Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

David Butler receives Hanson Medal for Lake Lewisville Rescue

by Jake Fish on 7 Jun 2013
David Butler, Dallas TX US Sailing http://www.ussailing.org
US Sailing has awarded a Hanson Rescue Medal to David Butler of Dallas, Texas and his crew, Debbie Adams and John Finks, for saving a competitor from the water during a sailboat race on Lake Lewisville near Dallas on November 21, 2010.

While sailing downwind under spinnaker in a strong breeze over 20 knots during a race sponsored by the Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club, Blue Monk, a Merit 25-foot sloop, accidently gybed. The maneuver was so violent that a crew member leaning on the boom, Adrian Rodriguez, was thrown overboard, well away from the boat and into the water. Rodriguez was wearing thick clothes with no life jacket.

Onboard a nearby competing boat, Shotglass, a 26-foot J-80, crew member John Finks observed the incident. Finks alerted his skipper, David Butler, and served as spotter so the victim was not lost in the two- to three-foot waves. Butler immediately altered course toward the victim and instructed his crew to take in the spinnaker.

'We were close to the man overboard and knew it was our responsibility and the only thing to do,' said Butler.

As Shotglass neared Rodriguez, Butler headed into the wind and stopped just upwind of the victim so the boat’s hull sheltered him from the wind and steep waves. Just three minutes after he was thrown into the water, Rodriguez was hauled onboard Shotglass by Butler and Adams. Despite the cold temperatures, Rodriguez was not yet hypothermic. He was able to assist in his rescue before being taken below and given dry clothing.

'The man overboard was a little surprised how quick we arrived and was uncertain how to get back in the boat, but with some gentle coaching, he climbed aboard without incident,' explained Butler.

Butler dropped out of the race and headed back to the harbor. Blue Monk followed behind, retrieved Rodriguez, and sailed back out for the next race.

'Communication was easy, because we didn't, need to talk much,' added Butler. 'They knew the drill. Furl the jib, turn downwind, circle around the man overboard, head back upwind, back the main to slow us considerably, come along side and haul him in.'

The Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club turned this near tragedy into a learning opportunity by publishing an account of the accident in its newsletter, stressing the importance of wearing life jackets and keeping a lookout.

'Practice man overboard drills and wear life jackets at all times,' said Butler. 'Attend safety at sea seminars and always know what the flags and pennants mean on the committee boat.'

The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal is awarded by US Sailing’s Safety-at-Sea Committee to any person who rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other perils at sea within the territorial waters of the United States, or as part of a sailboat race or voyage that originated or stopped in the U.S. Since it was established in 1990 by friends of the late Mr. Hanson, an ocean-racing sailor from the Chesapeake Bay, the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal has been presented to more than 170 boats. Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for a Hanson Rescue Medal.

For the most authoritative daylong seminar on safe seamanship, heavy weather tactics, weather forecasting, communications and boat preparation, Americans can register for an upcoming US Sailing Safety-at-Sea Seminar. Please visit the event website for details on these certification opportunities. Learn more about why you should attend or organize a US Sailing Certified Safety at Sea Seminar.

*Rescue report drafted by John Rousmaniere
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterJeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Selden 2020 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Faithful look forward to Airlie Beach Race Week
Performance Racing category has already attracted 15 entries Just as Whitsunday Sailing Club is looking forward to 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week, so too are competitors, including those in the Performance Racing category where already 15 have signed up ready to race in the 37th edition.
Posted today at 5:34 am
31st Block Island Race Week Day 2
Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day turns up the heat Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day turned up the heat at Block Island Race Week—literally. The Island was not spared from the heat wave sweeping the East Coast this week, but that did not put a stop to the action out on the water.
Posted today at 12:14 am
Triple amputee crosses Pacific solo and unsupporte
33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history by becoming the world's first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific.
Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 5
Tuesday served as a warm-up for the hot finale of Kieler Woche Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Bavaria in the skiff, as well as Kiel native Fabian Wolf on the foiling windsurf board, will enter Wednesday's (June 25) medal races as leaders.
Posted on 24 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel day 4
Medal series line-up confirmed as wind hits hard in Kiel The fourth and penultimate day of the 3rd iQFOiL International Games in Kiel delivered full-throttle action as athletes across the Senior, Youth, and Junior fleets raced to secure their spots in the all-important Medal Series.
Posted on 24 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 starts tomorrow
Fleet back up to 12 on eve of breezy Marstrand event While the RC44s were up to 11 for the last event in Porto Cervo, for this week's 44Cup Marstrand, scheduled to set sail tomorrow from the breezy west coast of Sweden, the fleet has now grown to 12.
Posted on 24 Jun
Charlie Dalin forced to cancel his 2025 season
Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar to helm MACIF Santé Prévoyance for the Transat Café L'OR Due to health reasons, Charlie Dalin has been forced to cancel his 2025 season. However, in close consultation with his team, the skipper of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance and Macif have decided to maintain the ambitious racing schedule.
Posted on 24 Jun
A bold start for Foiling Week 2025
The opening phase of racing has already delivered record-breaking numbers The twelfth edition of Foiling Week has kicked off with a consistent schedule and strong support from the global foiling community.
Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 4
IDM Inshore Gold to Flensburg and Denmark The weather conditions during Kieler Woche on Tuesday continued just as they had on Monday: sustained winds well over 20 knots and gusts exceeding 30.
Posted on 24 Jun
Sopot success story for 5.5 Metre Worlds
The event was a great success story for the class, opening new avenues and new opportunities The dust may have settled on the 2025 5.5 Metre World Championship but the legacy will linger on for a long time.
Posted on 24 Jun