Sailor Explains the Mobile Bay Sailing Disaster

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/ waterlinestories Stories from Below the Waterline
Stories from Below the Waterline
rescueatsea.or...
AFRAS is a Charity that provides support and assistance to volunteer maritime rescue services like the 'US Coast Guard' and 'Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI)'. They help to provide funds to sea rescue institutes who need it most all over the world through the 'International Maritime Rescue Federation'.

[@cgirl111]

My dad was a private pilot and I remember him telling me that if you are considering cancelling your flight you've already decided to cancel and are now trying to talk yourself into going.

[@betterd9160]

So many life scenarios that applies to.

[@texastowman233]

The same applies to sailing for sure

[@thomasbell7033]

Yes, and as someone who learned to fly on the Texas Coast, I am intimately aware of how quickly vicious thunderstorms erupt over the Gulf of Mexico from an absolutely calm sunny day.

[@oldspiritart]

@@thomasbell7033🎯🎯🎯

[@davidmcmanus9022]

If in doubt the answer is no.

[@silntstl]

I was in Coast Guard aviation stationed at ATC Mobile. I was on duty ready crew that Sunday. Never heard anything about this until reporting that morning. We went on a first light search being told 5 persons were missing including a high school student. Couldn’t believe the carnage we witnessed from the air. So many vessels either capsized or sunk with only their masts sticking out of the water. We flew all day right into our bag time. Only found one victim that washed up on Dauphin Island…..

[@evanhughes3027]

I appreciate your service. Thank you.

[@grahamfisher5436]

I sail in the Uk It's folks and organisations such as you That get my greats thanks and respect I donate £20 every month to the RNLI THANK YOU

[@memphis6694]

You are a Hero. I say that with great respect and appreciation for what you do.

[@dirkjansen3440]

Sounds like the disaster of the Fastnet Race ; boats were not strong enough and not prepared ( as well as some crews ) ?😢 Wrong interpretation of the weather forecast; should have checked the professional large ships and crew for local wheater 😢

[@bayougtr]

I dive, fish, boat, surf at Dauphin Island. Most unpredictable waters on the Gulf Coast I’ve ever encountered. Eddys are brutal! And I grew up spending summers on the outer Cape Cod & Islands.

[@lu4414]

Knowing when to step out is a critical skill

[@ripwednesdayadams]

it certainly didn’t help that the club commodore recommended joining the race. it should have been cancelled- full stop.

[@bennetttobey961]

many sailors are just to ballsy and refuse to quit, it should be up to the race committee to make safety decisions

[@VenturiLife]

Absolutely.

[@vampiresforesl]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnvapWWard1sr8k

[@peterebel7899]

in sailing in mountain climbing And other fields of joy.

[@bradkuether3561]

The final bit is most important. It is the responsibility of the boat captains to make the right call and protect their crew. Most important point of this video.

[@seanmccuen6970]

'captains'? at least get the terminology right, ffs.

[@Secretlyanothername]

Sailing is about understanding that no matter how bad things are, they can always get worse.

[@dabadoo7631]

8 captains made the correct choice that day, just shows how hard sailing is, only 8 out of the entire race got it right

[@Jeff9876-k4g]

Both parties are liable.

[@MrDasfried]

​@@seanmccuen6970at least give the correctterm ifyou have to be the knows it all ffs

[@o2wow]

Too many sad stories begin with something like, "A storm was coming, but they thought they could make it anyway."

[@seeingeyegod]

I don't think I'll ever do anything where if my calculations aren't correct, I might die. The worst I go for is late.

[@vincent7520]

Remember Adlar Colls’ (?) book Heavy Weather sailing : most accidents in heavy weather occur in the last days of a summer vacation cruising as skipper and crew are in a hurry to sail the boat back to her home harbor. Myself I was caught in the North Sea by a force 8+/9 on a 35ft excellent sailboat. We were in our 30’s at the time (1980) and made it without any mishap, but it remains as a « Never Again » passage!!!… To all I would say « don’t even try to assess the pros and cons. Stay put ». The more so with a crew you never experienced heavy weather with.

[@kimobailey2926]

I would stay tied to the dock in these weather conditions , Ive been cruising New Foundland /Labrador16 years , we never Challenge the storms and we never get caught like this , my goodness just look at the weather app. and run to your boat to double up on her lines not charge out into a hurricane . Rule one is Safety !!@@seeingeyegod

[@cannack]

@@vincent7520 so many things in sailing translate directly with aviation safety. complacency kills, and how that with weather kills many pilots from their own error. The typical ``I can make it in time``, ``it`s only light weather``, ``I can beat that thunderstorm`` or not taking the free weather briefing when they file their flight plan, get into a situation where a pilot in a aircraft with radar, IMC rating & 500 more hours on the controls is needed to confidently navigate. then they VFR-IMC, get lost in the clouds, then smack into a mountain. all they had to do was stop, and realize that its better to call the hotel and live to fly another day, then to take that risk to meet a deadline.

[@Will-dn9dq]

Rarely does anyone expect to fail. Otherwise they'd be suicidal. Also yacht pll are wealthy. No sadness for them could afforded stay were they were.

