The Coast Guard suspended its search today for the four sailors still missing after being swept overboard from the sailboat Low Speed Chase in a race around the Farallon Islands Saturday. Three others on the boat were rescued, and the body of another of the eight total crew was recovered. Although the four missing sailors were wearing PFDs, they are presumed dead from likely hypothermia with water temperatures in the 50s.
The 38-foot sailboat was near the Farallon Islands when it was slammed by a large wave and five of the eight crew were washed overboard. The three left on board turned the boat around in an attempt to reach those who had gone overboard, but another large wave threw the boat against nearby rocks, causing two of them to fall overboard. These three were rescued by the Coast Guard.
None of the five washed overboard in the initial incident was wearing a tether - perhaps because in conditions of 20-25-knot winds they were not concerned about this risk before the wave struck. It's a grim reminder of the importance of using safety gear such as a harness and tether even when you might not think they're needed.
