Two incidents this summer – which could have turned into tragedies on the water – highlight the importance of sailor preparedness and the impact of your support.
Less than 48 hours after the start of the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race, the J/122 Alliance started taking on water. In the wee hours of the morning, the crew made the difficult decision to abandon ship. Thankfully, they were prepared to manage the crisis, and nearby competitors halted their races to come to the rescue.
Lydia Mullen, who was aboard the Alliance, wrote to US Sailing, saying “I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the work you do and how much effort you’ve put into making your [Safety at Sea] course engaging and comprehensive. Our evacuation was calm, and while it was obviously intense and stressful, there was no panic…we are all here and unharmed today because of that preparedness.”
In another incident, a crewmember fell overboard during the Chicago to Mackinac Race. Fortunately, regatta safety regulations meant that he was wearing a self-inflating PFD and was equipped with a waist bag that contained a personal automatic identification system crew overboard beacon and a powerful strobe light.
Nearby vessels reacted quickly to the MOB (man overboard) distress call, diverting from the racecourse to rescue the sailor. Richard York, Chairman of US Sailing’s Safety at Sea Committee, called it “a consummate recovery.”
It pays to be as prepared as possible. As Lydia Mullen noted after the Alliance rescue, “We’d already met our minimum crew requirements for Safety at Sea certificates onboard, but I’m beyond glad to have taken it as well.”
Many thanks to all US Sailing donors for keeping safety at the forefront of our sport. Your generosity saves lives.