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Subscribe to RSSA 37-foot sailboat apparently collided with a much larger vessel during the annual sailing race from Newport Beach, Calif., to Ensenada, Mexico, killing three crew members and leaving one missing, a sailing association said early on Sunday.
"An investigation was continuing, but it appeared the damage was not inflicted by an explosion but by a collision with a ship much larger than the 37-foot vessel," Newport Ocean Sailing Association spokesman Rich Roberts said in a statement.
The sailboat Aegean had been reported missing Saturday morning near the Coronado Islands, just south of the border, Coast Guard spokesman Henry G. Dunphy said in a news release.
"The first indication of the incident was at 1:30 a.m. Saturday when the boat's image vanished from the online race tracking system in place for the race. A Coast Guard search was launched that led to discovery of the boat's wreckage, including the rear transom with the boat's name on it," Roberts said.
Dunphy said vessels near the Coronados reported seeing debris at about 10 a.m. and three sailors were found dead in the afternoon. One body was recovered by a Coast Guard helicopter and two others by a civilian crew.
Dunphy said race officials reported the Aegean missing about 11:40 a.m. The Associated Press reported that the Aegean's home port was Redondo Beach. The names of the crew were not released.
The 125-mile race, organized by the Newport Ocean Sailing Association, began at 11 a.m. Friday off the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach. The race crosses heavy shipping lanes off San Diego, and only a relative few boats can finish before darkness the first night.
More than 200 boats had entered the race as of Wednesday, though it was unclear how many started.
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Some boats can finish the race in less than 12 hours, but others can take up to two days.
The incident comes two weeks after an accident during a race from San Francisco to the Farallon Islands left five sailors dead.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sailing takes me away to where I've heard it could be....
and soon I will be free.......................
They should race north from Santa Monica instead, to avoid all the shipping lanes and other private boats. It's safer too because then they could be away from all the boats transporting drugs into the US
The freighter lanes run North and South off the California Coast. I have been aboard sailboats and we have had to take evasive action to avoid freighters.
Why anyone would go across the boarder KNOWING that there are cartel members out there killing people is beyond me. The US needs to put out a travel advisory that includes crossing the boarder in water. This isn't the first time it's happened in recent history, and it won't be the last. People in the US need to stay in the US or expect to get whacked.
That is by far the most ignorant statement I've read this month! This happened off of the Baja coast. Mexico is a COUNTRY with states like America, not a couple of dusty ol border towns. There are problems in a couple of the border towns, but that leaves 90% of Mexico unaffected - and certainly not in Baja where hundreds of thousands of Americans live and/or own property.
It was a boating accident that happens quite often by the way. Are cartels responsible for the San Francisco accident too?
While I agree that the aforementioned statement is ridiculous, so is yours. In case you haven't heard, Tijuana is in Baja, where thousands of people, many of those Americans, have been killed by cartels. The Felix Arellano Brothers' cartel was once the largest and most deadly of the cartels. I lived in San Diego for 35 years so have some idea of what I'm talking about.
@Jim Fawcett,
So are you contending that the Mexican drug cartels whacked the sailboat? Or are you just posting irrelevant information to show that you know nothing about sailing?
Sailboats have the right-of-way at sea. Period. About the only thing that need to do is fly a radar reflector from the mast when crossing sea lanes and even this is optional. It is the responsibility of ships to maintain a lockout for other vessels. Unfortunately in this day and age, crew sizes of cargo ships and cruise lines are being cut to increase profits or even just to stay in business. This causes inadequate eyes on the bridge, especially at night. It would probably require that no one be watching the radar for at least 1/2 hour to hit a 37-foot sailboat. The crew was most likely aware of their hit and chose to make a run for it rather than face manslaughter charges.
Davey is still in the Navy and probably will be for life? That girl reminds me of a sunburn: Aegean. Quit worrying about 50 cents Frankenstein? "Pedjoe's an angel" Signed: Perkaunas
Why bother posting? Does what you said make the least bit of sense?????????
Condolences to the families and friends of those lost.
Seriously David, I've been on Newsvine for a while and you are, by far, the weirdest, strangest poster I have ever seen. What? No references to super models? I have to assume it's an act because I have not read a single post of yours that makes any sense whatsoever. Not a single post related to the thread on which it appears. Honestly it sounds like you are on a permanent acid trip. What the hell is up with that? It was kind of humorous at first but now comes off as kind of sad.
