This thread is much better than the news services.
Unclear if this was a health-related event but the fellow had a habit of sailing way over his head which may well have contributed to the tragic turn of events. RIP
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This thread is much better than the news services.
Unclear if this was a health-related event but the fellow had a habit of sailing way over his head which may well have contributed to the tragic turn of events. RIP
Thanks for the post about the windsurfer found dead in the ocean outside the Golden Gate Bridge. All the elements of risk seem to have been involved in his death including a strong outgoing tide, high wind beyond his ability, very old gear, frigid water, and a number of previous rescues. Very sad.
Barrett
Sad, sad stuff. SF bay is so intense and exhilarating– it's easy to imagine how somebody could get in over their head.
I really don't get the "at least he died doing something he loved" sentiment. Poor guy died of hypothermia or drowned in a panic. It doesn't seem all that fun.
Saddest thing to me is that none of these guys, who obviously saw he was a risk to himself, saw fit to take him aside and have the chat that could have saved his life: "Hey, man. You shouldn't sail here today."
In reading the whole thread, it would appear that one or more other sailors attempted to advise the fellow to use more discretion in choosing when and where to sail, but apparently he just wasn't hearing it. I've noticed that many people are not at all receptive to "input", especially if it is, or can be construed as negative. In a situation where you might want to say "Dude, you probably shouldn't sail here today", a more tactful approach may be required. Still, you may not be heard - so it goes.
I'm with you on this one, Chris. I'd much rather live doing something I love rather than the opposite. When you do get in trouble "doing something you love," your first thought tends not to be "What a glorious way to go out" but "oh, f$@#, this is serious and I'd really like to get home tonight."
I think, though, like CP, that I read that at least several folks attempted to impart some wisdom. Something similar happened to me at Van Pugh several years ago when we had an unusually windy day in September when the temperature was quite warm. I came off the water way powered on something like a 5.5 or even a 4.7- I do remember that it was way windy. Some fellow was about to launch his vintage Windsurfer, complete with Dacron 6 something, off the grassy point at Van Pugh which, to me, seemed like an express ticket to Bozo Island. Even if he had the skills to sail it, it would have been a total PITA reaching back on the boom far enough to control that laundry bag of a sail. I mentioned something like, "Be careful, it's very windy out there, you may want to reconsider." The audience wasn't very receptive. But, hey, what did I know?
Yes, people did try to caution him. Windsurfing draws indie types– you just can't tell some people anything. In fact, Brett sort of reminds me of me: old geezer sailing ancient equipment with an arrogant attitude. i.e. "You can't tell me this 12' long, 15 year old, once-got-run-over-by-a-truck, tanker-of-a-board isn't cool... and check out this sail! OK, it might be 20 years old, but look at it!– it's a dacron laminate!... and it has a c a m b e r - i n d u c e r !"
How about "dude, if you are really trying to kill yourself, why not try kiting?"
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Yes, Chris's board really was run over by a truck (and, wasn't that after it came off a roof rack at 70+ mph?). Some stuff you just can't make up.