My boss is in this race every year for the past 16 years, his boat’s name is Momentus and we cheer him on every year and hope for a high placement and a safe race. This year a boat capsized and 2 people were lost and we found out that they died earlier today. The boats name is Wingnuts, all boats are prepared for the worst but this year a squall hit and capsized the boat and they were unable to hold on until the Coast Guard could rescue them.
The race started with people being worried that there wouldn’t be enough wind to be a fast race. Lake Michigan is more like an ocean than a lake, no matter how well prepared people are things happen VERY suddenly. Winds went up to 60mph, I have been on the lake when it serves up unbelievable wind velocities, we lost our windshield and electronics back in 1978 and thankfully the Coast Guard found us and was able to save our bacon and we are here today because of them, it could have gone very differently.
From the start of the race we had 7 people who would log on and track boat positions and when Wingnuts capsized we were that much more focused on making sure Momentus was ok. Momentus made 8th place in the J109 division but even if they made 1st it wouldn’t matter, we were all just happy that everybody made it safely to the finish and we all are saying prayers for the family of the people who died and for the crew members who survived.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and members of the crew, no words can convey our sorrow for their loss.
5 comments:
such a terrible tragedy!..our hearts go out to those who were lost...what a shame on what should have been a glorious day.
How sad -- we just never know when our last day on this earth will come. May the families involved somehow find comfort & peace.
We were in Mackinaw City when that tragedy happened. I rarely wake up during a storm, but that one woke me up. There was so much lightning, rain and wind. The motorhome shook more than ever before. Very scary.
Oh how sad Erik. I am well aware of how big Lake Michigan is as I have been on it many years ago.
I remember being so far out that you couldn't see any shoreline, just like the ocean.
I feel so bad for the families of those lost. Love Di ♥
Sue and Doug - Agreed big time. These are the only 2 deaths in 100 years, makes it that much tougher on everybody.
Alan and Marilyn - Very true, I had a talk with my wife about that, we just never know when our time is up. We say a prayer for the families to find comfort and peace.
Margie and Roger - Yeah, they tell me the storm was unbelievable! Kevin, the owner of Momentus said his boat suffered no damage and they are sailing back right now to the Chicago Yacht club.
Diana - Lake Michigan can be a very scary place. Storms are so severe and if you go overboard you don't float like you would on the ocean which makes it tougher.
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