You've been had again, Bluelake, by Davey. Quit buying into this guy's snookering!
Sure, sure. Okay. Your life on Mars must be interesting. Tragic news answered by gibberish.
Yeah Jim you're probably right. He's one hell of a troll, I'll say that.
RIP
I don't understand why with the deaths that keep occurring on this sport, there are not precautions being taken with motored vessels escorting the sail boats during the race or stationed at certain spots along the way.It would be prudent and ensure if any problems arose, there would be help immediately available.
The sail boat was hit by a larger, presumably powered, ship. There are precautions taken ... see the DOT/USCG 72 COLREGS, according to which powered vessels are to give way to sailing vessels. They also call for all vessels to be operated at safe speeds. Regardless of who is at fault here, if the collision occurred at night, the larger vessel may not have seen the sailboat, and therefore nobody made an emergency call. It's a big ocean.
It's getting ridiculous that every time an accident or tragedy occurs, people want to legislate or post rules and regs to prevent it. Aren't we getting tired of someone telling us why we can't do something all the time?! There is no way to protect us all from life itself. These sailors well know the possibilities when they take the helm. There are adrenaline jockeys and there are those who just love the sea and the challenges it presents. Leave them alone to sail against the wind. It beats dying mindless in a nursing home. In the meantime, support their families and those they leave behind because that's where the true suffering is now. RIP, sailors.
Big brotherism to the rescue = liberalism hard at work.
I agree. If you have too much money and time and want to kill yourself, be my guest. More social security for the rest of us.
As with all organized sports, of course there are regulations we have to follow when entering this race! (or any long distance race for that matter). As a veteran of this regatta, requiring radar reflectors, GPS and boat tracking systems on each boat are only a few of the precautions NOSA requires... Every sailor that takes part in any long distance race appreciates not only the beauty of the sea, but also the dangers that can happen in an instant. Sailing is not about people with too much money to burn... or recklessness. Sailing is not a rich man's sport. It's about teamwork and self discipline. Try it some time before you admonish the whole sport in general.
Condolences to those families and friends of this crew. My heart goes out to you.
Still a faster way to get to Ensenada than driving. An earlier start would ensure they arrive in Ensenada earlier. Why such a late start as 11:00 A.M. if arriving earlier would be safer, etc.? Aha, too much boozing in the Club House night before, eh? Still, knowing icy margaritas awaited them in Ensenada should have been an incentive to hit the road at an intelligent hour! Well, hit the sea lanes I guess I should say.
R.I.P. Follow the sea lanes my sailor friends. Look for container ships and or freighters travelling at the same time
HELLO! Can anyone review radar signatures in the area? GPS tracking? It took less than this to change the Naples>Key West Race. More dolphin's in the waves........ Poseidon's blessings to their families~~~
seems that having race that involves small sailing vessels crossing major shipping lanes with some boats trying it in the dark of night is just a bad idea all around
Tim Schneider.......so is mountain climbing, hang gliding, and most other sports and adventure activities. For many the risk is part of the reason they do it. If you have never experienced the adrenalin rush of sailing in a storm at sea where survival depends on your actions, you just won't ever understand.
I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead.................................................
To those sailers who lost their lives here, my sympathy, sail on..............
The games of the "rich and famous" are Foolishness to GOD. "And the times of this Ignorance GOD winked at, but now commands All men Everywhere to Repent." Acts 17:30
Rich and famous? You know very little about sailors and sailing. For every millionaire, silver spoon sailor there are hundreds of us who drive 10 year old cars, do not take vacations, live in modest home, and take on 2nd jobs to support our "habit." My 30' boat is 30 years old and cost me less than a used 5 year old Chevy.
All sailors are a bunch of arrogant pricks. They come from the same class of well to do golfers, polo players and any other predominantly male sport where you the standard issue clothing is a raised collar powder pink or white cotton shirt. Sailing has its male commodery where men love nothing more than being around other men, working together as only men can, relying on other men in a man only world of men that love mens bodies and what men do with other men as only men can. When the competition is finally over these same men go home to their trophy wives they stow away in their empty mansions all of who have secret lovers on the side due to hubby can't take even 5 minutes to give them a little TLC. So to hear of this sailing accident can only be a gift that there are three to four less snobs in this world this morning. Hopefiuly when they do the autopsies they will reveal the three were found floating with naked due to what seems to be an orgy of homosexuality they were haing
"..floating naked due to what seems to be a homosexual orgy they were having below deck"
WTF? Did they give a bunch of computers to the inmates of insane asylums and turn them loose on Newsvine this morning??? As a sailor I send my thoughts and condolences out to these sailors and their families. Now, I'm going back to bed. You people are freakin' me out.