[@smudgey1kenobey]

My friend John was in that race, and his boat was one of the boats that sank. He said the front moved so quickly that it was suddenly a seventy knot wind and he couldn’t get the sail to drop. Everybody was wearing life jackets but his was a racing life vest and didn’t provide enough buoyancy to keep him at the surface as each wave hit. He had to push up to the surface for each breath. His brother and nephew were better off in their cheaper life jackets. They were all rescued before dark, and he did go back and salvage the boat.

[@philrabe910]

I was in one of these off the coast of Clearwater in about 1974. We didn't have cell phones. We barely had radio, and WE didn't have even that on our 23' monohull. The day and race started beautifully, getting brisker as we hit the first of 3 bogeys. The weather continued to freshen to the point of large whitecaps, and by the time we passed the third bouey, we were in a full gale. The larger boats dropped anchor but we basically had no choice but to ride the storm in, towards the finish line and the reef outside the channel to the Intracoastal waterway and relative safety... Obviously we made it, but it was incredibly harrowing. My dad was pretty irresponsible making a 9 and 13 year old crew for him- we didn't even have life jackets on during the gale. We had them of course, but they were only for people who couldn't swim, you see...

[@Jyock]

That's called the seventies! 😊 Glad you guys made it back.

[@vincent7520]

@@Jyock In the 70's we donned our life jackets and harnesses in all type of cruising; coastal or high sea sailing…

[@Jyock]

@@vincent7520 I'm sure you did. It was my poor attempt to be funny. I always have the required PFD on board my sailboat. But I don't always wear them. I'm going to start while sailing alone.

[@Peter-zg3em]

yyeah i hope you're genuinely nothing like your dad... there are no good decisions coming out of someone who makes one decision so poorly.

[@kailaniandi]

So sad, because it was completely avoidable. Captains are ultimately responsible for the safety of the crew, and the vessel under their command. Things can escalate quickly, especially if they are overpowered by nature. I've been out in extreme weather only once by myself and returned to port as soon I could safely turn my boat around. That was around 3years ago. I always check the weather and listen to the weather radio these days. I learned to sail when I was 14 years old, now 60 with a Catalina 30, and always learning more.

[@aerotube7291]

I ended up being the only guy out on the beautiful Wellington NZ harbour on New year's day after staying the night on an island. The coastguard was going to do me for reckless skippering due to not observing forecasts. I had good safety gear and made it ashore under my own steam but above all I was honest with them and they let me off!. I'm a lot more careful now. Thank you Wellington coastguard.

[@sunsetlights100]

​@@aerotube7291Auckland NZ here I didn't know coastguard can charge reckless skippering ...I know now! great ya made it back to land

[@aerotube7291]

@@sunsetlights100 thanks, you are correct as it was the harbour police boat now I think about it ..there was a crowd on Eastbourne beach expecting us to flip and a police car waiting....it was stupid of me not to check my return journey forecast....that was another reason they let me off, as we had stayed the night on somes island it wasn't as if I'd launched into it from the ramp that morning...I could go on and on with mildly humourous details but obviously that could have gone the other way ...thanks mate, we have some beautiful waters here!

[@aerotube7291]

@@sunsetlights100 in NZ I mean.....anybody reading this overseas should check out some of the beauty and outdoor opportunities here!

[@kona702]

I've been caught about three times in severe weather on the Delaware Bay and in the ocean. It's not fun at all and very scary. Luckily I was on large boats that handled the waves and rain etc.

[@lowellmccormick6991]

I raced in the Dauphin Island race 3 times over the years. There are very competitive racers and there are folks that look like they go sailing once a year, in the Dauphin Island Race. I'm glad I'd retired from racing by the time this race happened. However, we sunk in The Race for the Case, between Gulfport and Biloxi, MS. The weather was squally and with 50mph winds I pulled down the sails and secured them to the boom and deck. A minute later we got hit by a microburst and the force of the 100+mph wind blew the boat upside down. It filled with water and sunk. We were pulled out of the water by a Coast Guard rescue. A 53' long gaff rigged reproduction of a Biloxi Schooner turned over a half mile from us. It was successfully righted, pumped out and floated. We salvaged our boat, fixed it and came in second the following year. As far as fault for disaster, I would put that responsibility on the shoulders of the captains of each ship. The sailors have full access to weather stations and radar and can make their own decisions. A captain is a captain of his/her vessel and assumes all responsibilities that come with that title, no matter the experience.

[@RadicalEdward_115]

*cough* DAUPHINE *cough*

[@lowellmccormick6991]

@@RadicalEdward_115 I lived on Dauphine St. in New Orleans, and I raced in the Dauphin Island Race. Are the maps incorrect?

[@RadicalEdward_115]

@@lowellmccormick6991 no i just got confused 😅

[@mommy2libras]

​@RadicalEdward_115 I lived in Mobile for over 30 years and growing up, we went to Dauphin Island most weekends. It's definitely Dauphin and pronounced almost like "dolphin" without the L. There are various places around town that are "Dauphine" but not that one. The entire chunk of coast, especially Mobile and New Orleans as older major cities that have existed for hundreds of years, have huge French and Spanish influence. As a kid, my dad and uncles also ran the DI Regatta, as it was called then, and I always begged to be able to join them but was never allowed (this was all before age 13 so I get it now). We did go sailing in the bay many Saturdays or Sundays as we lived only a mile or so from the marina. The boat was my uncle's but was there for the family to use. I miss going sailing a lot. Some of the happiest weekends I can remember as a kid were spent on that boat in Mobile Bay and we often sail to Gaillard Island, a bird sanctuary in the middle of the bay.

