Practical Sailor · video

What this video covers

During the 2025 Port Huron to Mackinac race on Lake Huron, a sudden squall knocked the Santa Cruz 70 *Trident* onto her side, washing a crew member named Pete overboard.3:09 With the boat pinned at a 90-degree angle and the rudder out of the water, the crew immediately deployed all available flotation devices to create a visual debris field.4:11 The skipper activated the man overboard beacon and transmitted a distress call via the VHF radio’s DSC button.4:57 While *Trident* worked to douse sails and regain control, four other race vessels joined the search.6:08 After one hour in the water, Pete was recovered by the crew of the racing yacht *Avante*.6:30 In a separate incident during the same storm, the 58-foot *Talisman* assisted a capsized catamaran, coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to rescue a hypothermic sailor who had been adrift for two hours.8:16 These events underscore the necessity of pre-rehearsed man overboard plans, rapid deployment of flotation, and immediate communication during high-stress offshore emergencies.

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