bottom. They will attempt to retrieve it tomorrow when conditions improve.
He needs to go buy a lottery ticket as he is one of the luckiest men alive.