There's a slow train comin'.........You have serious problems, get help, quickly !
Bluelake, I'm still laughing. I told my wife it would be about 5 posts in to where someone would be bashing the "elitist sailors", I was wrong, the first post was from one of these non sailing ignorant fools. They should go back to something safe like stacking cups or watching paint dry.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the families.
You show us all just how far humanity has sunk.
Wow, lots of anger there ! We are sorry your boating boyfriend dumped you? But come on this is the 1% stop being anti rich!
Re comment by Alan-1380274 above
It is shocking to see that the only reaction you can manifest to a tragedy, that bespeaks all kinds of personal horror transpiring at the moment of the accident not to mention untold grief, disruption and destruction of hopes and dreams as well as the fabric of the lives of those individuals’ whose family and friends loved them and will always miss them, that you can only look upon their deaths as just "comeuppance" for the "sin" of being "rich and famous".
If it possible for a human being to demonstrate a less God-like, less compassionate, less intelligent characterization of this sad event, I fail to see how one could do so. Congratulations – you win the Callous/Unfeeling King of the Day Award.
Instead of denigrating others, who for all you know could have made huge sacrifices to right wrongs; and in the process of attaining their wealth done untold good helping those less fortunate - because they happened to enjoy sailing - as is their God given right – and spend a little of their brief sojourns here on earth engaged in a unique experience;
perhaps you might look within yourself (unlikely as that ever will be to occur) and realize that the hateful, despicable and nasty attitude you (and SlowTrainComing) have clearly demonstrated here reflects an inner emptiness and craven, stark envy of those who have actually achieved something in life, while you have spent your time ingesting the vitriolic poison of like minded cretins laced with the bile of your narrow, mean natured perceptions of reality.
God would be ashamed to think that you were quoting him and the bible in the manner you did for the purpose you have applied it.
Incidentally, to anyone who says, “You shouldn’t make a personal attack on someone in these forums”. BEFORE you say this is inflammatory consider the despicable nature of Alan’s comment and ponder the fact that if we don’t stand up and state the truth – and this is the only interpretation of Alan’s comment that one can reasonably take given his capricious and hateful attitude toward the deaths and sorrow that at this moment are being experienced by who knows how many people out there who loved and needed the men (or women) killed, if we don’t call a spade a spade – then what good are these forums because what we will have become is a society where the effort to be politically correct and destroyed our ability to recognize and defend what we all inherently know is morally true and worth of defense to the death.
...um..God??...What's any God got to do with this???
Well then in that case, There's a slow train comin'..
We will just have to ascribe your posts to being nasty, unfeeling and despicable; leaving us with not the slightest shadow of a shade of doubt as to their being unconscionable and unfeeling pontifications by a person whose judgemental self-righteousness exceeds by leaps and bounds his intelligence and, most obviously, his capacity for even the slightest semblance of compassion for his fellow man.
All those big words are too hard for me to understand and just gave me a headache..I'm going back to bed..
They need to retittle this article. I believed it to be about US Navy Sailors (I am ABEC, USN,ret.)Nobody cares about rich idiots and their expensive toys.
"3 dead, 1 missing in accident during Newport-Ensenada sailing race"
Does the Navy do this race often ?
And no one cares about moronic statements even from retired navy guys which, I guess, is supposed to make you some sort of an expert. And how a title of a race could make you think it's something having to do with the US Navy comfounds everyone. You have to be dumber than dirt.
First, condolences to the families, of course. As the wife of a sailor who works on a cargo ship, this type of tragedy (dying or being lost at sea) is my worst nightmare. I also appreciate that people do things for fun that can be dangerous. However, to do this at night across shipping lanes? As though the freighter, or whatever, that hit them doesn't have enough to worry about in terms of safety, without these people basically playing chicken with them at night? Even adventure sports include taking precautions and reasonable risks. I think they should modify this race. Isn't this kind of like having a marathon in the dark, with runners crossing a freeway?
