CG rescue swimmer injured in sailboat rescue

[Bill NH]

This article gives a good perspective on the implications of choosing to set off an EPIRB, including the huge amount of human and capital resources deployed, and the fact that it isn't always smooth & easy...  good read.

http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-rescue-swimmer-injured-during-rescue-2/2008/10/29/

[AdriftAtSea]

Thanks for the post...  Also, I was told by someone on another forum that the boat might be a Swan 44, as there is one named FreeFall located in that part of the country.  Pulling the tab on an EPIRB puts other people's lives at risk... as clearly seen here.  The USCG rescue swimmer could have just as easily been killed. 

In this case, unlike Ronnie's case a few weeks ago, the boat was actually sinking... and the lives of the people on-board at risk. It also sounds like Freefall didn't have a liferaft aboard.

[Pappy Jack]

The man that passed away,Phil Rubright, was a former president of the "Great Lakes Singlehanded Sailing Society". He was also a veteran of several OSTAR's.

Pappy Jack