Boat and Skipper Missing; Body of Crew Found

On Saturday, a day that was flat, calm and mellow on San Francisco Bay, a Cheoy Lee Offshore 31 was lost in big seas outside the Gate while racing in Island Yacht Club’s Doublehanded Lightship. The missing boat, sailed by Kirby Gale, is a 1973 fiberglass sloop with teak decks and a full keel, built for ocean sailing. Gale’s crew onboard Daisy was found late this morning. “At 11:30 a.m., the body of a deceased mariner wearing a personal flotation device was found at Moss Beach in Montara by the San Mateo Sheriff’s Department,” Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Commander Paul Gugg told press this afternoon. The body was later confirmed to be that of race crew Anthony Harrow, a 72-year old Larkspur resident.

The Coast Guard began searching yesterday evening, after they were notified by family members that the boat had not returned from what turned out to be a fast race. Although the time limit for finishing the race was 1900 hours, Coast Guard Station Golden Gate received a call at 1800 hours that Daisy was overdue. The Coast Guard and other agencies searched all night, deterred by 12-16 foot seas, but aided by good visibility, good drift models, and predictable winds and currents. At 1030 hours, some debris was found four nm west of Mussel Rocks in San Mateo County. The debris included part of a rudder and part of a cooler or fridge, and some wood planking.

“We’re several times past in-the-water survivability,” said Cmdr. Gugg at 1430 this afternoon. “We don’t know all the rescue equipment that was onboard. If there was a possibility of a survival suit or a liferaft, that would change the parameters.”

“We are currently searching until dark,” explained Commander Pat DeQuattro, Chief of the Response Department, “when we will reassess our search efforts and consider suspension. Based on all the information available to us, we are hoping we can still rescue someone.” It’s now past dark, and the search for Gale and his sailboat has indeed ended. Our deepest sympathy goes out the families of Gale and Harrow.

The mainstream media point out that there was a gale warning and a small craft advisory in effect. One TV reporter asked, “Does that effect whether or not races like this are supposed to go on?”

“As far as the Coast Guard’s authority to stop something like that, we don’t,” replied Gugg. “It’s an advisory. We hope mariners will take that very seriously. This was a good size sailing vessel. It’s risky. It’s very challenging out there. But it would not be our job to tell them they can’t do it. The Bar was not closed.”

The reality of course, is that many of us race on the ocean outside the Gate when small craft advisories are in effect, as they are not uncommon here. (Fishing boats also are not deterred by them, or they would not be able to earn a living here.) Race committees are especially particular during ocean races to make sure that everyone either finishes, or calls in to report that they are dropping out, for just this reason.

We will report on any updates to this story, and will have photos and stories from the Doublehanded Lightship, the Spring One Design Regatta, and South Beach’s Island Fever in Tuesday morning’s regular race report.

What follows are the two most recent Coast Guard press releases.

Sunday evening:

Searchers Recover Body in Vicinity of Moss Beach; CG suspends search for Sailing Vessel

SAN FRANCISCO - Rescuers have recovered the body of 72 year old Anthony Harrow, one of two sailors onboard the sailing vessel "Daisy." The 32-foot sailing vessel was reported overdue at 6 p.m. yesterday after it did not return from a sail race that concluded at 4 p.m. The Coast Guard and partner agencies launched all available assets Saturday night in a coordinated search effort that lasted until Sunday evening. Search and rescue units involved in the case on Sunday included a C-130 fixed-wing aircraft, an HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat, and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat. The Coast Guard also deployed Self Locating Data Marker Buoys in the search area to assist in gauging wind and current effect.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., Coast Guard search and rescue units reported finding debris floating west of the Golden Gate Bridge, approximately 4.7 nautical miles southeast of the position where the sailing vessel was last sighted. The debris fit the description of the overdue sailing vessel "Daisy." At approximately 11 a.m. the San Mateo County Sherriff's Department discovered the body of an adult Caucasian male wearing a lifejacket in the vicinity of Moss Beach. The man has been identified by the San Mateo coroner as Anthony Harrow, and next of kin has been notified. 

The Coast Guard continued to search for the second individual, identified as 67 year old Kirby Gale, until 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening, and has now suspended the search based upon a lack of new information, and an extremely low probability of survival due to water temperature and sea state. The Coast Guard initially estimated that, given the water temperature, the two sailors would have 4.6 hours of projected survivability time.

Any persons with information related to this case are urged to contact the Sector San Francisco Command Center at (415) 399-3547.

Sunday morning:

Coast Guard Continues Search for Missing Sailors

SAN FRANCISCO, Calf. - The Coast Guard is continuing an aggressive search effort for the sailing vessel "Daisy" and its two adult male occupants. All available Coast Guard search and rescue units, as well as assets belonging to partner agencies, are searching the waters just outside the Golden Gate Bridge where the vessel was last seen at 1 p.m. Saturday, and have extended their search to the surrounding area.

Units include an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat, and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat. Mobile units are searching the shoreline and marinas as far south as Monterey. The Coast Guard is investigating all inbound and outbound San Francisco Bay vessel traffic in an attempt to gather further information on the location of the sailing vessel.

Although a small amount of debris has been found in the vicinity of the search area, a connection between the debris and the sailing vessel "Daisy" has not yet been established.

The two sailors left yesterday morning from the Richardson Bay Marina to participate in a sailing race which was expected to end by 4 p.m. When the vessel failed to return later that evening, the Coast Guard launched all available assets, working with partner agencies in a coordinated search effort. The search is expected to continue through the day, pending any developments. Any persons with information about the location of the vessel are urged to contact the Coast Guard Sector Command Center at (415) 399-3547.

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