I was there. I signed on to keep an eye on my dad, Dennis, as it was his first Mac Race. Helluva deal! Yeah, the water was warmer than the air - it was 39F at Alpena that night. I figure the water was at least 45. I'm surprised it's reported as high as 50. I had just come off the helm as we'd decided to do a 'full court press'. I figured I'd better get some dry clothes on. My dad was taking the 10:30 nav fix when I heard the 'CRACK' instead of a thump. We'd split pretty much gunwhale to gunwhale across the leading edge of the keel. John Garr came forward to get some safety gear and a life jacket for Bernie Tenowski (the helmsman at the time) in ankle deep water. He went back in knee-deep water. Things were reasonable hopeful, despite the flare failures, until Tommy shot the last flare - the parachute flare. It incandesced in the barrel and we'd JUST finished inflating the raft. A ball of burning magnesium was not something you'd want near the raft!
I was there. I signed on to keep an eye on my dad, Dennis, as it was his first Mac Race. Helluva deal! Yeah, the water was warmer than the air - it was 39F at Alpena that night. I figure the water was at least 45. I'm surprised it's reported as high as 50. I had just come off the helm as we'd decided to do a 'full court press'. I figured I'd better get some dry clothes on. My dad was taking the 10:30 nav fix when I heard the 'CRACK' instead of a thump. We'd split pretty much gunwhale to gunwhale across the leading edge of the keel. John Garr came forward to get some safety gear and a life jacket for Bernie Tenowski (the helmsman at the time) in ankle deep water. He went back in knee-deep water. Things were reasonable hopeful, despite the flare failures, until Tommy shot the last flare - the parachute flare. It incandesced in the barrel and we'd JUST finished inflating the raft. A ball of burning magnesium was not something you'd want near the raft!
This story is great reading, even for armchair sailors.
Wow, thanks for telling that dramatic story.
Gripping!