[@SunBear69420]

I raced in deez nuts. My story is about as cool as yours bruh

[@cynicalbuddha1660]

I learned to sail on Lake Michigan. I live on the Chesapeake. Never tempt nature. Thanks for telling these stories.

[@aerotube7291]

They say with lake Taupo in NZ if you see clouds rolling over the Western hills get out fast.

[@Votrae]

I'd imagine the entry/membership fees are definitely not cheap. Bad weather decision or not, being unable to even supply a headcount is simply unforgivable. Tastefully told as always

[@Will-dn9dq]

They should be required to pay insurance to pay the coast guard! Aka taxpayers

[@Gloamy17]

Your storytelling is second-to-non here mate👍 always love your stuff :)

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks 👌🏻

[@IHWKR]

Agree, this channel stays objective and on track. Other channels rely on a storytelling enviroment which just doesn't sit right with me.

[@BonesyTucson]

True; he's got a good vice and pleasant mannerisms.

[@DDixon3121]

I just discovered your channel and was surprised to see this video. Why? Because I was on my Beneteau 42s7 anchored at Dauphin Island next to the site where racers gather for the trophy presentation. Rafted alongside me was a Tartan 37 and a Hunter 40.5. Tied to our group were two large powerboats. I had perticpated in this race for many years but for this particular race had decided to not percipate. Instead my buddies and I chose to sail to Dauphin Island the day before and be there to enjoy the festivities. We were watching the weather and were concerned but because we had 'weathered" so many storms before, decided to hunker down and stay put. The storm hit us with a fury that I had never experienced in my forty plus years of sailing. Despite having three anchors set and engines running full ahead, our group began dragging towards the shore. As we drug by one of the piers, the anchor chain of the Hunter somehow wrapped around a piling and saved us from destruction. My boat suffered $33K in damages. Several of my friends who had been in the race arrived shortly after the bad weather had passed and were in shock. I couldn't help but notice that you used pieces of my personal video in the making of this film. I would have thought you would have asked for permission. And allow me to make a comment about this annual Dauhin Island Race: This race is a long standing tradition for local sailors and others from Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. It's generally a great race with great fun and fellowship. But here's the flipside: Some sailboats that participate in this race are those who rarely leave the dock so their equipment is untested, their sailing knowledge is lacking, and their experience in handling foul weather is severely limited. But with that said, one vastly experienced local sailor that was in the race lost a crewmember overboard and he drowned. So it can happen to the experienced and not so experienced. Here is a link to my video of that day: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHLLZJxvpbZsoLs

[@amyvaughan4037]

It's a shame to hear that the author did not ask you for permission to use your video OR cite your video as the source. I've started to notice that Waterline Stories consistently fails to cite their sources in their videos, even in the description, which is really an unforced error in the year 2023... I would invite the author to DO BETTER!

[@SailingCailin]

The opening footage is on KZbin also, found it looking for your footage. Sorry to hear about your boat(s). When I whacked my spreaders on another sailboat just from a wake that's when I stopped rafting if I ever thought there might be a ripple... I'd poop my pants in a blow rafted up.

[@ushoys]

At least his video didn’t have awful music like yours does.

[@DDixon3121]

That's why there is a mute button sir. @@ushoys

[@ripwednesdayadams]

this is one maritime disaster i have never heard of. i feel like i always say this, but it’s a miracle more people didn’t die. just goes to show the amazing efforts of the coast guard and the people in the race. shocked by the level of negligence and disregard for safety by the organizers. great job as always!

[@SunBear69420]

thank you wednseday adems for that great comment. top teir stuff

[@andreanguyen9926]

I’m in Fairhope, I remember this. It was shocking. Thanks for covering it, and good job pronouncing Mobile.

[@waterlinestories]

for once. I normally butcher names of places. 🤣

[@PrisonMike-]

But not so good on "Daupheen" Island.

[@andreanguyen9926]

Ha! But locals mess that one up sometimes….Dolphin 😝

[@SunBear69420]

im in unfairdespair, i dont recall this. It was suspected.

[@carlmanvers5009]

Great video. This event feels like a small scale version of the Fastnet tragedy.

[@MashaRistova]

I have so much respect for the brave men and women of the Coast Guard. My dad participates in yacht races like the one in this video. He often races in the Pacific Ocean, from the Oregon coast up to British Columbia. Whenever he goes I get so nervous. One time, another sailboat ran right into his due to strong winds.

[@mcribenthusiast7010]

Great video as always. Glad you pointed out that it's not the race organizer responsibility for participants safety. It's on the sailor to determine whether or not to go out.

[@rogerbannon3595]

That may be correct but it was still incredibly irresponsible to go ahead with such a volatile storm well predicted as many less experienced participants probably and understandably relied on the judgement of the race management team.

[@DawnieG]

My parents live in orange beach, al, and I’ve never heard of this. Thank you man. :D

[@jackrabbit5047]

I never leave the dock if there is a bad forecast in the wind. My boat is extremely capable (Alberg 30), which is a great comfort if caught out unawares. But even so, it is foolish to place yourself in harm's way when there is no necessity. Good seamanship is not the skill you display beating into a storm, but rather, exercising good judgment in keeping boat and crew safe.

