Outrigger Canoe Death
frank malinowski
experienced folks but one of the crew died of hypothermia and another is
missing. I didn't know that that these boats would sink. Anyone know more
about it?
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Dr. Who
They flip often, known as a Huli.
Bijili E
paddling/canoeing/kayaking as a preference for AOL news, so they send me
articles on anything related. Great service, although there aren't too many
posts.
BijiliE
Sacramento CA
DFJensen
They have large floating tanks in the bow and stern. They must have filled
with water.
-Dave Jensen
San Jose, CA
DFJensen
>about it?
There's an article about this in the Ventura County Star.
http://www.staronline.com/news/156253.htm
Al Bowers
Xya...@earthlink.net (frank malinowski) writes:
> Just read about a six man outrigger canoe swamped off of Oxnard,CA. Very
> experienced folks but one of the crew died of hypothermia and another is
> missing. I didn't know that that these boats would sink. Anyone know more
> about it?
LA Daily News carried it on the front page. The six guys left Channel
Islands harbor at about 8 AM Sunday morning. The conditions were
Santa Ana winds, and the SoCal surf has been up recently. I
understand (according to the article) that they decided conditions
were a bit much and were headed back in. At which point (about a mile
out) they took several large waves over the boat which caused it to
swamp and sink. Four were rescued, one is known dead, and one is
still missing (again, according to the article).
Al Bowers
Matthew J Sullivan
-----------------------------
JANUARY 04, 08:53 EST
1 Dead, 1 Missing in Canoe Mishap
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Strong wind flipped an outrigger canoe, tossing six
members of an experienced paddling team into 50-degree Pacific water dressed
only in shorts and T-shirts. One man died, another was missing and a third was
in critical condition.
The six set out from Channel Islands Harbor in a 40-foot outrigger early Sunday
to row to an oil platform about 10 miles off the coast. Only about 1 1/2 miles
into the trip, the boat capsized in 40 mph winds and sank, Coast Guard Lt. Dan
Deptula said.
``This was totally a freak accident,'' said crew member Michael Davis, one of
those who was rescued. ``We were very trained, skilled at what we do.''
None of the group was wearing a life jacket, Deptula said.
The group detached the canoe's outrigger and tried to float to shore, but they
were thrashed by high waves amd a strong current pulled them toward the open
sea.
John Devlin, 50, of Oxnard drowned as a result of extreme hypothermia about 90
minutes after the boat capsized.
After Devlin died, Justin Heard, 28, decided to swim to shore. He was rescued by
a sailboat about four hours later, the Coast Guard said. He was in critical
condition with extreme hypothermia at St. John's Regional Medical Center.
Another crewmate, Scott Sullenger, 36, left the group about an hour after Heard
did, also hoping to swim to shore. He remained missing early today.
``We'll keep doing all we can for now, because you can never tell,'' Deptula
said. ``But it's going to be difficult.
The person was not wearing a flotation device.''
The three others who stayed together — Davis, 30; Ben Tai Tai, 50; and Tino
Rico, 38 — were rescued by a fishing vessel shortly after noon as they drifted
about 2 1/2 miles from shore, Deptula said.
The three were treated for hypothermia and released.
Devlin's body, which the trio had kept with them, was recovered when they were
rescued.
``We were just trying to hold him,'' Davis said. ``Ben Tai Tai held him in his
arms for about 45 minutes.''
Copyright 1998 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Send comments and questions about The WIRE to feed...@thewire.ap.org.
Wilko
another paddler. I sure hope that this year will see less
casualties than the last.
My thoughts go to their family and friends.
Wilko
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Sociology Student at Tilburg University, The Netherlands, Europe
Whitewater Kayaker, Addicted Paddlers Anonymous, AD&D Dungeon Master
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Matthew J Sullivan wrote in message ...
Baker2150
>None of the group was wearing a life jacket, Deptula said.
Nobody wearing life jackets? Sounds like they were highly skilled to me.
Dressed inappropriately in 50 degree weather in the ocean with no pfd's? With
such judgement they need to find another hobby.
Dr. Who
main canoe sink? The canoes are designed with air tanks in the front
and back so the canoe won't sink. You are also suppose to put a cover
on the canoe if you head out in rough water so if you do flip it
minimizes the amount of water in the canoe and makes it easier to flip
back over. Also if they were going to be so far away from shore where
was the portable radio to contact the coast guard ??
I think if these safety precautions would have been followed (life
jackets, properly dressed, working air tanks, canoe cover, a way to
contact the coast guard if trouble happened) this tragedy would have
been less likely to happen.
