Setnet skipper and her crew survive a sinking with PFDs and perseverance

Transcription

1 Setnet skipper and her crew survive a sinking with PFDs and perseverance By Michael Crowley, Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman, Dec issue. In 2010 this country's commercial fleets lost 38 fishermen on the job. That's fewer than the average 50 deaths per year since 2000, but still there's no indication of a downward trend since 2000, says Jennifer Lincoln with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Anchorage, Alaska. Fifteen of those deaths, or 40 percent,. were the result of falls overboard. It's a percentage that has remained constant, notes Lincoln. Fishing vessel safety officers around the country would certainly agree with that. "In the Gulf of Mexico, one of the leading causes of fishermen fatalities is man overboard," says Larry Yarbrough with the Coast Guard's 17th district in Miami. "Fishermen aren't required to wear PFDs, so they don't," says Kevin Ploughman with the 1st district in Portland Maine. This year the sternman on a lobsterboat died in Maine after going overboard just after the boat left its mooring in Cindy's Harbor. Bob Perkins with the Coast Guard's 8th district in New Orleans, has a theory for why there are so many man overboard deaths. "A lot is years and years of tradition unhampered by progress," he says. That refusal to change one's ways is what fisherman Shannon Ford encountered when she talked to fishermen in Bristol Bay Alaska, about wearing PFDs. Prior to June 26, 2010, they had several reasons why they didn't wear a PFD.They told her it was too much of a pain, they hadn't worn one before -- so why wear one now - and besides, they fished close to shore. After June 26, 2010, the same fishermen aren t offering those excuses. "Now I have a little more clout." Ford says. On the night of June 26th, Ford and two crewmen, Don Ward and Tyler Schuldt, were bringing Ford's 20-foot setnet skiff to her fishing site. It was dark, the weather was picking up, there were breaking waves and a strong tide and current. (continued on p. 3). THIRD WEDNESDAY AND IMPORTANT NOTES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February S Third Wednesday Gathering of members Date: February 15, 2012 Time: 1915 Location: Tvfr, Tigard station #51, 8953 Burnham St., Tigard, OR Topic: ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING ELECTION OF OFFICERS For more details see page 5. (SEE THE LIST OTHER SCHEDULED FEBRUARY 2012 ACTIVITIES ON P. 11)

2 BSPS EDUCATION NEWS Lt/C Mark Balcom, SN The AP class has started with 2 students. There is still time to get in before the class proceeds much further. Also, both PSPS and FVSPS is also offering an AP section this term as well. If you can t make it into the BSPS class, be sure to check those options as an alternative to waiting another year. The Weather class has been postponed for now. There are plans for starting it later in the spring or perhaps waiting until next fall D/Lt/C Rick Rafferty, AP, has started an ABC3 Public Boating Class at the Farmington Road fire house. This will start Wednesday 22 Feb 2012 and have a Wednesday/Saturday meeting format. Contact him for more information. There is also a Ham Radio technician level class being conducted by P/C Rob Hamilton, Jr., that is doing extremely well. There are quite a few non-usps members that are getting some exposure to the Squadron. Nicely done! The southern jurisdiction is setting up plans to get another ABC class underway, with scheduling dependent on student interest. Most likely that will be starting in February.

