The Friday Evening Practice Race at Berkeley Yacht Club looked to be a great chance to warm-up for a weekend of sailing in the Berkeley Circle. Had the boat launched at 3PM and looked forward to the breeze, which was around 15 knots, with gusts to 18 knots. Sailed up the course, got a feel for the waves and wind, set a kite and were ready for the start.
The fog had rolled in by the 6:40PM start, but we had a good half mile of visibility. The course was twice around to the D mark, just over a mile to the west-southwest. We were on starboard approaching the 1st weather mark, in 4th or 5th place when we were hit hard. We had a huge gaping hole and started taking on water as soon as we separated the boats.
We managed to sail and bail the boat over a mile back to the marina, and were able to get the boat to the hoist where it sunk bow down. We were tired and wet, but no one was hurt.
Daybreak brought a crowd to the hoist, as the boat had gone completely under and was slightly listing. Berkeley Marine Center owner Cree Partridge worked with us for the better part of the morning, operating the travel lift as we were anxious to see the damage.
When the boat was lifted and water starting to drain, we were floored to see the gaping hole in the boat. How did we manage to sail the boat over a mile back to the marina?!
Once the boat was drained and up on a trailer, we spent the day in the long process of assessing the damage, cleaning out Bay mud, and washing and drying everything.
We’ve received wonderful support from the TMC J/24 Districts regatta hosts, Berkeley Yacht Club, and a whole host of Seattle J/24 and other sailing friends who’d been following our campaign.
Joy and Mike,
I am so sorry to hear about Hot Pursuit but happy that everyone is okay.
Maureen
By: Maureen Batterberry on August 7, 2011
at 11:38 am
Good thing you were able to get back to the dock, safe (if not sound)! Hope you can get back on the water and into the Worlds in time.
By: Paul David on August 7, 2011
at 3:52 pm
Oh Joy & Mike,
What a bummer. So sorry about the boat! Hope that no one has any severe injuries. it is amazing that you made it back to the marina, well it’s amazing what you can do in moments of crisis. I’m sure you handled it well. Looking forward to seeing safe & well back in Seattle. Julia (Jailbreak bow)
By: Julia Bos on August 7, 2011
at 11:07 pm
Wow! I can’t even fathom the whole thing…so sorry. As always, if there’s anything anybody can do to help, please just ask!!
By: Melanie on August 8, 2011
at 8:54 am
Oh! I’m seriously nautious after seeing the pictures. Glad everyone is safe.
By: Will Blakemore on August 8, 2011
at 10:13 am
WHAT A BUMMER!!! I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR YOU’RE ALL ALRIGHT. I’M AMAZED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SAIL HOT PURSUIT BACK TO THE DOCK. GOOD LUCK WITH ALL THE SH*T YOU’LL NEED TO GO THROUGH NOW.
By: MARK RODGERS on August 8, 2011
at 1:52 pm
Glad no one was hurt, I got a first hand report from my son Justin, amazing you made it back to the marina.
By: Caryn on August 9, 2011
at 8:39 pm
Wow, it looks bad. I wish you good luck settling
the damage. Let me know if there is anything I can do
By: Lisa D on August 9, 2011
at 11:25 pm
Hi Joy and Mike,
I can’t imagine how much this must hurt – with all of the effort that has gone into Hot Pursuit over the years. She is one of the most beautiful J24s on the water. On behalf of the fleet, let us know if there is anything that we can do to help get her back and going again.
Bill Taylor
By: Bill Taylor on August 10, 2011
at 7:26 am
That’s quite a hole. I’m amazed you got it back to the dock. It’s probably fixable, but it depends on how much you are attached to “Hot Pursuit”. Good luck & let me know if there is anything I can do.
Tim Winger
By: Tim Winger on August 10, 2011
at 8:14 am
Ouch!! Glad no one was hurt. Good thing you got your protest flag flying before it went under. Well done.
By: Tom F. on August 10, 2011
at 6:11 pm
Great work at the worlds! I was curious about your repairs so I rolled back to this post to see the original report. The other guys must have been going downwind and hit you from windward, huh? That’s pretty scary..
By: Andrew on February 26, 2012
at 10:14 am