Posted on Wed, Jul 20, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
Video shows deadly storm that capsized sailboat during Chicago-to-Mackinac race
By AnnArbor.com Staff
The crew of a sailboat in the Chicago-to-Mackinac race captured photos and video from the fierce storm that hit near the Fox Islands off Charlevoix, killing 2 people aboard the boat WingNuts, the Detroit News reported today.
Ann Arbor resident John Dent, 50, was among the crew rescued this week from the boat, which capsized early Monday. Mark Morley, 51, and Suzanne Bickel, 40, both of Saginaw, died in the incident.
Footage taken by the crew of the Realt Na Mara:
Past coverage:
Comments
StartupGeek
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 1:54 a.m.
This article captures just how bad were both the magnitude and duration of the winds. <a href="http://www.powerboat-world.com/usa/Chicago-Mackinac-Race-100-Knots-and-Off-the-Clock/86145" rel='nofollow'>http://www.powerboat-world.com/usa/Chicago-Mackinac-Race-100-Knots-and-Off-the-Clock/86145</a>
Ron Granger
Wed, Jul 20, 2011 : 11:57 p.m.
The really tragic aspect to this is that it likely could have been prevented. Only one crew member had a knife. They all tethered themselves to the boat, and they had difficulty releasing those tethers when the boat capsized. Every person on that boat should have had at least one knife on their person. This was no afternoon pleasure cruise of a few hours - this was an all night race. They decided to continue into the weather rather than take shelter, and they did so without having the most basic of safety gear. Never go sailing without a readily accessible knife on your person.
David Briegel
Wed, Jul 20, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
Having sailed on Lake Michigan in a storm I can tell you that I was quite relieved when we got to the harbor. The power and fury of a storm on the Great Lakes is awesome. The video that comes up on youtube after this one shows a relaxed Mark Morley. RIP Capt Morley and Ms Bickel.
bedrog
Wed, Jul 20, 2011 : 7:24 p.m.
Captures the capricious reality of the Great Lakes...much as did Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".