Here are some more links to the Wingnuts accident in the Chicago/Mac
sailboat race disaster.
The rescue boat, Sociable, was in Marine VHF communication with some
10 boats around them, who all responded.
As I was up all night monitoring 3.935 Mhz LSB, I wish one of those
boats were ham Radio-enabled, as hundreds of on-line spectators/
audience on the Chicago Yacht Club Face Book page were begging for
some information, as the stricken boat was not identified as yet.
Bear in mind that the on-line satellite-based tracking system for the race was down since the beginning hours of the race.
I was also monitoring the on-line audio feed of the Grand Traverse/
Charlevoix EMC, heard the helicopter and USCG communications, but no
boat name, as they did not have the information as yet. It was very upsetting to hear the USCG helicopter return after the search, without finding the two missing crew members.
The incident happened at about 11:30 PM ET, and it was now about 4:00
AM ET, with the Little Traverse CMAN buoy showing a water temperature
of 68 deg F.
Meanwhile, I could see (on Marinetraffic.com AIS feed), the USCG
Cutter Mackinaw speeding full speed ahead northbound through the
Manitou Islands pass towards the scene of the accident. This must have
been in 0 visibility in these storms.
No other AIS-responding boats were close.
I also wished we had more NCS's (Net Control Stations) to relieve me, or just check propagation, provide relays etc. We REALLY need more NCS's.... I finally retired at about 4 AM ET, trying to sleep with the knowledge
that the victims were probably slowly succumbing out there....
Subsequent police reports indicate that they both had suffered severe
head trauma, probably from a boom strike. This makes me feel a little
better, but still...

Scroll down to see some new YouTube videos on the storm.




2011 Chicago - Mac Race Storm




News8 Coverage on YouTube



Wingnuts Accident - Petoskey News

Wingnuts Accident - Sail-world.com

Also, see this link to the Goombay Smash accident which happened during the Hook Race in Death's Door during the same storm.
Goombay Smash Accident

See more YouTube sailing videos here:
Videos