Well, we got our name in the papers, so that still counts, right? Hold on to the boom peeps. It matters. Dang, this happened in July. You'd think this would be a cold weather thing but no. Well, hold on to the boom and wear a float/impact jacket.
https://www.ussailing.org/news/young-sailors-awarded-medal-for-windsurfer-rescue/
"BRISTOL, RI (December 6, 2023) – The US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee has awarded the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Rush Creek Yacht Club Youth Sailors for outstanding seamanship and awareness in the rescue of a windsurfer on Lake Hubbard in Dallas, Texas. Seven youth sailors were honored on December 3rd in a ceremony at Rush Creek Yacht Club, in Heath, Texas.
The Award was presented by US Sailing Representative Jeffrey Progelhof, of the Texas Sailing Association. The sailors honored were: Alex Deaton Mercedes Porter-Via Genevieve Young Leon Van Os Ian Park Ally Ravji Elizabeth Cleaves
The rescue took place on July 16, 2021 on Lake Hubbard, located northeast of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Bob Cummings, a 6’10″ windsurfer had lost his foil board and rig in 20 MPH wind gusts. The sailor was drifting in the middle of the lake, at least 2 miles from any shore, tired, cold, and considerably worried.
Youth Sailor Leon Van Os, visiting from Ensenada, Mexico, was sailing with the Rush Creek Yacht Club Youth race team on a 24 foot IC24 named “Fun.” He spotted the sailor in distress and alerted the rest of the crew. The youth sailors had been trained in “man overboard” rescue. The entire team worked together to rescue the sailor from the water. The victim was described as ‘blue’ when he was brought aboard. The team then transferred him to a rescue boat that returned him to shore and monitored his recovery.
Mr. Cummings said of his rescuers, “I am impressed by the sailing and seamanship skills that the students had! The “pick-up” was spot on – they made one pass. They could have easily “run” over me but didn’t. Despite the fact that I was very tired, and I am not a small person, they were able to pull me up onto the boat.” At the time of the rescue, the crew ranged in age from 13 to 16 years old."