Venice Man Part of Panel to Investigate Boating Death in Southern California Race

A US Sailing independent panel, comprised of four people including Bill Stump of Venice, will review the circumstances around a regatta accident that killed a 36-year-old man and injured five others off the Southern California coast on Friday.

“All of us at US Sailing – our staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers - are deeply saddened by this event, and are mourning the loss of life,” said Jack Gierhart, executive director of US Sailing. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and friends as they navigate through these very difficult times. While we cannot affect the past, we will look to learn from this tragedy to help sailors in the future and ensure sailing remains as safe as possible.”

The 32-foot sailboat’s crew was racing in the overnight, 139-nautical-mile Islands Race, that takes sailors from Long Beach, around Catalina and San Clemente islands, and ends in Point Loma in San Diego.

Crew members aboard the “Uncontrollable Urge” radioed for help when strong winds and big swells caused the boat’s rudder to fail, forcing the six-person team to jump into the water as the boat neared San Clemente island.

When the Coast Guard arrived on the scene, they found 36-year-old Craig Thomas Williams unconscious in the water and he and the five other crew members were lifted into a helicopter and flown to a hospital. 

The other members on the independent review panel are John Jourdane  of Long Beach, Dave Ullman of Santa Ana and Betty Sue Sherman of San Diego. 

Recent reviews the US Sailing organization has conducted include the 2012 death of five sailors in the Farrallones race in the San Francisco Bay Area and the death of four sailors in the 2012 Newport to Ensenada Yacht race.