FW: Dead Regatta Sailor Hailed a 'Hero' for Helping Save 5 Other Mates

An FYI, Folks. Take Care Charlie From: in… [at] foxnewsmail.com [mailto:in… [at] foxnewsmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 2:41 AM To: Staller, Phillip B Subject: Dead Regatta Sailor Hailed a 'Hero' for Helping Save 5 Other Mates ph… [at] hud.gov has sent you the following link to a story at foxnews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,364454,00.html

Husar, Charlie [USA] wrote: > > > An FYI, Folks. > > Take Care > Charlie > > > Subject: Dead Regatta Sailor Hailed a 'Hero' for Helping Save 5 Other > Mates > > <mailto:phillip.b.staller%40hud.gov> > Wow, another melancholy tale of heroism and death. Studies have shown that people who watch local TV news have a tendency to overestimate the incidence of violence in their own communities, because it picks up sensational stories from elsewhere. For sailors, the effect is probably beneficial, because it makes us more aware of the opportunities for disaster and perhaps more careful. But I note that the keel fell off. Pardon me, but this modern tendency for keels to fall off offends me. One of the fundamental issues in going to sea is doing so in vessels that are suited to the task at hand. It's why we've had those interminable arguments about bronze vs. Marelon for seacocks and through-hulls, or previously, about fin vs. full-keel design, or spade vs. keel-hung rudders. How much can you depart from previously accepted safety practice without giving up too much? Our own Mr. Lapworth helped to teach a lesson in openness to innovation. But his boats don't have breaking keels or rudders, at least not before they reached advanced age and keels got floppy and stainless rudder components got corroded. Those are more like maintenance issues. It just seems to me that ocean racing vessels shouldn't have keels that fall off. Chris Campbell

Agree w/ Chris... Does seem a lot of boats have had trouble keeping their keels attached, but more importantly, sailors not keeping their PFD's on... Now you can invite friends from Facebook and other groups to join you on Windows Live™ Messenger. Add now. https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_AddNow_Now