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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 | Lessons relearned Posted By: Dick Herman, Muddy Duck Date: 10/27/08 2:00p.m. Report: outside forum guidelines In Response To: Clipper Cove Rescue (pic) (Goose p14#164) Goose makes some excellent points and Steve deserves a medal for his performance Sunday. Being a Monday morning quarterback is easy, so let me jump in. I urge you to reread Rich McDevitt's comments. We do sail alone, but in the company of others. That is what saved a Potter captain yesterday. So what have we relearned? We should always wear a PFD, monitor Channel 16, and sail with a buddy. But when all is said and done, you are the captain in charge of your vessel. No one can make you wear a PFD, or have a radio, much less turn it on, or sail with someone else. I have repeatedly urged captains new to sailing to take sailing lessons and never take their wife or girlfriend sailing until they have been out five or six times. Based on my personal experience, it is advice seldom taken. But that's okay because each of us is the captain of his/her boat. Are there other lessons to be learned from yesterday? Let me offer these for your consideration. First, communicate. I didn't hear a radio call, see a flare, or hear a horn yesterday. I suspect that anyone one of the three would have brought a pack of Potters to the scene. When in trouble, yell like hell! Eight years ago, I turned turtle outside Richmond Marina and was on the radio as soon as possible. And I was in the water up to my neck. Vessel Assist was on the scene in less that ten minutes, and it was one of the best $280 I ever spent. Second, don't be proud. Wear a PFD. When I turtled, both my crew and I were wearing PFDs. A PFD in the locker is like the runway behind you when taking off in an airplane - absolutely worthless. I failed dock walking 101A once, and wished I had one on. That water was cold! Third, once out of the water, stay out of the water. There are plenty of boats, but only one you. When the Suspects go sailing in the Pacific Northwest, I will do whatever it takes to save a buddy in the water. But I will not put any person in jeopardy to save a boat. By the way, Goose was right. Stuff happens. Maybe we can be a little more ready for it next time.

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.