[@VolcanoEarth]

I am really enjoying your channel. I just discovered it a few weeks ago and I found your insights into how and why events become disasters from a real maritime perspective refreshing, especially considering how many not-so-good disaster-story content creators are out there.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. The more I read into these stories the less I feel I actually have a grasp on them. The best part is the comments section. There are often people with so much more knowledge than me who share their ideas. I often learn more after I publish a video than I do during research.

[@terrancehanley2970]

I dont get excited for many uploads but when I see that you've put a video up its drop everything haha. Keep up the great work.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks, that’s great to hear

[@chrisbergonzi7977]

Needless tragedy...thank you sir...

[@GaryL3803]

I sailed a 15' Windmill class boat in a regatta on Lake Ontario decades ago in a similar storm. There were a total of 122 boats, many of them similar Snipe class boats, out when a quick moving thunder storm with 50 knot winds capsized all but 3 of them, all Windmills (Windmills were especially tippy so they were ready). Being very small boats out in cold open waters there was much chaos but no significant injuries or deaths. Difference was that everyone there had probably capsized at least several times, so they knew to be prepared with life jackets on before the storm hit. Two teenagers were missing and were not be found for hours. They had dropped their sails before it hit and drifted in to a lee shore, walked on a nearby road for hours to find a house with a telephone and called in to much relieved parents.

[@BrassLock]

Reminds me of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race of a few decades ago (1998). Several crews of experienced sailors got badly caught in a severe storm off the NSW coast. 6 sailors were drowned and seven yachts abandoned at sea. Helicopters were in such demand that even ABC News chopper was involved in one rescue drama.

[@Stellaknot]

As always you have produced another amazing piece of content! One note from someone from there I’m from Alabama it’s pronounced dolphin even though it spelled Dauphin like the french crown prince. This is Alabama after all lol

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks

[@dereknolin5986]

To clarify, it isn't pronounced exactly like dolphin; you don't put an L in there. It's more like "DOF-fin" or "DAW-fin." -Another Alabamian@@waterlinestories

[@frankmiller95]

Well Done. Never underestimate the power of the wind. especially at sea. "Rarely does the mariner who has experienced a fully developed tropical cyclone at sea wish to do so again..." From "Bowditch" aka "The Mariner's Bible."

[@OneMouseGaming]

The force of the wind quadruples with every doubling of wind speed... Its exponential . 25 knots is a handfull even on a 27 foot boat. No way the small cradts like that hobbie should have been out there.

[@benwinter2420]

Joseph Conrad said , any man that would go to sea for fun would go to hell for a holiday & any man destined to be hung need't fear death by drowning & his short story hurricane leaves one limp . . we family had a neighbour direct across the street up in old Darwin NT Oz , Jim Bowditch an ex Z force commando WW2 , based in Darwin at the old Z force base in the mangroves near Berrimah boat ramp Darwin harbor then & whether he took part in that Singapore boat born raid against Jap ships , did't ask as did't know his past then . . he Jim was later an editor of the NT news newspaper & his daughter an art teacher of mine at high school & a recorded singer also

[@gwickle1685]

A no frills video. Love it. Thanks

[@valerieb.4912]

I heard about this from other sailors. Very sad. Good to hear that some captains/sailors returned to port.

[@johnmckay1961]

You're pumping out videos thick and fast atm, love it!

[@waterlinestories]

Yeah just trying to figure out what works, shorter and more frequent or longer more in depth but less frequent. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@johnmckay1961]

@@waterlinestories Yeah fair, I do enjoy the more in depth videos, ie OceanGate, Dave Shaw etc

[@waterlinestories]

@johnmckay1961 I think everything is pointing in that direction. I’ve never had anyone say they prefer the shorter videos. They do take longer though so less frequent uploads. But I think next year I’ll aim for longer, more in depth stories. Thanks for the feedback.

[@timalexander8403]

You have the best voice for narration!

[@MulletJoe368]

I live on Mobile Bay. I remember when this happened.

[@ApathyZone]

Man, all these uploads! You're spoiling us with the great content

[@michaelwboggs]

you read almost word for word, the article published in Smithsonian Magazine from July 2017. it's, at the very least, appropriate to give the author credit for that article.

[@joshuagabe]

Oh really? Link the article here!

[@SunBear69420]

ty based research god

[@shanep5121]

Did the magazine tell what happened to the man and his daughter's friend? Because this bozo didn't.

[@PotooBurd]

This is so informative!!! Fantastic reporting!🌻🌼🐝 Nature is beautiful and powerful.

[@Cajundaddydave]

Over the years we sailed in scores of regattas on the West Coast and in two cases an approaching front was much stronger than anticipated. Both had winds of 35 gusting 50 with several boats dismasted or foundered on the rocks. Injuries were reported but thankfully no lives were lost. I'll never forget the decision to retire as we approached the Pt Fermin buoy in 20' seas. We dropped into a wave trough and quickly spun the Super Cat 180*. When we rose to the next wave crest the wind hit, the main sail filled with a pop, and we were screaming downwind while hanging off the rear beam to avoid a pitchpole. We continued to blast downwind attempting to minimize power in the sail with boats capsized all around us. A wild ride back to the beach and dry land.

[@beverlyreiner-baillargeon6205]

Good Morning Pal. Another great story, as usual. Thanks 😉😉😉!! Any information on the pipeline explosion?? I'd love to see that story

[@waterlinestories]

Hey Beverly. I had made one but I took it down because it was based on a conspiracy which didn’t go down very well

[@this_steve]

Another great video! I would love to hear more from the official government report and civil court case filings if those are available on Pacer. You could make these even longer by explaining more about the awesome weather diagrams in more detail for the slow learners like me!

[@abedekok322]

Surprised to see such a local incident to me, baffling they held a race in this type of weather as it is all but common in the spring and summer

[@IHWKR]

I'm curious if you are willing to make shorts that focus of things like safety tips and ideas. Also, would you be willing to add some stories of triumph and excursions? Itd be nice to hear stories of the golden age of sailing, expeditions frought with humans overcoming immense challenges against all odds. Either way, thank you for the content and what a treat to have two videos this week. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

[@elinicfurniture6860]

Extremely useful videos for us boaters. Thank you!

[@SoloSailorDave]

I was sailing there in March of 2015, a month before this, moving an Endeavor 40 to New York from Lake Pontchartrain Louisiana single handed. I got stuck in a storm and lost an anchor behind Coffee Island just off the Bayou Batrie Channel. It was one of the worst nights of my 20 years sailing. I ended up spending a week in Bayu Batrie waiting out the storm. It gets ugly really fast out there.

[@davymckeown4577]

I think that perhaps because the race organisers said "it'll be okay" most crews would be reluctant to withdraw from the race. It was no doubt something they'd all been looking forward to and when the voice of authority (the chief race official) speaks and says the cancelation was an error, most people would listen without question. He reminds me of the town mayor in Jaws. Another great telling of an avoidable tragedy, cheers.

[@charonstyxferryman]

If you're a skipper a "it'll be okay" should be totally ignored, and the skipper should look at the marine weather forecast. At least 8 Skippers did that, and choose to bail out.

[@davymckeown4577]

@@charonstyxferryman That clearly didn't happen, my comment was intended to perhaps explain why. Of course it's possible that the other skippers weren't real skippers, whatever that means.

[@yanassi]

Lawsuits?

[@deerfootnz]

​@@yanassieach captain is solely responsible for the safety of the boat and crew under his charge. NOT the race organisers.

[@davymckeown4577]

@@deerfootnz Thanks for stating the obvious, but clearly there is a problem. When a plane crashes due to pilot error investigators don't say "Oh it was the pilots fault, he's responsible" and leave it at that. They try to find out why the pilot did what he did, so that it doesn't happen again. Saying, "Oh the skipper's at fault" is the feckin same thing, it's not helpful.

[@alabamaoffshorefishing]

I live here and transit the entire length of Mobile Bay anytime I want to go out to the Gulf of Mexico. I have a Century 2600 CC with twin 200’s, and though it’s not a huge boat (27’), it’s a very capable offshore rig and handles moderate seas (3’-4’) very well. But even with a boat as capable as mine, there have been at least a half dozen times when I came close to capsizing or sinking in the bay. It can be an incredibly dangerous body of water.

[@mommy2libras]

Want to hear something crazy? I lived on DIP as a kid and we spent summers riding bikes and going down to the bay, 1/4 mile from the house at the back of our neighborhood. A lot of the folks on Bayfront had steps down to the water and when the tide was out, or even partially out, we'd go down and mess around. Sometimes we'd go swimming. I know one summer we found this huge floating plank that was a chunk of someone's dock- it was like almost a foot thick and really large. I know the 4 of us could stand on it with room to spare. We found a bunch of long branches in the woods and floating around and would go way the hell out on that thing. The water stayed pretty shallow but it's totally a wonder none of us drowned. Or got eaten by alligators while playing in the swampy part of Perch Creek.

[@foobar9220]

As a sailor, I can neither comprehend the organizers continuing with the race nor those 100-odd sailors believing they can just outrun the storm. Forecasts can always be wrong by some hours and they obviously did not plan for the appropriate safety margin. I think this is especially tragic, as in the age of the internet and mobile phones, everybody had access to the necessary information (comparing this to the likes of the Fastnet where the storm came pretty much as a surprise)

[@scottessery100]

The more I learn about anything to do with water the more insecure I become

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻

[@ThePlayerOfGames]

Good, treat the water with cautious respect and the day it decides to stop ignoring you and tries to take you → you'll be prepared to deal with the situation

[@SofaKingShit]

A hot shower is enough contact with it for me.

[@shingerz]

Totally agree

[@launchtexasintothesunforev9551]

The more I learn the more I love it . I sometimes dream of surviving a shipwreck in a major storm. 😂

[@annieseaside]

You have such a lovely speaking voice, you do a superb job explaining bits a new viewer might not know and you show such Respect to the lost and the Rescue Teams. Thank you for the content and the way you present. I am a Senior on a fixed income which is terrifyingly inadequate or I would send money. My admiration must suffice. I live on the north coast of Maine and grew up mucking about in boats, sailing a lot. You forget sometimes that if Mother Nature turns, your life is in real danger. I only ever got caught in a storm once. That taught me my lesson. I used an Abundance of Caution ever after. Still we all have Free Will and as you observe, all who chose to Sail chose their fate. RIP to the lost.

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks. Glad you enjoy it. 👌🏻

[@patrickdolan9848]

Locals pronounce the phin of Dauphin Island like the phin in Dolphin

[@yates3378]

Thank you, it was driving me crazy, I’ve lived in orange beach for 23 years and I felt like I was being gaslit into thinking I was saying it wrong

[@ScarlettStunningSpace]

You deserve so many more views and subscribers

[@waterlinestories]

Thanks 👍🏻

[@markchapman2585]

Great channel. I definitely hit the Bell a few months ago

[@waterlinestories]

👌🏻

[@RTFLDGR]

I sail an 18' cat on Stockton lake, in Missouri. Storms jump upon that lake out of nowhere. We have years of chasing runaway cats, turtled cats flying across that lake on broad reach trying to make shore before the wall of the storm hits. Always with me everything is my responsibility. I have to know the weather. The best airs come with whitecaps and that is where we fly and the wire stays vibrate and sing. It's awesome. Sailing on a trapeze is an experience.

[@kelevra002b]

One of the bodies washed up on 95E, one of the natural gas platforms I work on now

[@Nick_Ramirez89]

I am a fisherman that is out on sea regularly, mainly near Catalina Island. It pains me when i hear awful stories about the weather forecast being disregarded.

[@ralphholiman7401]

We got caught in some of that storm in our 42 foot sailboat. I thought it was pretty hairy, but we were shocked to hear about the deaths.

[@JKART-do5jc]

Capsized my sunfish in Mobile bay, but fortunately righted it and kept going. I have seen some rough weather out there. This was unusually destructive weather.

[@sweisbrod6109]

Mobile Bay is very shallow. During that storm the wave action was causing some of the keels to hit the bottom while in the trough of the wave. That pounding caused some hull/keel failures.

[@MarkMcLT]

The photo at 5:36 was taken by me at the US National Formula 16 Championship in Racine, Wisconsin. It has nothing to do with the Mobile Bay event. You neither sought permission to use the photo nor provided photo credit.

[@paulyneskipsey]

Before we left on our boat to sail the world I asked advice from a couple who had just returned from a circumnavigation. One piece advice was just because others are going doesn’t mean you should. The eight boats that didn’t go were clearly the wisest.

[@MaxSafeheaD]

Great channel.

[@MudflyWatersman]

Never heard of it before. But....discretion is the better part of staying alive. Shallow open water gets big waves fast when wind blows .

[@ThePipeiper]

All those sailers and very few read the weather and said this is a bad idea. Regardless what the yacht club head said, you have your own instruments. And with that many boats (obstacles) on the water it was better to play it safe. It’s mind blowing that that many experienced sailers didn’t collectively decide not to race that day and advise the less experienced not to as well.

[@decapolis01]

I remember this happening. Crossing Mobile Bay you would never feel like it could be dangerous. You dont play with thunderstorms in the South!

[@lewis7315]

I am an experienced sailor. from the look of that video, there is no way I would have taken a sailboat out into that wind.

[@sailingindigo7135]

I was going to be in the race but I had to go to work. It was so bad that my boat received damage in her slip even though she was tucked way back in the marina.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

The science of meteorology was pretty advanced in 2015. WAY too advanced for a tragedy like this to occur.

[@PlateletRichGel]

I have a house here, and the surf can be very dangerous. I keep lifevests for kids going to the beach because two or three steps off the beach there can be a strong undertow. You got to remember you're like 50 miles out to sea even though you're close to barrier islands.

[@davidpethick83]

New one for me tks as usually a combination led to disaster. As in boxing "defend your self AT ALL TIMES" peace miska

[@DavidCrenshaw-q2d]

i only go sailing when theres severe weather warnings.. ha

[@judechandler5102]

As someone who has sailed monohull double-handers and daysailers in 30 gusting 40 knot winds, boy oh boy would I not want to be on a kat in that weather. You just know that if you go over there's no getting her back, especially on a kat. Good lord

[@brandonholman492]

Ultimately, every skipper is responsible for the safety of his boat and crew

[@freemanacount5609]

The sea is terrifying

[@davidpawson7393]

If I listed my experiences with boats, never owned one, you'd think I was there but in all the incidents from sailing into a hurricane on the Chesapeake at sailing camp to multiple sinking boats in the Gulf Stream thankfully nobody lost their lives with my worst injury being a broken collarbone that I learned of years later after an X-ray for something unrelated. Once I even rode in a houseboat during hurricane Emily with only a few Junipers and Cedars stopping it from crashing into my neighbor's house. Salt Life RIP

[@symply_Sym]

very ironic that the misheard cancel call would have been the correct thing to do

[@stormsurge9953]

Keep in mind that someone stupid is sometimes given a position that they should have never been given

[@suzannePhillips-k1m]

this is exactly like what happened in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race with 6 deaths also.

[@sarahwalker4889]

Anyone else ever wander how many lives the sees have taken since day one?

[@coloradohikertrash9958]

If there was a way to know for sure I imagine the number would be truly shocking

[@hinz1]

How lame, go for a race and sue the organizer afterwards, if something goes wrong.

[@Noikar]

The music at the end sounds like it's from Diablo

[@Maaliw]

it does sound like stepping into Tristram lol

[@thedahlins]

No lawsuits needed, the captain of each ship is the one responsible.

[@bat__bat]

Thanks for the storm details. The Gulf of Mexico is a very moody place. Weather even where I am 150 miles inland is unpredictable at best. I can easily see why the club brushed off the warnings. But not having a full list of participants and even pictures of them I thought would be mandatory. All participants should be wearing an ankle bracelet device that sends signals. I mean this catastrophe was 2015 not 1981. 🤷 I know these events have traditions and this sport is more minimalist than most, but lives are lives and nature is nature.

[@aproudamerican2692]

The capitals are responsible for their crew and boats. The organizers were looking at the same weather reports as the sailors were. I'm sure most viewers want to blame the organizers at first for allowing the race to start. But we are a free people and we for the most part are free to make decisions for ourselves. At least for now anyways. The captains and the older sailors are ultimately responsible for their own decision to go out. Except for the teenagers of course. They're depending on the older wiser captains for advise and to follow their lead. Everyone could have said "I'm not sailing into that weather" and stayed on shore. Nobody really thinks that this is the day they could really die. But they should because it happens every day. I hope they all learn from all the dangerous and deadly mistakes made that day.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

That somebody is ultimately responsible does not take away responsibility from others within their range of authority

[@dmitripogosian5084]

Decision to run or not run the race lies with organizers. "Free" captains can go out on the water all they want, but there does not have to be a race running there.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

@vibratingstring In my sailing club, it is certainly an authority to cancel the race. If there is no committee boat and nobody blows the horn - there is no race happening :)

[@rogerbannon3595]

Extraordinary decision making against the background of such a serious forecast and dreadful operational incompetence. Lucky that the loss of life was not much greater.

[@maxhugen]

Hmmm... their losses were as bad as that of the 1998 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, yet in a relatively confined area. After that savage Hobart race, sailors were reminded that ultimate responsibility lies with the captain of a boat.

[@Andy_Babb]

So, some dude with a first time 15yo sailor and his daughter heard there may be tornados and awful weather yet decided to take them both out on a super lightweight _sailboat._ F-cking brilliant.

[@deborahdoyle6743]

Very well told

[@petersmith9681]

When hearing the race is in a bay who's entire average depth is only 10ft... One might think, how bad can it get... This is a prime example of how even "inshore", the Sea can take lives without a thought ...

[@mommy2libras]

There is a ship channel. At the top of the bay is a very large port that has large barges of many types and shipping vessels and we even used to have a regular cruise ship port there. But when the tide is out and you're in the northern part of the bay, it does seem like you can just almost walk across to Fairhope. As kids we always talked about doing exactly that because we were stupid. Luckily it was much too far to even try.

[@yakacm]

Been binge watching your older videos today, can I ask something I always want to ask when I watch your videos, do you have something wrong with your hands? Sorry if that's a tad personal, I always wonder

[@waterlinestories]

🫲🏻🫱🏻 🤣 nope. 10 digits, all in good working order. Probably just nervous while filming. Thanks for watching

[@yakacm]

@@waterlinestories Oh right, cool, hope I haven't made you self conscious about it, lol.

[@waterlinestories]

@yakacm not at all. I appreciate your sincerity. 👍🏻

[@judygilbert9628]

It’s the captain,s responsibility to check the weather. Not depend on the yacht club Commodore says The 8 boats that withdrew had he only captains that truly understood that responsibility. So sad that people allow peer pressure to make their decisions.

[@albertofourie3294]

With all the tech available today there's absolutely no excuse for captains not acting responsibly, organizers included!

[@johnpaulhoene8559]

Oh my god! What a tragedy!

[@chrismccartney8668]

It is the Skipper or Person in charge of boat who must make the critical decision... You can only give them info etc if they say NO THEN IT IS NO !!!

[@cristianjosedeoliveira3166]

Beautiful

[@timcobb1752]

Oh dear lord.... That is NOT how we pronounce Dauphin.... it's pronounced the same way we pronounce Dolphin with the L silent.... Though you did pronounce Mobile correctly...

[@cd5927]

Just a quick aside: I think there’s multiple correct ways to pronounce Dauphine but when I lived around Irvington which is close to Mobile I always heard the locals pronounce it “Daw - fin” like the word Dolphin with the L removed. Probably a quirk of the local dialect more than anything. I was there in spring of 2012 so it was before this occurred but I remember hearing about it on the news. As a sailor I have learned it’s prudent to assume Mother Nature is 1 step ahead of you. If you think it’s time to put in a reef, you should’ve already put the reef in. If it looks like the storm might hit you, it’s going to hit you. It’s safe to overestimate what she can do, it is never safe to underestimate what she will do.

[@RadicalEdward_115]

Dauphine not dawphin... So no its not "daw-fin" due to the E at the end of the name

[@cd5927]

@@RadicalEdward_115 following the literal phonetic pronunciation yes that is correct. However, the people that live in that area around Dauphine island pronounce it “Daw - Fin”. Hence why I said there are multiple correct ways to pronounce it. You can ask a local where “Daw - Feen” island is and they’ll know what you’re talking about, but you’re gonna get some funny looks and maybe a laugh too.

[@RadicalEdward_115]

@@cd5927 the locals are all wrong then. Sad that they don't know their own surroundings

[@RadicalEdward_115]

@@coloradohikertrash9958 my friend from Denver pronounces mountains correctly. Dont assume everyone in colorado is uneducated 😉

[@kc4697]

As someone who lives here yes we say it like that and spell it as Dauphin Island

[@jasonfrodoman1316]

Captain of the vessel is ultimately responsible for the crew. Disregarding a severe storm warning is pretty stupid.

