Sailors Organize Successful Search and Rescue Operation
Last week an elderly Oakland man went missing in the recreation area around Lake Chabot. Alfonso Arechiga, 85, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia, had wandered off from his backyard on Tuesday afternoon. When Arechiga failed to return home, and local searches of the area were unsuccessful, the family turned to local sailor Eric Jones and his organization Sea Valor for help. Eric invited Latitude 38 to join the search, and learn more about Sea Valor’s work in the Bay Area.
Sea Valor organized an aerial search of the area Friday morning, pulling experienced search and rescue crews from various agencies including the FBI and Coast Guard. Even though the area to be searched was vast and heavily wooded, search and rescue crews refused to give up hope for the Arechiga family. As it neared almost a week, many were preparing for the worst, as hopes for a successful recovery became slimmer.
On Sunday afternoon, after three days of aerial searching, Alfonso Arechiga was located and airlifted from a canyon, 300 feet below a ravine. He had sustained no injuries and appeared to be in good health at the time of rescue. He was transported to a local hospital for observation.
The following video was aired as part of a news report by CBS Local San Francisco:
Many agencies assisted in locating Alfonso, including Oakland sheriffs, the Oakland Police Department, CHP, Sea Valor, and Specialized Aviation, which resulted in his safe return home. It was truly a remarkable effort by a community committed to helping one another, and we were awed by the dedication of Sea Valor and the partner rescue crews.
Over the years Sea Valor has participated in dozens of searches and rescues, including leading the search for 12-year-old Arunay Pruthi, who was swept of the beach by a wave at Half Moon Bay in January.
Sea Valor is a local sailing nonprofit founded in 2019 by Eric Jones, who has the desire to help people find healing through sailing. Jones, a 911 first responder, found that sailing helped in his own journey of healing from PTSD, and wanted to share that opportunity with others. Since its inception, the organization has taken over 4000 people sailing — mostly veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, law enforcement, and underprivileged kids. However, Sea Valor does far more than just take people out on the water, as last week’s search so clearly showed. The group is involved in a wide array of community outreach projects including installing four life-saving stations in Half Moon Bay, and now working with Pacifica to install an additional 16 stations.
Sea Valor is also working to create a post-traumatic stress resource center in partnership with the USS Hornet in Alameda. This year they will sponsor a race team that consists of veterans and first responders, aboard a Farr 40. Jones and his crew are a true testament to what can be achieved when we support one another and our communities.
Sea Valor is one of many sailing organizations we list in our ‘Heeling Power of Sailing’ page which is dedicated to people and organizations who use sailing as a source of healing for people and the planet.
Friday Night Beer Can Racing — Ready, Set, Stop
Tonight is the first ‘real’ race of Corinthian’s Friday night racing. Last week was a warm-up for all racers to get the wrinkles out of sails that might not have been used since the fall. The end of midwinter sailing usually means the spring/summer winds are arriving soon and we should be ready for smaller headsails. That was not the case last Friday. Those who came to the season starter were ready to loosen up and get into the groove of Friday night beer can racing. The only thing that didn’t show up was the breeze.
Wind holes aside, we’re once again reminded of why we sign up to sail. It’s great to be on the water, see the sights, and reconnect with friends in the fresh air. Summer beer can racing is starting all around the Bay. Have a look at our 2022 YRA Racing Calendar to find a beer can series near you. See you on the water.
Get to Know Jeanneau with Club Nautique
Schedule an appointment with Club Nautique for the Get to Know Jeanneau weekend, April 29 – May 1, in Alameda, CA.
Survivor of Ship Sinking Sends Letter to Family
In recognition of today’s date, April 15, a Bay Area sailor forwarded the following letter, written by his great-aunt:
My dear Mother, Father, and all, –
You will be pleased to know that I am safe on the Carpathia, after a ‘’thrilling yet safe experience.’’ But I am very much afraid all the men have lost their lives; they were very brave. It was the greatest surprise to everyone. We were all in bed, and told to remain there, as it was only an ‘’Iceberg,’’ so we were only in our night attire.
