Lessons Learned
There is no way to overemphasize the bravery, professionalism, and competence of the harbor patrol and Baywatch staffs during this awful night. Without their efforts, many more lives and much more property would have been lost. My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Offcer Timothy Mitchell. And I’m saddened by the death of Bruce Ryder as well. Still and all, there were a number of lessons I learned from my experiences onboard my Meridian that night which may beneft other recreational boaters. The most important ones are:
Weather forecasting is much less accurate than many people believe. In the future, at the frst sign of a Santa Ana or a freak storm such as the one I’ve just described, even if the forecast is not especially serious, my family and I will evacuate. Prior to the storm, the northeast wind was predicted to be 5 to 15 knots. It topped out at 42 knots.
Big, heavy boats are more prone to breaking free from their moorings and, once adrift, more diffcult for the professionals to control. These types of boats, especially if they are on the most exposed moorings, should be the frst to evacuate.
Arguably, it was failed moorings, not failed deck fttings, that set most of the boats adrift. In fact, many wrecked boats still had their moorings attached. So a word to the wise—don’t think that just because you have sound deck fttings you are safe on a mooring. In addition to there was another vessel on the beach with its windlass ripped out. On some boats at least, the windlass may not be the best spot to secure a mooring line. But in any case, it is very important to attach a mooring line or lines to your boat very securely, add chafng gear, and check it frequently.