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Home Forums Search Trailer Sailor Roster Chandlery Events Classifieds Resources About TSBB SBO Sites	Instructions/FAQ | Rules & Etiquette | Clear Cookies View Thread | Post Response | Return to Index | Read Prev Msg | Read Next Msg | I sail alone in the company of others Posted By: Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay Date: 10/27/08 11:33a.m. Report: outside forum guidelines In Response To: Clipper Cove Rescue (pic) (Goose p14#164) All Goose and Mike have stated is well and good, and as a former Commodore, I'd like to add a few thoughts to the mix. First of all, it’s been a longstanding rule that PFD's are worn by everyone on all club sails. That being said, a PFD sometimes only makes recovering the body a little easier. The Potter Yachters is an unstructured volunteer outfit. A commodore, fleet captain, or trip sponsor do not necessarily have any more experience or responsibility on a sail than anyone else. The idea behind the trip sponsor is just someone to research launch facilities, costs, etc. The Potter Yachters have no charter, no insurance, no by laws, and no one to sue. We looked into a more formal and insured structure a few years back and the costs would have ended the Potter Yachters. During Cruiser Challenge we have a lot of disclaimer/waver paperwork to sign. That is from the MPYC since they have a more "official" structure to their organization. Crash boats, sweepers, monitoring the radio, etc. are all good ideas and we have used them often in the past. A pre launch skippers' meeting is often but not always held. There is frequently someone that arrives late to the launch ramp so these meetings are not a sure fire bet that all have attended. I approach every sail as if I am alone on the planet. There is no one to watch over or save me. I stay in the cockpit, I don’t monkey dance on the foredeck and if you see a photo of me without a PFD on it has been photoshopped. I always have and always will help others in need when I can, on the water and off but conditions can often dictate to what degree we really can assist. I had to work and could not make this sail, but for those out of the area, it was a beautiful day but even then it takes about 2 seconds for things to go to hell on a small boat. Steve Potter has three P-15 capsizes under his belt. One accidental where he was away from other Potter sailors that day and he self rescued but had to get to the beach to complete it. The other two capsizes were last spring at Woodward under controlled circumstances with photo and safety boats standing by. See that issue of the Potter yachter newsletter for additional info. If I was a capsized P-15 skipper, I can think of no one better able to competently advise me than Steve. Every year in northern CA someone gets sucked off the beach by a sleeper wave and often someone else goes in to “save them” and it quickly turns to two drowning victims. The water here is cold (58-60 degrees) and unfriendly to those in it. I’d venture a guess that a fit person in street clothes with a PFD on has maybe 30 minutes of consciousness and probably only 10-15 of that that can really be spent thinking clearly about options and solutions. This is a great topic for conversation that we can all learn from. No one is exempt from bad situations no matter what your level of experience or the size of your boat.

Messages In This Thread

Superb Weather Brings Potter Yachter Record Showing of 19 Boats to Clipper Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/26/08 8:04p.m.

Clipper Cove Rescue -- Goose p14#164 -- 10/27/08 9:22a.m.

Goose makes a good point -- Mike Higgins -- 10/27/08 10:05a.m.

Are more details to come? -- Jose P15 #2045 "Witty" -- 10/27/08 10:41a.m.

I spoke with Steve and Paul . . . -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/27/08 11:36a.m.

details -- Goose p14#164 -- 10/27/08 8:29p.m.

One more perspective -- Jose P15 #2045 "Witty" -- 10/28/08 6:34a.m.

When you get all those boats together . . . -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/27/08 11:09a.m.

Was the wind so light he could sit on the lee seat? -- John Madill Mackinac Dreamere WWP15 -- 10/27/08 4:07p.m.

That's why I chose this image. -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/27/08 5:16p.m.

Steve Potter deserves the Potter-Yachter Medal for Valor . . . -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 11:18a.m.

More praise for Mr. Potter -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/27/08 5:26p.m.

Harry - Send that photo to Latitude-38 for Potter-Yachters -- Dave_N - - SF Bay Area Sailor -- 10/27/08 6:22p.m.

Oakland Estuary vs San Francisco's Pier 54 Points of Departure for Clipper Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 9:02p.m.

Current more than wind maybe -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/28/08 6:20p.m.

Harry, good points. Check this photo for the name of the MC club at Pier 54 -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/28/08 8:38p.m.