3 Continued from p. 1 Normally other setnetters would have been out, but not tonight. The boat had been taking on water from the waves when their skiff got hung up on another setnet. A setnet has one end anchored to shore and the other end runs perpendicularly out from shore to another anchor. That end is supposed to have a light on it. The setnet had broken loose from the shore and drifted seaward. It probably wouldn't have been a problem if there had been a light on the other end, but there wasn't. Tangled in the net the boat took on more water. Then Ford remembers, " A great big wave came and filled he boat. It knocked out the electronics, stopped the pumps and the motor. I said, 'OK, we are going down. Everybody up in the bow.' " Then suddenly all three were under the skiff, which had flipped over on them. After they worked out from under the boat - Schuldt first, then Ward who grabbed Ford and pulled her free - it was, says Ford, a " classic case of survival, figuring out the assets and no one panicked." Panic would have been the easy choice. They were a mile from shore and in the worst currents and tides for anything to have gone wrong. Fortunately, Ford was always adamant about wearing a PFD and that night they were wearing Mustang PFDs, though burdened with full rain gear and waders. Holding on to the boat, they tried to devise a plan. "We talked about it and said, 'Lets try to get to shore.' Foolishly we thought we could swim to shore." Ford says. They locked arms, with Schuldt in the middle holding a red buoy that was part of the fishing gear. It was three in the morning. Ward had a flashlight and was flashing it. There was the bright red buoy. All three were yelling. "But no one was out there," remembers Ford. Kicking toward shore, they worked to angle across the current. The Mustang PFDs provide more than just buoyancy as they fought the current and breaking waves. FORD says, "The PFD supports your head. You get tired trying to hold your head at the correct angle. With the PFD you don't get tired. And they insulate you. When the PFD goes off, it instantly holds body heat against you." She compares it to a wet suit; it prevents your core from getting colder. It kept us warm long enough that we could think." They kept "kicking, kicking, kicking." Ford knows where all the nets and cabins are along the shore. At one point she thought they could attract people on the shore. But they had a generator on and couldn't hear us yelling. Then the current took them around a point and further out. "That was discouraging," Ford notes. "But we kept talking, told jokes and stupid stories, and kept swimming." At one point they fired a pistol, but as Ford later learned, people didn't pay any attention because they thought, " it was that crazy guy down the beach." They hit the line of a setnet, but the current was carrying them too fast, and they couldn't hold on. Then they hit the setnet line of Ford's cousin. They had been in the water just over an hour. "By that point it was, 'If we don't get out of the water all three of us are going to die,''' says Ford. Ward, who had removed his waders, was the first to pull himself along the line and to shore. Schuldt held to the line and worked toward the shore. Ford dropped the line and held onto Schuldt. It took about 30 minutes to reach land. Ashore, Ward woke Ford's cousin, who happened to be a nurse, which was fortunate because by that time all three were going into shock. Looking back on the 90 minutes in the water, Ford says what helped them was that they were determined to get out of the water, they had a plan "and all three of us were of exactly the same mind set. I think it gives an added edge." And they had those Mustang PFDs. Reprinted with permission from National Fisherman magazine December 2011, and also printed in the Coos Bay Whistler, P/C Art Schuldt, SN, editor, WHO IS THE GRANDFATHER OF TYLER SCHULDT! BOAT SMART FROM THE START WEAR YOUR LIFEJACKET EVERY TIME ALL THE TIME

4 COLUMBIA MARINE MOVES TO LARGER STORE AGAIN. By Lt John Arrufat Kimberly Winkler (left), uses an amusing expression to refer to those new and shiny boat equipment items that catch our eye when we go into marine stores, but that are not vital to the operation of a boat: We have and we can order all the bling-blings, but our focus is on solid quality new and used boat gear, we want our customers to be safe on the water. We have built up a relationship with ninety-two distributors; we can get any item that is available at any other marine store or online source at a competitive price with the same warranty. Columbia Marine caters to the do-it-your-self person with shelves loaded with good used gear. Back in L.A., there were five such stores, and I took them for granted. Kim is willing to talk to you about what you re buying and how well it will work for your boat. Some of the old substantial quality bronze, chrome-on-bronze and Wilcox-Crittenden hardware on my boat, much of which is no longer manufactured came out of Columbia Marine. The new larger store allows Columbia to display a formidable consignment of used sails, check the list on their web site, ( before going in. The store is in the Airport Business Park West complex, 7911 NE 33 rd. Drive, Suite 150, Portland 97211, Thirty-Third Drive runs between Marine Drive and Columbia Blvd. The storefront faces Riverside Way. aquakiddo@comcast.net. The store at McCuddy s marina was twice the size of the original store at Tomahawk Bay. The new store on thirty-third drive is over twice the size of the McCuddy s location. Our loyal customers, sail and motor, have carried us to a 714% growth in five years. Everyone should carry a spare anchor and Columbia has a good used selection, plus new and used cordage. (Paid advertisement.)

5 february S Third Wednesday Gathering of members Date: february 15, 2012 Time: 1915 Location: Tvfr, Tigard station #51, 8953 Burnham St., Tigard, OR Topic: Annual business meeting; ELection of officers It s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since our last Business meeting and election of officers, which brought us our first full Bridge in years. Everyone has worked hard to keep our Squadron interesting and inviting. Now it s time to elect a new Bridge to continue the good work that has been done and to expand into new horizons. As of this time, we are still looking for someone to be Executive Officer. If anyone wants to step up to help, we will once again have a full Bridge. In any event, come to the meeting to hear the State of the Squadron message that our Commander, Dave Shively will deliver. Come to elect new officers. Come to join the fellowship of boating friends! Please bring a dessert to share. Thanks. AO Andre McCormack, AP

