Please select your home edition
Edition
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

Whale rams and sinks racing yacht near San Diego. All crew rescued

by Chuck Lantz on 31 Oct 2009
The 40' J-120 'J-World' (ex-'Crosswave') was sunk by a whale while racing 200 miles off the coast near San Diego, California. The boat was competing in the 'Baja Ha Ha' race from San Diego, California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

According to reports, the vessel's crew noticed a whale in their path, and turned to avoid it, immediately hitting another whale nearby. One of the whales then turned on the yacht, ramming it near the rudder. The yacht began taking on water. 'We basically tried to pump the water out and the water was just gushing in,' said vessel Skipper Eugenie Russell. 'Within seven minutes the boat sank.'

The crew of five then abandoned the sinking vessel. They were rescued by a US Coast Guard helicopter four hours after the sinking.

Rescuers have said that the crew did everything correctly. They wore life jackets, launched their life raft, did not panic and activated their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), alerting rescuers to their exact location. The rescue was hindered by 30 knot winds, but all crew members from the yacht as well as the Coast Guard helicopter crew were uninjured. 'J-World' Skipper Eugenie Russell and her crew are from San Francisco, New York, Texas and San Diego.

(Mike Priest contributed to this story)

Update: The name of the boat was originally reported as 'Crosswave'. She was J-120 hull #9, the ex-'Gannett', ex-'Crosswave', now known simply as 'J World', owned by Wayne Zittel.
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTERX-Yachts X4.0RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

The Ocean's Logbook amplifies global voices
A digital survey that looks beyond cold statistics to capture real stories A powerful new campaign designed to capture the world's emotional connection to the ocean is being launched today ahead of the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France in June.
Posted on 27 May
SP80 kiteboat reaches a top speed of over 58 knots
100 km/h barrier is smashed in Leucate The SP80 kiteboat has reached a top speed of over 58 knots, or 108 km/h. This new personal best makes SP80 the second fastest sailboat ever recorded, behind Vestas Sailrocket II and its 68.01-knot top speed.
Posted on 27 May
Italian SailGP Team acquired by investors
The consortium includes Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway SailGP has today announced that the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, has officially been acquired by a consortium of accomplished investors and sports industry leaders, including Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway.
Posted on 27 May
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North.
Posted on 27 May
America's Cup entries open on Sunday
A Cup in turmoil - has Grant Dalton dodged a bullet with the new Cup organisation? America's Cup gets underway in Rome with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton apprears to have dodged a bullet with the formation of of new AC organising body.
Posted on 26 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 26 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta preview
Sørvind to debut at this edition, in Sardinia The Mediterranean superyacht racing season will kick off on 27th May with the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, organised annually by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 2008 and supported by title sponsor Giorgio Armani since 2022.
Posted on 26 May
Winning Sails for Every Sailor & Every Program
Beer cans or the big leagues, North Sails perform From one design sails to custom inventories, trust the experts at North Sails to elevate your performance.
Posted on 25 May
72nd Melbourne to Apollo Bay Race overall
MRV stifles Ambition to take line honours and overall win Margaret Rintoul V (MRV), skippered by Damien King from the Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC), has sailed a fast and furious race to win the 72nd Melbourne to Apollo Bay Race (M2AB).
Posted on 25 May
The link between two great Australian sports
A unique connection between brute strength and beauty James Joseph Giltinan was one of Australia's great entrepreneurs of the early 1900s, and the man most responsible for creating a unique link between one of the most confrontational football codes in the world and the beauty of sailing.
Posted on 25 May