This afternoon we witnessed a rescue at sea.. Picture heavy.

[denbot]

Alley and I were on our way back from Marina Del Rey, where we were checking out the rigging on a prospective boat that we hope to cruise around the world on. We took the beach route running between the end of LAX runways, and Dockwieler Beach. As soon as we passed Playa Del Rey and had a view down the coast I noticed a sail boat about 2 miles down the shore, way too close to the beach. It seemed to be turning under full sail in to the shore, and Alley and I tried to determine if it was really that close or if it just was a optical illusion.
The boat continued to turn and now seemed to be heading back the other way. We now knew she was in trouble, and either was turning away from a huge square pipe that leaves the Hyperion Water treatment plant or was aground on it. Alley noticed a L.A. county rescue boat that had passed us by, speeding towards the disabled vessel.

By then the boat continued the turn not only out to sea, but was circling back to shore again, now obviously in the surf line. At that point she "blew" her jib lines (the ropes that control the front sail) and was trying to haul down the main sail presumably to keep the boat from circling back to shore, and destruction in the heavy surf.

We were by now a mile or less from her position, and as she continued to once more point back south and slowly pointed away from shore pitching violently in the still huge remnant storm surf. We turned in to a parking lot just as the rescue boat from Marina Del Rey had reached the stricken boat, and another rescue boat came in from the south which launch from Kings Harbor, in Redondo Beach. The life guards from Dockwieler were in the water expecting to hopefully to rescue the crew of the disabled 30' or so boat which would be rolled over if caught sideways in the heavy surf.

At the last possible second the first rescue boat got a line to one of the Dockwieler life guards who had swam out in the 60 degree water without a wetsuit and climbed on the boat. The rescue boats were able to drag the boat away from the surf but it was obvious that the boat would only turn to starboard (right). We noticed a sailing buddy of ours was watching the drama unfold from his bike. We came to the conclusion that the boat must of hit the Hyperion pipe (that location is a surf spot long know has Shit Pipe) and must have heavily damaged her rudder and keel. This was confirmed by another person who had followed the boat's progress from the south and had seen her headed for the pipe; he had stopped to call the rescue squad knowing that the boat was headed for trouble.

Pictures:

The first rescue boat has a line on the stricken boat and is starting to pull her away from the surf. The second rescue boat is just behind the first standing by.
Notice the life guard in the surfline.



Another shot with the second rescue boat farther to the right and inshore from the action standing by as a last ditch effort should the towing line part. Again notice the very brave life guard in the huge and heavy ten foot or more surf



The lead rescue boat is towing the stricken boat to the north (right of picture) but the disabled boat is pulling to the south, with the second rescue boat in position to help if the line parts.
The life guards in the bottom of the picture swimming in the impact zone standing by has well. The men and women who do that job are phenomenal.



Our sailing buddy Stan who happened to be riding his bike along the bike path talking to Alley.



Thanks for looking.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear denbot!

What a story, and with pictures, yet!

What a lucky chance for you two to see this, and to see that boat rescued.

Thanks for sharing!

:hi:

[david13]

2. Very interestsing. I know the location well. dc

[Haole Girl]

3. That made me homesick...

just curious... how cold was it, maybe 60f? Wearing jackets in So.CA! lol

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear Haole Girl...

I have no idea about the water temperature, but otherwise it was in the 50's today...

I saw lots of folks in shirt sleeves, but we always see them!


:hi:

[denbot]

6. It was a very cold 60 or so degrees..

Yes we are wimps..

[Haole Girl]

7. Hey, you said it

:rofl:

p.s., I used to do the same when I lived there. :-)

[Terra Alta]

4. wow.. that is amazing.

thanks for sharing that with us!

[denbot]

9. You're welcome.

Glad you liked it.

[cbayer]

8. Great story and pix. As we in the sailing world often say, every day is a new adventure.

:hi:

[denbot]

10. Hi cbayer.

We are pretty sure that the skipper was brand new and like many who have no sea time felt that being near land is the safe way to go. It's sad that they probably just bought the boat and now it is heavily damaged, and what ever sailing dreams that inspired buying the boat are destroyed with it..