US Sailing: Statement on USCG Report

Four years after the 2015 Dauphin Island Race, in which a storm along the Gulf of Mexico led to the loss of six lives, the rescue of 40 people from the water, and the sinking of eight boats, the United States Coast Guard released their investigation report regarding this tragic day on Mobile Bay.

The report viewed what happened and how it could have prevented, issuing a list of recommendations to insure the sport is run safely in the future. However, what is not clear is the degree at which these changes have already been made, in the past four years, by US Sailing and event authorities.

US Sailing has responded to the report and issued this statement:

US Sailing will work with race organizers to review the U.S. Coast Guard’s Incident Investigative Report and safety recommendations from the 2015 Dauphin Island Sailing Race as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and competitive sport.

We will consider these recommendations in the context of what is already in place, what is possible to implement, and what will have a positive impact on safety.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those who lost loved ones in this tragedy and we look forward to reviewing the report and working with the USCG and local sailing organizations to improve safety on the water.