You have to stay away from islands during peak flow -- Mike Higgins -- 10/28/08 8:42p.m.

Mike, interesting observation. -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/28/08 8:53p.m.

Mike, Nice story on "Jean Alden" -- Dave_N - - SF Bay Area Sailor -- 10/30/08 3:37p.m.

 I sail alone in the company of others  -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/27/08 11:33a.m.

Some more thoughts from someone (me).. -- Jack, H23.5,F-5 Clermont, Fl -- 10/27/08 12:26p.m.

We should monitor and use Ch. 68 -- Eric Zilbert -- 10/27/08 1:50p.m.

Lessons relearned -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 10/27/08 2:00p.m.

And, if you hadn't read enough already....... -- Dave Kautz - P-15 #1632 & O'day 192 #313 -- 10/27/08 11:09p.m.

Right on -- Dick Herman, Muddy Duck -- 10/28/08 9:19a.m.

float plans -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/28/08 11:12a.m.

These are all very good points -- Katie Lea, P15 "Follow Me", Santa Clara, CA -- 10/29/08 4:27a.m.

To put the focus back on the positive, here's a few photos of the trip. -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 9:19p.m.

Mike Higgins Rounding Yerba Buena Island -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 9:28p.m.

Potters Approaching Clipper Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:01p.m.

Jerry K Relaxin' with the Commodore -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:08p.m.

It was a very relaxing sail . . . -- Jerry Kergan (P-15 "Lazy Ka", Concord / San Francisco Bay) -- 10/28/08 5:07a.m.

Potter Yachters Getting their Land Legs at the Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:17p.m.

Congregation at the Cove -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:24p.m.

Local Color. That's all folks. -- Carl P-19 #1432 "Dagmar" on SF Bay -- 10/27/08 10:28p.m.

Great Pics Carl.... -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/28/08 5:42a.m.

Thanks Carl! -- Bill Nolen, WWPotter Owner's Web Site -- 10/28/08 6:25a.m.

Dagmar photo -- Mike Higgins -- 10/28/08 8:45a.m.

My photos -- Terry G P15 #821 SF bay -- 10/28/08 1:05p.m.

Try again -- Terry G P15 #821 SF bay -- 10/28/08 1:08p.m.

Maybe your photo was too big -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/28/08 4:26p.m.

Still in a whirl. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/28/08 10:59a.m.

Boating people. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/28/08 1:33p.m.

So, what happened to your Potter? -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/28/08 5:36p.m.

paul and steve's ordeal -- Goose p14#164 -- 10/28/08 7:31p.m.

The Recovery (from my point of view) -- Steve Potter, P-15 Stars & Bars -- 10/29/08 10:15a.m.

Messup. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/30/08 7:52a.m.

No reason to feel down Paul.... -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/30/08 8:01a.m.

Don't feel down... -- Dave Kautz - P15 #1632 & O'day 192 #313 -- 10/30/08 8:50a.m.

Paul it was just a thing that happened -- Robert Griffin P-19 #1505 Sandbob, Tahoe -- 10/30/08 7:30p.m.

Mess-up -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 10/30/08 9:07a.m.

Don't be down ... -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/30/08 9:44a.m.

CAUTION (turtle porn above) -- Tim..."Morning Dove" P19 #457 Potter Valley CA -- 10/30/08 11:42a.m.

Welcome to the Potter Yachters, Paul! -- Harry Gordon, WWP14 #234, Manatee, Mountain View, CA -- 10/30/08 12:37p.m.

Like Harry said.. -- Jack, H23.5, Force 5, Clermont Fl. -- 11/1/08 8:15a.m.

Helps to know I'm not the only one. -- Paul R. Gregory -- 10/30/08 3:39p.m.

LOL. No. You're not the only one. -- John Turpin, P-15 "Tetra", Edmond, OK -- 10/31/08 5:19a.m.

don't be down Paul.... -- John Madill WWP15 Mackinac Dreamer -- 10/30/08 4:06p.m.

I imagine my day is coming heh heh -- Eric Hughes WWP 15 # 2475 Moonbeam Mechanicsburg Pa -- 10/31/08 5:41p.m.

I love all these "incidents" -- Rich McDevitt P-15 #2531 Minnow SF Bay -- 10/31/08 7:53a.m.

INCIDENTS!! -- Dan Phy P15 #1051 Ol' Geezer , Ft. Bragg, Ca. -- 10/31/08 12:04p.m.