Dauphin Island Race: Two more bodies recovered

Fairhope, AL (May 1, 2015) – The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday (Apr 30) that the bodies of two racers who participated in Saturday’s 18nm Dauphin Island Race (Apr 25) had been found.

The bodies of Adam Clark and Robert Thomas were found days after a storm slammed the Dauphin Island Regatta, overturning boats and killing at least five.

According to Coast Guard officials, Clark, 17, of Mobile, and Thomas, 50 of Pickens, Miss., were both found Thursday in separate locations in the Mississippi Sound.

Here’s what is currently known:
♦ The boats Clark and Thomas were on during the race went down about 10 miles from where their bodies were found.

♦ Of the six men missing following the storm, five have been located. In addition to Clark and Thomas, authorities have also recovered the bodies of 72-year-old Robert Delaney, of Madison, Miss.; 27-year-old Kris Beal, of Pineville, La., and 67-year-old William Glenn Massey, of Daphne.

♦ The last person missing is Mobile resident Jimmie Charles “J.C.” Brown, 71.

♦ The Coast Guard has searched 9,500 square miles of Mobile Bay and 164 miles of its shoreline

♦ At sunset Thursday, the Coast Guard suspended the search for J.C. Brown, and will now assist the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency which has assumed the lead for the recovery phase of this incident.

♦ On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency asked those who participated in Saturday’s Dauphin Island Regatta to fill out a survey about events surrounding the race. The survey will be used in the investigation of the tragedy, according to officials.

♦ The survey included seven questions and invited participants to create a narrative of the events surrounding the race.

♦ Weather Channel forecaster Jim Cantore told viewers Wednesday (Apr 22) that he believed sailors in Saturday’s race may not have faced the intense storm had the race’s start not been delayed (story on why race was delayed here). “What’s interesting is that they started the race late. If they had started it on time, I don’t think they would have had to deal with that weather,” Cantore said. “Once you go late and once you have that stuff coming at you, and you’re in a watch, you’re playing with fire.” See the video here.

Click here for more updates.

Source: Alabama Media Group