US Sailing Offers Condolences in Wake of Farallones Accident

Last updated - Monday, April 16 - 4:31 pm EST

On Saturday, April 14 a tragic accident occurred during a race off the coast of San Francisco when rough seas swept members of the crew of Low Speed Chase overboard and drove the boat on to the rocks off the Farallon Islands. Thankfully, three of the crew were rescued and survived, but one died and four others remain missing. All of us at US Sailing – our staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers - are deeply saddened by this event, and are mourning the loss of life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends as they navigate through these very difficult times.

While we cannot affect the past, we will look to learn from this tragedy to help sailors in the future. At US Sailing our commitment to safety at sea is paramount. We have made our organization and staff available to the authorities and race organizers to assist in any way. At the appropriate time, we expect to organize a panel to review the incident, procedures and protocols, and work with our constituents to further advance best practices and safety education going forward. We will continue to champion the many positive lessons and opportunities that sailing offers, and strive to ensure sailing remains as safe as possible.

Jack Gierhart
Executive Director, US Sailing