BRISTOL, RI (November 4, 2024) – The US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee awarded the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to the skipper and crew of a racing yacht for rescue of a competitor that had fallen overboard.
Award ceremonies were held on November 1, 2024, at Columbia Yacht Club, respectively. The medal was presented by Maggie Shea, Olympic sailor and member of the US Sailing Board of Directors, along with Gail Turluck, Secretary of Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation, for the following rescue:
On September 10, 2023, during the during the Hobelman Memorial Regatta at the Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club a competitor fell overboard. He was not wearing a life jacket.
Two boats attempted unsuccessfully to make or maintain contact with the man in the water, including the boat from which he had fallen. At this point, the man in the water indicated that he was exhausted and anxious to get out of the water as soon as possible.
The J/105 Nyctosaur, also competing in the race, saw the situation and immediately sailed towards it. Crew members on Nyctosaur immediately started to point towards the man in the water, grabbed a crew overboard “horseshoe” float, and turned the boat head to wind to slow enough to make and maintain contact with the person in the water. Nyctosaur doused their spinnaker and threw a quickly accessible throw-bag to the man.
They then pulled him onto the stern on their boat and lowered the swim ladder. After helping him on board and ensuring he was uninjured, they coordinated to return him to his own boat.
In recognition of S/V Nyctosaur’s situational awareness, watchkeeping, preparation and superior seamanship in support of fellow racers in need resulting in the rescue of a competitor overboard, US Sailing was pleased to award the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to boat owner Mark Fruin and his crew on S/V Nyctosaur: Jeff Goff, Danielle Fruin, Tom Egan, John Hooker, and Anya Bogusky.
The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal is awarded to any person who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils at sea within the territorial waters of the United States, or as part of a sailboat race or voyage that originated or stopped in the U.S. The medal was established in 1990 by friends of the late Mr. Hanson, an ocean-racing sailor from the Chesapeake Bay, with the purpose of recognizing significant accomplishments in seamanship and collecting case studies of rescues for analysis by the Safety at Sea Committee of US Sailing for use in educational and training programs. Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for a Hanson Rescue Medal.
Visit the US Sailing Hanson Rescue Medal website for more information about these awards, including nomination form instructions and guidelines.
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About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is dedicated to leading, advancing, supporting, and ensuring integrity in sailing at every level. Founded in 1897, US Sailing, now serving over 40,000 members as well as over 1,500 yacht clubs and sailing centers, offers training and certifications for sailors, instructors, and race officials, oversees national championships, manages offshore ratings, conducts regional and national events, and spearheads initiatives to increase accessibility. US Sailing also leads the training and development of the US Sailing Team for the Olympic Games and high-performance international competitions, providing comprehensive financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing, and communications support, as well as managing the Team USA athlete selection procedures for the Olympic Games. More at www.ussailing.org.