To make light of the loss of someones life rates as one of the most disrespectful, despicable, cowardly reactions that a, so called, human can make. People of this ilk are the lowest form of life in the universe..they are worse than pond scum and lower than whale @!$%#. May the families of the victims take solace in knowing that others offer their condolences at this tragic time.
Good points you make 250 Diane. I was thinking the same that they could make this race safer. Slow train coming, holy mackeral my good man, you make some horrendous statements about these sailors, I trust you must know more than we do (or think you do). Condolences to the families and friends of these sailors.
The course is too congested. I would cancel this event in future years.
Ok, where's the rest of the story? What exactly did it hit? Granted, a ship would likely not feel the nat of a sailboat, but these ships are tracked multiple ways? Was there a ship in the area the at the time (01:30) the sailboat's online tracking system? I would think that would be an important fact to this story.
tough way to go. from fun to horror. STAY OUT OF SHIPPING LANES. the container ships and low ryders(bulk steel ships) that are built now are bigger and faster than ever. ships like cma hugo, maersk renna,are over 1100 ft long and deck cans 6 to 8 high on deck. they won't see and wouldn,t know if there was a 35 ft sail boat in front of them,these ships are on very tight schedules. i see ships come in to la./lb harbor with gouges on the forward end all the time. and i wonder what they hit on the ocean. promoters of these races need to set it up like tour de france first one at the finish line is the first one to leave the next day p.s. mexico is dangerous if u think it is, your out of your mind, have a safe day
Racing to get to Mexico is like racing to get to hell.
To race at night across shipping lanes? Oh my. You are kidding right? The sailboats, fishing boats, and rowboats for that matter have as much right to sail on the sea as a container ship. And if they are run down by a ship in the night, then generally it is because the watch on the ship was not doing their job. Someone mentioned that at the time the wind was very light, so the sailboat would have been moving very slowly, and would have had very limited ability to get out of the way. And the COLREGS state that unless there is a reason, such as a shallow channel or other reason that the ship cannot maneuver, that they must take action to avoid a collision.
When you enter the ocean, you enter the food chain
I never did understand this race. These big ships have a very hard time turning/stopping so it is the responsibility of the smaller boat to get out of their way. If you park/sail for the night in the middle of a shipping lane, you are simply asking to be run over. I am sorry for the families that their loved ones had to learn common sense by death. I have been boating for 30 years and stick close enough to shore at night that I'm out of the way of any ships that may be going through the same area.
Wow! The only lunacy missing from this thread is for some yo-ho to jump in and call the dead and missing crew members "racists".
I especially love the posts quoting maritime law and seafaring ettiquette. On California streets, a pedestrian always has the right of way. That doesn't make it a bright idea to step off the curb in front of a gravel truck.
Those container ships are enormous and not very manoeverable. Ettiquette or maritime law be damned, smart sailors remember the laws of phsics and steer clear.
Our hearts should go out to the families, but the culpability here rests with the captain of the more nimble vessle.
This is a tragedy, especially so soon after the loss of life in the Farallones Island race a few weeks ago. But let's put this in some kind of perspective. This is the 65th edition of the Newport-Enseneda race and the first fatalities. 200+ boats were entered this year and there were over 600 back in the 1980s. The loss of life in the Farallones race was its first in the history of that race. On Lake Michigan last summer the first deaths occurred in the 103rd running of that race when a monster storm hit in the middle of the night.
This is a dangerous sports but tens of thousands of us compete every weekend around the world with extremely rare incidents such as this one. Just today a van crashed into the Bronx Zoo killing 7 people. Are we going to recommend banning vans or zoos?
Well said!
2003, same race, heavy winds, one of two on watch (helmsman). Second on watch said "something is over there" or words to that effect, looking to port. I started flashing a light on the main and soon heard "that's another boat, gibe, gibe" or words to that effect. They gibed too close to us, showing us their stern light.
I had the other on watch go check our red/green lights. He reported that they were out and that he got them on again by a solid rap with his hand.
There we were, two similarly sized boats, 42', sailing very fast in 25+ knots of wind on a collision course. Neither boat had the forward running lights operating.
Stuff happens out there, lady luck protects all of us at some time or other.