Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Young sailors awarded medal for windsurfer rescue

by US Sailing 8 Dec 2023 09:28 NZDT December 3, 2023
Alex Porter, Bob Cummings, Elizabeth Cleaves, Ian Park, Leon Van Os, Genevieve Young, Alex Deaton, Mercedes Porter-Via, Virginia Hannan district director for congressman Pat Fallon and Jeff Progelhof US Sailing Area F Representative © US Sailing

The US Sailing Safety at Sea Committee has awarded the Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Rush Creek Yacht Club Youth Sailors for outstanding seamanship and awareness in the rescue of a windsurfer on Lake Hubbard in Dallas, Texas.

Seven youth sailors were honored on December 3rd in a ceremony at Rush Creek Yacht Club, in Heath, Texas. The Award was presented by US Sailing Representative Jeffrey Progelhof, of the Texas Sailing Association. The sailors honored were:

  • Alex Deaton
  • Mercedes Porter-Via
  • Genevieve Young
  • Leon Van Os
  • Ian Park
  • Ally Ravji
  • Elizabeth Cleaves
The rescue took place on July 16, 2021 on Lake Hubbard, located northeast of Dallas, Texas. Mr. Bob Cummings, a 6'10? windsurfer had lost his foil board and rig in 20 MPH wind gusts. The sailor was drifting in the middle of the lake, at least 2 miles from any shore, tired, cold, and considerably worried.

Youth Sailor Leon Van Os, visiting from Ensenada, Mexico, was sailing with the Rush Creek Yacht Club Youth race team on a 24 foot IC24 named "Fun." He spotted the sailor in distress and alerted the rest of the crew. The youth sailors had been trained in "man overboard" rescue. The entire team worked together to rescue the sailor from the water. The victim was described as 'blue' when he was brought aboard. The team then transferred him to a rescue boat that returned him to shore and monitored his recovery.

Mr. Cummings said of his rescuers, "I am impressed by the sailing and seamanship skills that the students had! The "pick-up" was spot on - they made one pass. They could have easily "run" over me but didn't. Despite the fact that I was very tired, and I am not a small person, they were able to pull me up onto the boat."

At the time of the rescue, the crew ranged in age from 13 to 16 years old.

The Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal is awarded 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. The medal was established in 1990 by friends of the late Mr. Hanson, an ocean-racing sailor from the Chesapeake Bay, with the purpose of recognizing significant accomplishments in seamanship and collecting case studies of rescues for analysis by the Safety at Sea Committee of US Sailing for use in educational and training programs. Any individual or organization may submit a nomination for a Hanson Rescue Medal.

Visit the US Sailing Hanson Rescue Medal website for more information about these awards, including nomination form instructions and guidelines.

Related Articles

US Sailing and Zhik announce strategic partnership
Zhik will provide cutting-edge gear designed to enhance athlete performance on the water US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the United States, is proud to announce a new multi-year partnership with Zhik, global leader in high-performance water wear. Posted on 13 May
US Sailing Team set for the Paris 2024 Olympics
13 American athletes in nine classes will take to the Bay of Marseille Over the course of 12 days, 13 American athletes in nine classes will take to the Bay of Marseille for competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, following a shortened runway of three years due to the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. Posted on 27 Jul 2024
Some thoughts on U.S. Olympic sailing
If you're a fan of US Sailing you're best advised to stop reading this editorial Caveat Emptor: If you're a fan of US Sailing, and specifically how the organization runs the U.S. Olympic sailing program, you're best advised to stop reading this editorial. Posted on 13 Mar 2023
Open letter from Paul Cayard
The Executive Director of U.S. Olympic Sailing writes from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing venue I am departing Japan today after absorbing the Olympic environment, observing our team in action and getting pointers from old friends who have been running teams in this game for decades. Posted on 5 Aug 2021
Fun is the key
We can create growth in sailing by helping people have more fun playing with sailboats The lessons of the past are still relevant today! This article excerpt was originally published in the July/August 1996 edition of the American Sailor. Posted on 29 Jul 2020
US teams at 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds
Event seemed to be a turning point for the US Sailing Team The Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Auckland New Zealand wrapped, marking the end of the 2019 year for the U.S. in these classes. Posted on 8 Dec 2019
Hempel Worlds: New Doublehanded Offshore event
Mixed two-person offshore keelboat event will be on the program at the Paris 2024 Olympics For the first time in Olympic history, a Mixed Two-Person Offshore Keelboat event will be on the program at the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Competition. Posted on 7 Dec 2019
49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Worlds day 3
Adaptability on race course translates to success for US Sailing Team Two crews in the top ten overall in two classes as Qualification round concludes - U.S. Results at the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFx and Nacra 17 World Championships Posted on 5 Dec 2019
Henken and Tobias lead FX fleet
Great opening day for USA 49erFX and Nacra teams at the Worlds U.S. Results at the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFx and Nacra 17 World Championships Posted on 4 Dec 2019
US Sailing Team takes on 49er/FX & Nacra 17 Worlds
The stakes will be high for U.S. competitors at this event The US Sailing Team athletes are ready to take on the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships. The event will be hosted from December 3-8 at the Royal Akarana Yacht Club, in Auckland, New Zealand. Posted on 2 Dec 2019
Boat Books Australia FOOTERX-Yachts X4.3CollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOM