by GreenLake » Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:49 pm
Tragedies like that have a technical and a human side. That family has experienced a devastating loss, no less so that it arose out of the intention to have some wholesome fun. I can't even imagine how I would feel if that happened to me or someone in my family. I'm with Bruce here, there's no need to "pile on" or seem to be doing so - so let's be careful as we pick over the "technical" bones of the case that we don't end up being unnecessarily disrespectful of the people involved.
Nevertheless, while the accident is fresh, it's the best time to use it to remind ourselves of the risks in our sport and how to minimize them for us and those that depend on us.
I have a friend who built a wooden dinghy (many years ago) about 10ft long, which, I happen to know from somebody who's done it, can be safely sailed in winds up to perhaps 30kts. Now, when my friend was done putting together his dinghy, he put it in the water on a local lake with winds perhaps north of 15kts.
He promptly capsized it, and promptly repeated that maneuver on the next try. His buddy, an experienced sailor and boat builder, didn't think anything of the conditions and had encouraged him to go out. He was alone, young and perhaps the water was a bit warmer, so no harm done. But he now has a healthy respect of conditions.
Speaking about "drills". Perhaps we could have a separate thread.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~