I started out racing OK Dinghy’s 50 years ago and it was class rules that you 
had to wear a life jacket.  I am glad I got that ingrained early and it is 
still automatic to put on a lifejacket when I take out my Force 5 for an 
evening of racing.  The way I look at it, in a boat like that, even in moderate 
conditions with warmer water, it is quite easy to get hit in the head by the 
boom (especially at my 6’3”) and if that happened, I would be dead before any 
rescue boat reached me.  Dying doing what you love is one thing, but dying 
because you can’t be bothered to be safe is quite another.  Dave

S/V Aries
1990 C&C 34+
New London, CT



> On Jun 15, 2020, at 1:05 PM, ALAN BERGEN via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> Before moving to Oregon, I sailed in the waters of Southern California for 
> fifteen years. During that time, I rarely wore a PFD. When I moved to Oregon, 
> I continued that practice of not wearing a PFD, until I learned the "one- ten 
> - one" rule: Upon falling in the waters in the Pacific Northwest (I sail 
> mostly on the Columbia River), you have about one minute to catch your 
> breath, before passing out. You have ten minutes to get out of the water, 
> before your muscles shut down, and you can't get out of the water unassisted. 
> You have one hour to get out of the water before you die of hypothermia. 
> Needless to say, Now I always wear a PFD when sailing, and I require all 
> people on my boat to wear one as well.
> 
> Alan Bergen
> 35 Mk III Thirsty
> Rose City YC
> Portland, OR
> 
> On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 9:31 AM Chuck Gilchrest via CnC-List 
> <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
> Randy,
> I’m saddened by the loss of a valued member of the sailing community in 
> Colorado.  Having sailed Dillon Reservoir in earlier years and after reading 
> the article I can’t imagine how such an experienced sailor would have been 
> allowed or chosen  to compete in a dinghy race without a life jacket.  The 
> water in Dillon is always just a few degrees above freezing as it is fed 
> entirely by snow melt.  At 9000’ above sea level tucked in adjacent to the 
> Continental Divide, it has some of the most capricious wind and weather 
> anywhere in US.  Although the article didn’t mention anything regarding a 
> wetsuit or dry suit, hypothermia in sub 50 degree water with no PFD would 
> seem to have been a likely contributing factor.  As tragic as the loss of 
> life of a person who by all accounts was a real contributor to our sport, it 
> serves as a great reminder to prepare for a worse case situation because it 
> can and Will happen.
> Godspeed Paul,
> Chuck Gilchrest 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jun 15, 2020, at 11:37 AM, Randy Stafford via CnC-List 
>> <cnc-list@cnc-list.com <mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> I’m sad to report we lost a very experienced and decorated sailor this 
>> weekend at Dillon Reservoir.  Paul Kresge of Dillon Yacht Club had raced for 
>> 40 years, and was well-known around the country as a US Sailing Judge and 
>> PRO.  He went overboard racing his dinghy in rough weather Saturday 
>> afternoon, and his body was recovered from 200 feet of water yesterday 
>> evening.  His death represents quite a loss for the Colorado sailing 
>> community.
>> 
>> * 
>> https://www.summitdaily.com/news/dillon-reservoir-search-shifts-from-search-and-rescue-mission-to-body-recovery/
>>  
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.summitdaily.com/news/dillon-reservoir-search-shifts-from-search-and-rescue-mission-to-body-recovery/__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!8P-DE6PX_Kh1AY-eQYMGXdjxYZ1_En9dy2hVOhkKvNUIAe4Yscra8IcOkyloQheu5K0$>
>> * 
>> https://www.coloradosummitmag.com/news-and-profiles/2019/06/racing-the-wind 
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.coloradosummitmag.com/news-and-profiles/2019/06/racing-the-wind__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!8P-DE6PX_Kh1AY-eQYMGXdjxYZ1_En9dy2hVOhkKvNUIAe4Yscra8IcOkyloC88qLnk$>
>> 
>> Also on Saturday afternoon, two 28-year-old men became separated from their 
>> inner tubes in strong wind.  One of them went under water and was recovered 
>> some 90 minutes later.  I was working on my boat in the marina, and saw the 
>> South Metro Dive Team’s runabout hauling ass to the launch ramp, with first 
>> responders doing CPR on someone aboard.  But it was too late, he didn’t make 
>> it.
>> 
>> * 
>> https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/chatfield-water-rescue/73-fb01b537-5c31-4057-b284-da15d188d72a
>>  
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/chatfield-water-rescue/73-fb01b537-5c31-4057-b284-da15d188d72a__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!8P-DE6PX_Kh1AY-eQYMGXdjxYZ1_En9dy2hVOhkKvNUIAe4Yscra8IcOkylod-U5anA$>
>> * 
>> https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/crews-search-for-person-missing-in-chatfield-reservoir-1-brought-to-shore-in-serious-condition
>>  
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/crews-search-for-person-missing-in-chatfield-reservoir-1-brought-to-shore-in-serious-condition__;!!LIr3w8kk_Xxm!8P-DE6PX_Kh1AY-eQYMGXdjxYZ1_En9dy2hVOhkKvNUIAe4Yscra8IcOkylolDqXif0$>
>> 
>> These events demonstrate that the risks are real, even for very experienced 
>> watermen.
>> 
>> Respectfully,
>> Randy Stafford
>> S/V Grenadine
>> C&C 30 MK I #79
>> Ken Caryl, CO
>> _______________________________________________
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