6 BEAVERTON SAIL & POWER SQUADRON CHANGE OF WATCH DINNER Date: Saturday, 17 March 2012 Time: Location: 1730 Social Hour 1830 Dinner Served Mandarin Palace 9225 SW Allen Blvd. Portland, OR Phone: Price: $18.00 per person Menu: Family Style Chinese Dinner Including Tea & Fortune Cookies NO HOST BAR (Uniform/Dress: Class A with Bow Tie, Blazer, or appropriate business attire) RESERVATIONS PLEASE BY 08 MARCH 2012 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN WITH YOUR RESERVATIONS BY 08 MARCH 2012 BEAVERTON SAIL & POWER SQUADRON CHANGE OF WATCH DINNER 17 March 2012 Make check out to Beaverton Power Squadron and mail to: Andre McCormack, 1675 Sand Creek Rd., Drain, OR (phone: : andre.carla@hotmail.com) Reservation(s) for: TOTAL ENCLOSED: $

7 DISTRICT SPRING CONFERENCE CHANGE OF WATCH MARCH 2nd-4th, 2012 Location: Scappoose Creek Inn W Lane Rd Scappoose, OR or Conference Information: (There is no charge to attend the Conference. The only charge is for meals.) Registration information, including meal costs, is online at the D32 website, Friday Evening: Dress Semi Casual Informal No Host Dinner/Welcome Reception for the Chief s Rep. V/C Jean Hamilton, SN Location: Scappoose Creek Inn Menu: Baked Herb Chicken Breast or Smoked Brisket, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Honey Dijon Carrots, Green Salad w/ 2 salad dressings, Rolls & Sweet Cream Butter and Iced Tea, Coffee No Host Bar - Beer and Wine Only for the reception. Saturday Day: Uniform for the Council and Conference is Team Casual Proudly wear your squadron shirts Commander s No Host Breakfast P/D/C No Host Breakfast Registration District Conference Morning Session Break for Lunch - Sandwich Bar with assorted breads, deli meats and cheeses served with a variety of condiments, Soup, Macaroni Salad and Iced Tea or Coffee District Conference Afternoon Session Break Out Sessions and Speakers Spouse activities: Spouses Activity Meet in the Scappose Inn lobby lounge area for the carpool prior to 10am. The carpool will leave promptly at 10am.** Reservations in advance for this event are critical Check the D32 website for details. Saturday Evening: Class A Uniform for the Evening Events or Blazer or Mufti Social Hour - No Host Bar - Beer and Wine Only Dinner Menu: Penne Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli in a Creamy White Alfredo Sauce or Spaghetti Bolognese Garlic Bread, Green Salad w/ 2 salad dressings Iced Tea, Coffee Awards - After Dinner Accommodations: A limited amount of rooms are available for both Friday and Saturday nights for USPS members and their guests. Room rates are $90- to S plus tax. To assure yourself a room at the rate shown, reservations should be made now. Contact the Scappoose Creek Inn directly at or and make sure to tell them that you are with the District 32 Fall Conference. Alternative lodging would be at the BEST WESTERN Oak Meadows Inn, 585 S Columbia River Highway, Saint Helens, Oregon, , Phone: 503/ Oak Meadows is less than 6 miles from the conference. They offer a discounted rate of $ a night plus tax. Pets are welcome for an additional $10.

8 Upcoming Events: At the April 2012 Gathering of members, our guest speaker has been arranged by Lt. John Arrufat, who supplied the following information: How Capt. Bob Baldwin manages to hold down a job at West Marine and teach sailing while tied up in knots is beyond me but then, that's his talent. We pulled some strings ourselves and got him scheduled to give another seminar on proper yacht knotting and splicing to the Beaverton Squadron. This time the demo will be at our usual meeting place at the Tigard Fire Station. Members are requested to bring a knotting/splicing project, but for those who would like to start from the beginning, Bob will bring material for everyone. He will work with all the tables situated around him and he'll keep a close eye on everyone. Don't miss this opportunity to take advantage of Bob's experience. The seminar will take place at the April 18th meeting. There's just no better way than to see first hand how it's done and nobody in Portland does it as well as Bob. I'm not the tongue-tied type, while he's with us, I plan to ask him how his house got untied and floated away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In next month s FOGHORN: The calendar of events that was designed at the January 2012 Gathering of Members will be published. Get ready to mark your calendars! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ D32 Changes of Watch D32 District Bridge Saturday, 3 March 2012 FVSPS Saturday, 10 March 2012 BSPS Saturday, 17 March 2012 (see p. 6 for details) D16 Spring Conference and Change of Watch-Saturday, March 2012 CBPS Saturday, 7 April 2012 PSPS Saturday, 14 April 2012 SHSPS and LCSPS are TBD at the time of printing. (Check the websites and newsletters of the Squadrons and Districts for full details!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9 BEAVERTON SAIL & POWER SQUADRON ANNUAL SWEETHEART DINNER DATE: Saturday, 11 February 2011 TIME: 1700 PLACE: MENU: Rock Creek Corner Café NW West Union Road Portland, OR Everyone will be ordering from the restaurant menu that has a selection of Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches, Pub Specialties, Burgers, Dinners and a full page of Pizzas made with fresh, homemade crust. Available beverages include Specialty Cocktails, Mock-tails, Micro-Brews, Wine, Sodas, Coffee, Tea, and Juice. This is a No Host Dinner The food is great, and the camaraderie excellent! Bring your Sweetheart and join your Beaverton Squadron Friends for an evening of fun! So we can let the restaurant know how many people to set up for, please RSVP to Mary Bauman (Phone: ; baumanmc.iphone@gmail.net) *Directions: The restaurant is on the northwest corner of West Union Road and 185 th St. The easiest way to get there is to take Hwy. 26 to the 185 th Avenue, P.C.C. Rock Creek exit and turn north, driving until you reach West Union Road. There is a large parking lot in back of the restaurant.

