I avoid racing like the plague. I just got sick of people who could not come to terms with the fact that "Right of way is given, not taken". Why does some one have to die? 
Shocking thing, it is just one of those tragedies that could happen any time.
I really, should have been there if the owner of the yacht l was crewing on did not lay in bed with prostate cancer.
I feel deeply about this tragedy, especially, as it might have been one of us if we were racing today.
The only consolation if any, he died while he was doing what he loved.
RIP sailor!
Very sad indeed. Lets hope we hear some actual reports on what happened. There will be lessons to be learned here.
Quite a bit of detail emerging in this article just published in the Sydney Morning Herald
www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/yachts-hit-head-on-in-fatal-sailing-accident-20160228-gn5irj.html
I've raced several times on the Couta boat involved so this is very close to home.
Condolences for the bereaved and deep sympathy and best wishes for all involved. Truly tragic.
Having had a number of close calls with yachts racing on Pittwater I am not overly surprised at this incident. A lot, maybe most, of the racing skippers ignore or flagrantly flout rules of the road but it looks like this collision was from a failure to see conflicting vessels rather than willfully ignoring the rules.
I am sure everyone involved is devastated by what has happened.
The 'puddle' was very busy on Saturday, with a rather short track for the big boats, overlapping with the courses for the other classes (and other clubs). It was not a place for the faint hearted.
We were sitting on our mooring at the time, but our view of the actual incident was blocked by some moored boats. But we did see the tireless amount of work that was put in by fellow competitors, RPAYC staff and nurse/doctor/police/ambos who saved a life and tried for a long time to save another.
No doubt more details will emerge over time, but I hope this is the last bad news item for a long time. RIP!
Racing on Pittwater, racing on Sydney Harbour, racing anywhere is not for the faint harted.
Neither is sailing generally.
Ramona wrote about skippers ignoring, flagrantly flouting the rules of the road. This generalisation l find a bit harsh. This, in case of a fatal accident would be wilful murder! Thank heavens, this is seldom the case.
There are situations especially around start lines and buoys where the boats congregate en mass and this higher density of crafts bring situations where visibility is severely limited and decisions must be made in the fraction of a second. This situation could end in accidents. This is part of racing. If one can not bear the heat, one should get out of the kitchen!
Thuss, on the weekend on the Harbour, from Gladesville to Middle Harbour my yacht nearly got T-boned by errant cruising sail boat skippers f o u r times! Ok, it was Sunday, more Sunday skippers on the water, it is the sad reality, but this is just emphasizing the fact, that sailing is as danerous as driving or just crossing the road.
I would be happy to die racing or cruising instead of losing my mind and wilting away in a nursing home.
I hate these stories
My heart goes out too all involved.
I have know idea what more I can say.
Tragedy
Hi all
This is a sad situation but it is easy to understand how it might happen from what has been reported especially if the crew were focused on hoisting a spinnaker at the time
Perhaps the other boat had right of way and assumed the boat where the fatalities occurred would take avoiding action
Probably should not speculate on what happened until a investigation is carried out but i wonder if this accident might have some flow on effects in the setting of courses etc
My condolences to all involved
Regards Don
Don't put the mocka on Nipper yet, he's still doin' it tough but he's still doin' it!