Everything is lost, money, pictures, and all. We were launched in the lifeboats at 1.15 a.m. and picked up at 6.15. The Titanic was cut in two and was sunk to the second deck when I reached a lifeboat. I saved a baby in arms, and we had to sing for our lives at such a perilous time. The sailors were singing ‘’Pull for the shore, sailors’’ and rowing, half dressed in frozen garments.
The conduct of all the passengers was really wonderful. ‘’Babies and ladies first,’’ was the order. I think there were only sixteen boats. We were fortunate to have calm seas and a good nerve.
We could not any of us realize the peril until we were safe on this boat. Then the pathetic scenes occurred. Women were looking for their husbands and mothers for their babies. The band was playing until the last.
I cannot write any more just now, but please don’t worry. I will try and get along the best I can. Trusting you are getting over the shock. From your loving daughter,
WINNIE.
In the Words of a Survivor
This was only the first of six transatlantic crossings for Edwina Troutt MacKenzie. Born in 1884, she lived to be 100 years old. At the time of the following interview, she was the eldest remaining survivor of the sinking of the Titanic.
MacKenzie led a very full life. She was a Harvey Girl — a railroad-stop restaurant waitress. She lived in Hermosa Beach, and every time Hollywood made a Titanic movie she’d receive an invitation to the premiere.
A Second Class passenger, she was supposed to sail aboard Titanic’s sistership Olympic, but because the coal miners were out on strike, there was only enough coal for one ship. Thus she ended up on the Titanic.
Another bit of Titanic trivia: No marine engineers survived the sinking of the Titanic. Among other things, the engineers kept the lights on and the radio sending “Come Quick Disaster.”
February Was a Lucky Month for These Golden Ticket Winners
Sailors have the biggest smiles. And why wouldn’t they? They get to play on the water under sunny skies amid beauty and breeze. But it’s a bonus when we see smiles on land that have been generated by finding a Golden Ticket in a Latitude 38 sailing magazine. Thom Smith sent us this photo taken when he found his ticket in the February issue.
Thom picked up his Latitude 38 at West Marine in Point Loma. As a US Navy submarine crew he found an in-depth appreciation for the seas that his years of surfing couldn’t match. Then in the early ’90s he bought a Prindle catamaran and got serious about sailing.
“I took several lessons with OCSC, San Francisco Bay, and bought another sailboat. I did the Ha-Ha on a friend’s Island Packet and stayed on to sail the Sea of Cortez. I’ve done four Baja Bashes, during which time I purchased another sailboat. SS Skewed is a 35-ft S2 sloop. I moved my sailing-waters venue to San Diego, where I sail with my wife, son and daughter-in-law, and grandkids. At 76 years of age, I am truly living the good life. Keep up the great work on Latitude 38!”
In the meantime we received a few great photos from Mike Mellon, who also won when he found a Golden Ticket in his February issue. A lucky month for some?
Mike told us about his boat, the Catalina 320 La Vida, and now we have a photo.
February may have come and gone, but the Golden Tickets could appear in any issue, at any location. We don’t even know their whereabouts! So make sure you hop down (yes, that is an intentional bunny reference) to your nearest or favorite distributor to pick up your April issue of Latitude 38.
Video Footage of ‘Wan Hai 176’ Under Tow From Point Reyes
Last weekend’s towing operation of the 564-ft container ship Wan Hai 176 was a big undertaking. But it wasn’t until we saw this video that we understood the precariousness and difficulty of the recovery.
Video credit: Mike Peery of Baydelta Maritime’s Delta Deanna.
Vallejo Marina: Gateway to the Bay, Delta, and Napa River
40′ to 45′ foot slips are now available at $9.97/ft. www.ci.vallejo.ca.us