10 BSPS CoOp Charting Report With the reporting year almost complete, BSPS has made a major contribution to the Co-Op Charting program this term. As of this reporting, BSPS has once again made Honor Roll status as a Squadron, with a current National ranking of #12! Of the four members that received reporting credits, three members made individual Honor Roll status, with one of those making it into the top 75 at #16.. There may be some additional credits submitted, and national rankings may change some as later reports are submitted ( the current reporting year runs until March 31, 2012), but once again what an effort of the Squadron! BSPS members that received Co-Op charting credits so far this reporting year (alphabetical order:) D/C Steve Gatton, AP (Honor Roll with 645% excess points) Cdr Dave Shively, P (Honor Roll with 63% excess points) Al Thomason, SN (Honor Roll with 24% excess points) Kristi Thomason, AP Excess points are calculated using the number of credit points assigned and the number of minimum points for Honor Roll. Current Honor Roll points for BSPS is 82 points. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Cover Photo: J. Arrufat, of some of the items available at the Columbia Marine Exchange.)

11 BEAVERTON POWER SQUADRON Commander: Educational Officer: Executive Officer: Admin Officer: Secretary: Treasurer: Asst. SEO BRIDGE OFFICERS Dave Shively, P mos33c20@centurytel.net Lt/C Mark Balcom, SN kaiulani@coho.net Lt/C Carla Montchalin, AP andre.carla@hotmail.com Andre McCormack, AP Andre.carla@hotmail.com Lt/C Becky Fullerton, AP Becky_fullerton@yahoo.com P/C Caryl Lindemaier, P caryl99@msn.com P/C Rob Hamilton Jr., JN rob_hamilton _2000@yahoo.com THE FOGHORN is the Official Publication of BEAVERTON POWER SQUADRON and is published monthly except July and August. Beaverton Squadron Web Page: THE FOGHORN Editor: D/C STEVE GATTON, AP sgatton@teleport.com Distribution: Sue and Elisabeth Gatton FOGHORN NEWS ARTICLES & INFORMATION DUE NO LATER THAN THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH ~ ACTIVITIES CALENDAR ~ BEAVERTON SQUADRON & D/32 February 1 Wednesday Bridge Meeting 11 Saturday D32 Spring Council St. Helens, OR Moose Lodge Hall 11 Saturday BSPS Annual Sweetheart Dinner (see p. 9) 15 Wednesday Gathering of Members Annual Business Meeting March 2-4 Friday-Sunday D32 Spring Conference and Change of Watch Scappoose Creek Inn 7 Wednesday Bridge Meeting 17 Saturday Change of Watch Dinner Mandarin Palace Beaverton (see details on p. x) If you plan to attend a function not sponsored by Beaverton Squadron, it would be wise to contact the commander or person responsible for the activity to double check dates and monetary involvement. REMINDER: FOGHORN DEADLINE THE 20th of each month

12 FOGHORN Beaverton Sail & Power Squadron February 2012 Volume 37 Number 02 2 February 2012 Upcoming Bridge Meeting 11 February 2011 D32 Spring Council St. Helens Moose Lodge-See p February 2011 SweetHeart Dinner See p February 2011 Gathering of Members Annual Business Meeting 7 March 2012 Bridge Meeting 17 March 2011 Annual Change of Watch Dinner-Mandarin Palace-Beaverton (see page 5 for details) THE FOGHORN BEAVERTON SAIL & POWER SQUADRON D/C Steve Gatton, AP, Editor SW Pilkington Road Lake Oswego OR EVENTS THE