MacGregorSailors.com

"LOS ANGELES - A 59-year-old man grasped on to driftwood, a balloon and finally a buoy after falling off his boat, surviving five hours in cold ocean waters before a passing boat found him."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 617971.htm

Since he was alone and motoring, I was wondering if he might have been worse off with a tether? Sounds like he was pretty fortunate. Listening to the news last night, it was reported that his brother knew the route he would take and, as soon as he was notified his brother's boat was found run aground with no one on board, the brother began a search tracing that route which was why McCabe was found pretty soon after. That's not in this report, though.

He looked like a pretty big guy which probably helped slow down hypothermia. The hospital spokesman said his body temp was about 90 degrees when brought in. According to the spokesman, when McCabe was found, he was brought on board the rescue vessel and clothing was immediately removed and attempts were made to get him warm, "the absolute right thing to do" said the spokesman. It was reported he was on autopilot traveling from Marina Del Rey to Newport Beach (yet his boat ran aground on Catalina). Really good luck that boat hit Catalina.

Jackie

Jackie m

Must be more to this story as the 60 boat hit the rock shore on Catalina. Were talking a big Motor Yacht.
Does anyone wonder if someone might just be well insured? The Large Yacht was towing a dinghy. Boat looked like it just drove ashore? Probably a total loss.

More evidence of why you might consider using those shut-down lanyards that nobody ever seems to use, especially singlehanded?

Richard O'Brien
Youre right with that safety cut off. Sure would have saved a nice boat and probably some live too.

They Theirs wrote:Jackie m

Must be more to this story as the 60 boat hit the rock shore on Catalina. Were talking a big Motor Yacht.
Does anyone wonder if someone might just be well insured? The Large Yacht was towing a dinghy. Boat looked like it just drove ashore? Probably a total loss.

Actually, from the video clip I saw on tv, the boat was sitting on the beach (not up on rocks but rocks around) and looked to be in pretty good shape. It was a $1 M powerboat (not a sailboat with keel).

From where he was found clinging to the buoy, he was pretty lucky to be found alive. There's no question he was suffering hypothermia and it's surprising he managed to survive the current water temps for five hours.

More info in these links just posted giving more detail about how he ended up in the water:

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/ho ... 946223.php

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/ne ... 945840.php


Jackie

Sorry about the above links. I think you have to be a subscriber. You can access the link through bugmenot.com

Jackie m

jackie m

It is just incredible how this guy is alone, on his way south, falls overboard, 60 motor yacht steers a coarse to impact Catalina, he is in the water clinging to debris, the coast guard is notified, and his brother knows where to look, and finds him clinging to a buoy off Long Beach. Now thats one for Perry Mason. No doubt there will be a few more Cliff Hangers to come?

They Theirs wrote:jackie m

It is just incredible how this guy is alone, on his way south, falls overboard, 60 motor yacht steers a coarse to impact Catalina, he is in the water clinging to debris, the coast guard is notified, and his brother knows where to look, and finds him clinging to a buoy off Long Beach. Now thats one for Perry Mason. No doubt there will be a few more Cliff Hangers to come?

I don't find it incredible as much as I find it pure luck. Sometimes the sea gods either give us a pass or take the day off. This is a slow time of year for boating, Thursday is a slow boating day, and we have one heck of a coastguard here on the southern California coast even during the busy season. There were two coastguard helicopters and two coastguard boats out there looking for him as well as his brother and no telling who else.

Jackie M

jackie m

If it is luck. Id be buying some lottery tickets, if I were he

They Theirs wrote:jackie m

If it is luck. Id be buying some lottery tickets, if I were he

If I were McCabe, I'd be satisfied that I had already won the big one

Jackie M

They Theirs wrote:jackie m

It is just incredible how this guy is alone, on his way south, falls overboard, 60 motor yacht steers a coarse to impact Catalina, he is in the water clinging to debris, the coast guard is notified, and his brother knows where to look, and finds him clinging to a buoy off Long Beach. Now thats one for Perry Mason. No doubt there will be a few more Cliff Hangers to come?

AUTOPILOT.....sounds plausable to me...

McCabe said he had left Marina del Rey on Thursday morning on a solo trip to Newport Beach to visit his mother.

If It were on the Iron Mike, I should think the boat would have hit the jetty at the entrance to New Port Harbor. It may have reset itself to Catalina Island?

The was a 60 foot boat docked next to me and scott in Mdr Sat. we went on board and had a few drinks with the guy he was from newport beach.
and get this a lawyer?????? wonder if it was the same guy. He motored
by himself from newport??? didnt get his last name but his first name was Craig anyone have a link to a pict. of the guy?

It was him what a trip


http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/la-me-bo ... ewslocal-1

This was pretty amazing....

We were sitting at the county docks just a week ago having drinks with this guy on Scott's Mac!!! We got to take a tour of his big yacht and then ended up going to dinner at the local Mexican restaurant with him. He was a great guy and we all had a lot of fun. We are just glad to hear that he lived through it!!

I didn't read anything about a damage report to the boat.

Imagine being in Catalina and looking up to see an un-manned 60+ foot yacht coming at you with engines running!!! Would have sliced through a Mac like cutting butter.