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July 30, 2018

Carr Fire Claims Six, Destroys Marina

This morning, we received the following news from Larry Laney, who shared some information about the Carr Fire in Redding, CA. The inferno has claimed six lives and burned more than 600 homes, and is almost 100,000 acres in size, according to CNN. "Sixteen people had been reported missing, but nine of those have been found safe, according to Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko, who spoke at a Sunday news conference," CNN wrote.

"It’s very sad news for local sailors!" Laney told us.

Oak Bottom Marina, in the top left of this Google Maps photo, was largely destroyed by the Carr Fire, according to reporters on the scene.

© 2018 Google Maps

On Friday, NPR quoted the Associated Press: "Earlier in the day with flames exploding around Whiskeytown Lake, an effort to save boats at a marina by untying them from moorings and pushing them to safety, wasn’t swift enough to spare them all. Dozens of charred, twisted and melted boats were among the losses at Oak Bottom Marina.

"’The only buildings left standing . . . right now are the fire station and a couple of restrooms,’ said Fire Chief Mike Hebrard of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. ‘The boat docks down there — all the way out in the water — 30 to 40 boats caught fire when the fire laid down on top of them last night and burned those up.’"

A scene from the 2016 Whiskeytown Regatta on Memorial Day Weekend.

© 2018 Tony Hord

Laney added that the fire has burned around all of Whiskeytown Lake. "The status of Brandy Creek Marina is unknown at this time," Larry said. This weekend, the Bay saw mostly cloudy skies, solid winds and cooler temperatures, while the Delta was under a layer of thick smoke.

We will have more information as it becomes available. We extend our condolences to everyone affected by this terrible fire. If you have any information or photographs, please let us know.

Coast Guard Rescues Sailors Off Eureka

On Friday, the Coast Guard, with the help of good Samaritans, rescued two sailors after their dinghy capsized off Indian Island, which lies in Arcata Bay off Eureka, CA. 

This Catalina daysailer apparently capsized off Eureka on Friday. The sailors were pulled out of the water by good Samaritans, while the boat was towed back to shore by the Coast Guard.

© United States Coast Guard

On Friday, Coast Guard Station Humboldt Bay "received multiple calls via phone and VHF channel 16 around 12:40 p.m. reporting a capsized sailboat and two people in the water," a press release said. "The Sector Humboldt Bay command center personnel issued an urgent marine information broadcast while crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Barracuda, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt County Sheriff Office’s Marine Unit launched in response."

On Friday, the 17-ft Catalina daysailer capsized in the relatively protected waters of Arcata Bay off Eureka.

© 2018 Google Maps

A crew of good Samaritans reportedly arrived first and plucked the sailors out of the water. A California Fish and Wildlife boat righted the capsized vessel. "The mariners who responded to our emergency broadcast did a great job working with first responders to prevent a tragedy and save two lives," said Cmdr. Brendan Hilleary, the Sector Humboldt Bay response chief.

Happy Friday, West Coast. We hope everyone has a good night of racing.