[@offshoretinker]

The values people hold affect their decision making. What they are doing is gambolling their lives against the glory of a win that will be forgotten is very short order. Pilots and sailors messing with the energy of a thunderstorm will always regret it - more often than not briefly.

[@corid1897]

This reminds me so much of the fastest disaster in the UK

[@jmflyer55]

As a pilot and Captain of an aircraft, and also a pleasure boat Captain, I have to admit that many "Captains" in the boating community do not act like Captains, or have the required knowledge or experience to be called a Captain. Many are merely boat owners, and take their responsibility as Captain lightly. This is much different than the aviation community, and I would venture a guess to why is because aviation requires extensive training and rigorous testing to become qualified as a Captain, and STAY qualified as a Captain, as compared to just purchasing a 40 foot boat and simply sailing it. Legitimate Captains know it's ultimately their responsibility to insure safe passage for their passengers and crew. To get a complete and thorough weather briefing before take off or setting sail, is the Captains responsibility, as is making the go, no go decision based on weather and sea conditions, length of trip, experience etc.. To blame the Yacht Club for anything that happened, IMO is ludicrous! Apparently only 8, out of roughly 150 so called "Captains" had the knowledge to make to correct decision, and withdraw from the event. 8 out of 150 sounds about the same figures I would have imagined, as to how many boat owners are in fact competent Captains. I'm not one for placing excessive restrictions on peoples hobbies, because many boaters don't want that hassle just as I don't! I have enough restrictions with flying. But boater safety courses should be required, and owners of larger boats should perhaps have to pass some more advanced seamanship courses or tests. Nothing overwhelming or to much of a burden, but just something they can pass to show their level of seamanship, basic knowledge of weather patterns etc..

[@andrewnajarian5994]

This is what’s wrong with the world these days, nobody takes responsibility for his/her own choices. The yacht club is not to blame here. Nobody forced these captains to participate in the race. Moreover, the race was completed without incident yet these captains chose to take further risk returning to their home port rather than securing their vessels near the finish line and returning home on land when they saw the storm closing in on them more quickly than they had anticipated.

[@JonAndress]

They would have had to ride it out at anchor. DI has very little marina space.

[@childofcascadia]

That guy Gary Garner gave the order to continue. These deaths are on his hands. Wait, so did the girl Hannah and the guy Ron make it? It said she was able to give the coast guard coordinates, but it doesnt say they were actually rescued.

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

No one orders the captain of a vessel to do a darned thing. The race was announced as being on, and that's all. Eight boats chose to retire from this race before it started. No one ordered those boats to retire, their captains made a decision based on their own assessment of the situation. Unfortunately, they were in the minority. Sailing is an adventure sport. It carries with it, risk. The sea is littered with the souls of millennia and beyond that failed to manage those risks. We unfortunately live in a society, in the west, which takes pride in apportioning the blame to third parties when loss is incurred. The sea does not respect or acknowledge court proceedings, precedents or compensation claims. It only respects and acknowledges those that have their senses, wit and ability in order. And it only respects those that respect themselves. If you need the blessing of a Commodore to keep you alive at sea, the sea is beyond your capabilities.

[@childofcascadia]

@davidbrayshaw3529 Sure, but if he called off the race due to severe weather then most people would think twice about staying on the water, without a race to be won. If they chose to stay on the water at that point, its wildly different than "oh, it must not be that bad, after all the race its still going". Humans get stupid when competition is involved. Sometimes the prudent thing to do is not give them a reason to *be* stupid. On top of that, the rule you state only applies to international waters. This event took place in US waters. Not that the Commodore has any power, but there *are* plenty of people who do. On top of both of those things - did you seriously just say "we live in a society where..." and mean it? Never seen someone actually do that before and mean it! And its used in the typical way too - are you trolling me now?

[@davidbrayshaw3529]

@@childofcascadia Firstly, personally, if I was the Commodore, I would have pulled the pin and said the day's over. If you are going to accept a position of responsibility and guidance, use that position wisely and, dare I day, conservatively. I believe the Commodore made a huge error of judgement. As you correctly point out, racers get carried away in the moment. This is something that the Commodore should have acknowledged, I agree, and should have acted appropriately in accordance with that knowledge. I'm not sure what you are pertaining to as far as international vs. US rules. If you would like to extrapolate, I will happily address it. With regards to my statement "we live in a society...", yes, I absolutely mean it. Life is dangerous. Do your best to protect yourself. Make good decisions for yourself rather than have others make them for you. And have some darned pride! Don't blame others for your circumstances. Learn from your experiences, live to fight another day and teach others so they may know. Yes, there are certainly occasions where these rules of life cease to apply, and I don't discount the role of the courts. But the best legal battle you'll ever win is the one you don't have. And no, I'm not trolling, I don't do that. And I'm not blaming the Commodore either. He was one piece in a jigsaw puzzle cut from a similar hew of bad decisions. He should have known better. Only eight people did on that day. They were a little less than one in ten.

[@alobster1966]

Yeah they were rescued from what I could find

[@taiyoctopus2958]

Hobie cats are awesome little boats... but it's not the boat to be testing the weather in. They are raced in the olympics... Taking a hobie cat into a storm, is like taking a kitesurfing board into a storm. Props to those 8 boats who backed out... those guys/gals very well may have saved the lives of their crew(friends/fam) and themselves with that decision.