It is a good reminder that even if you don't wear the life jackets
that you should keep one on board for each crew member. How much
trouble is it to tuck under your seat when your life is at stake?
The only good that can come out of this tragedy is that it is a sad
reminder that life is fragil do all that you can to protect it.
Karl Pearson
>
> >``We were very trained, skilled at what we do.''
> >None of the group was wearing a life jacket, Deptula said.
>
> Nobody wearing life jackets? Sounds like they were highly skilled to me.
> Dressed inappropriately in 50 degree weather in the ocean with no pfd's? With
> such judgement they need to find another hobby.
Another point in this tragedy - two paddlers apparently tried to swim to
shore. Bad decision. Must have been hypothermic.
Never leave the boat - you will paddle further in 5 minutes than you can
ever swim.
Sad for all the families.
(Pete Cresswell)
>Here's the AP wire story.
Take a look at the local coverage at www.staronline.com/news/156253.htm.
There are a couple of *major* discrepancies between the two: distance and
whether-or-not the canoe sank.
-----------------------
Pete Cresswell
Al Bowers
> > Just read about a six man outrigger canoe swamped off of Oxnard,CA.
> LA Daily News carried it on the front page...
> Four were rescued, one is known dead, and one is
> still missing (again, according to the article).
The Lifeguards and Coast Guard gave up searching for the missing man,
Scott Sullenger, age 36. The search continued for about 24 hours
(about noon Sunday to noon Monday). Sullenger is presumed dead.
Today's report says the group had paddled out in 40 knots winds and
six foot waves. They had made it out to a oil drilling platform
(about 3 miles offshore) before turning around. They were about 1
mile from the Channel Islands harbopr entrance when they were swamped.
Sullenger had decided to swim for shore and has been missing since.
From the Los Angeles edition of the Daily News...
Al Bowers
Matthew J Sullivan
Some info about cold water and hypothermia, from a sailing magazine
("Multihulls", July/August 1998) I was just reading:
The Rules of 50
1) An average adult person has a 50/50 chance of surviving a 50-yard swim in 50
degree F water.
2) A 50-year old person in 50 degree F water has a 50/50 chance of surviving for
50 minutes.
(your mileage may vary)
-Matt
DFJensen
>They were about 1
>mile from the Channel Islands harbopr entrance when they were swamped.
snip
Other reports say they were 150 yards from the harbor entrance when they got in
trouble.
Dave Jensen
San Jose, CA
Wat3r
>50
>degree F water.
>2) A 50-year old person in 50 degree F water has a 50/50 chance of surviving
>for
>50 minutes.
???Somehow mathematically the average adult takes 50 minutes to swim 50 yards
to equal the chances of a 50 year old in the same 50 degree water.
Thanks for the post, but the information seems skewed.
Eddie
Get Wet
Alan H. Martin
> Some info about cold water and hypothermia, from a sailing magazine
> ("Multihulls", July/August 1998) I was just reading:
>
> The Rules of 50
> 1) An average adult person has a 50/50 chance of surviving a 50-yard swim in 50
> degree F water.
> 2) A 50-year old person in 50 degree F water has a 50/50 chance of surviving for
> 50 minutes.
>
> (your mileage may vary)
What I was told was that only 50% of unprotected accident victims survive 50
minutes in 50F water.
Someone who runs New England WW in the winter said that even though well and
properly dressed, he starts "feeling stupid" (hypothermia symptom) after the
second roll of the day, just from momentary head immersion in the cold water.
I've been advised to stay home when the water is below 55F, unless I'm in a
farmer john, booties, etc. (Flatwater/ocean - I don't do WW).
/AHM
--
Alan Howard Martin AMa...@MA.UltraNet.Com
John Q Adams
(earlier) standard surfing wetsuits and (later) wearing drysuits. Rolling is
a cold shock to the head. I never wore gloves. The drysuit does have the
severe disadvantage of not furnishing convenient toilet facilities in the
rain.
Alan H. Martin wrote in message <36937288...@MA.UltraNet.Com>...
John Barton
> Xya...@earthlink.net (frank malinowski) wrote:
>
> >Just read about a six man outrigger canoe swamped off of Oxnard,CA. Very
> >experienced folks but one of the crew died of hypothermia and another is
> >missing. I didn't know that that these boats would sink. Anyone know
more
> >about it?
>
>
These guys were doing a crossing in high winds, cool weather and rough seas
dressed in t-shirts and shorts. Ill-advised, but tragic nontheless.