Missing Boaters - NFL Players

islandhopper00 said:
Now if going out into the ocean somehow hurt other unsuspecting persons beyond the obvious people involved and family members, then I might feel differently.
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It is good fortune that none of the hundreds of people involved in the search were hurt.

That is statistical luck!

So yes, the bad / uninformed / inexperienced decisions of these four could have extended to well-intentioned innocents.
 
wingless said:
It is good fortune that none of the hundreds of people involved in the search were hurt.

That is statistical luck!

So yes, the bad / uninformed / inexperienced decisions of these four could have extended to well-intentioned innocents.
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You have a point, I concede.
 
From the Miami Herald. said:
Report: Improper anchoring caused boat accident
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. -- An investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission into a boating accident involving two NFL players and their friends says the accident was caused by not properly anchoring the small 21-foot vessel.

In a report released Friday, the FWC says that after the men were unable to retrieve the stuck anchor, Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper tried using the boat's motor to throttle forward in hopes of freeing the anchor and heading back to shore.

Instead, the boat capsized, throwing all four overboard.

The agency conducted an in-depth interview with Nick Schuyler, a former University of South Florida football player who was the only survivor. He described the men growing weak from hypothermia until he was the only one clinging to the boat.
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http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/970362.html
 
I had heard shortly after the incident that the unofficial word that leaked out was that they had indeed anchored by the stern to try to power the anchor free. It took a knife to get the line off the cleat.

It really sucks that the official word is that it was ignorance, and ignorance alone, that caused the mishap. While I knew it had blown up offshore that day, it wasn't THAT bad where an experienced boater in a capable vessel could not have handled.

God rest their souls.
 
It was sad to read this and that one poor decision to try to save an anchor probably not worth more than a few hundred dollars lead to their fate.
 
The latest article out today from BoatTest.com

"Improper Anchoring Flipped NFL Player's Boat - 04/01/2009

Sadly, three men lost their lives, in all likelihood, because NFL player Marquis Cooper didn’t want to lose another anchor, as occurred on a fishing trip the week before. After William Bleakley tied the boat’s anchor rode to a pad eye on the port side transom of the boat, Cooper shoved the throttle of his 200-hp outboard forward in an attempted to free the snagged anchor. With the anchor holding the boat down and the thrust of the engine trying to push the boat forward, it is little wonder that topping seas in what may have been 40 knot winds spilled over the boat’s transom and swamped it. Survivor Nick Schuyler told FFWCC officers that once the boat swamped, it quickly capsized to the port side. Below is the official report of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s report."
 
The cause of this accident seems to be bravado and ignorance. Combined these traits create difficulties at the least and disasters in the extreme. The skipper here seems to have broke every rule of seamanship. That is not excuseable and it wasn't providence or bad luck that caused this, it was ignorance and lack of courage to do the right thing when it was called on.
 
Asureyez said:
The cause of this accident seems to be bravado and ignorance. Combined these traits create difficulties at the least and disasters in the extreme. The skipper here seems to have broke every rule of seamanship. That is not excuseable and it wasn't providence or bad luck that caused this, it was ignorance and lack of courage to do the right thing when it was called on.
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I'll go with ignorance, breaking the rules of seamanship, but bravado? I guess I put myself in their shoes, and have been many times. To me they were just trying to have an enjoyable day fishing, and didn't have enough experience to handle the situation that presented itself to them. My wish/hope in this tragic situation would be that people whom wish to fish in offshore waters learn respect for the ocean, and prepare accordingly. Which includes mastering their vessel in less than desireable conditions.
I hesitate to kick them and tarnish them with hindsight intellegence, because I could imagine it happening to me. I cross the gulf stream in my small boat for pleasure, and the unthinkable could rear it's ugly head at any time. Even though I prepare for the worst case senerio, and have extensive boat handling experience. Sh1t happens, and things get out of control all by themselves if you don't keep a careful eye on everything. I'm human, and make mistakes. I just wouldn't want every tom, dick, or harry second guessing my decisions and saying how bravado and carless I was should I perish on my trip to the islands this summer. Mike
 
islandhopper00 said:
I'll go with ignorance, breaking the rules of seamanship, but bravado? I guess I put myself in their shoes, and have been many times. To me they were just trying to have an enjoyable day fishing, and didn't have enough experience to handle the situation that presented itself to them. My wish/hope in this tragic situation would be that people whom wish to fish in offshore waters learn respect for the ocean, and prepare accordingly. Which includes mastering their vessel in less than desireable conditions.
I hesitate to kick them and tarnish them with hindsight intellegence, because I could imagine it happening to me. I cross the gulf stream in my small boat for pleasure, and the unthinkable could rear it's ugly head at any time. Even though I prepare for the worst case senerio, and have extensive boat handling experience. Sh1t happens, and things get out of control all by themselves if you don't keep a careful eye on everything. I'm human, and make mistakes. I just wouldn't want every tom, dick, or harry second guessing my decisions and saying how bravado and carless I was should I perish on my trip to the islands this summer. Mike
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Very well said Mike!
 
My "Amen" was not directed to agreeing with the whole statement but just to the part I quoted... we all see/read posts form people about how smart they are and so they think they can handle anything. Don't really know if that was the attitude that day for the NFL players though. It's pretty hard to know what the circumstances were... I know I've taken a wave over the back quarter of my boat once out fishing and about washed my son right out of the cockpit. Sh!t happens sometimes.. I probably should have stayed home when they said "Gale Warning" though.
 
Yes, very well said :thumbsup:

hack4alivin said:
Very well said Mike!
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islandhopper00 said:
I'll go with ignorance, breaking the rules of seamanship, but bravado? I guess I put myself in their shoes, and have been many times. To me they were just trying to have an enjoyable day fishing, and didn't have enough experience to handle the situation that presented itself to them. My wish/hope in this tragic situation would be that people whom wish to fish in offshore waters learn respect for the ocean, and prepare accordingly. Which includes mastering their vessel in less than desireable conditions.
I hesitate to kick them and tarnish them with hindsight intellegence, because I could imagine it happening to me. I cross the gulf stream in my small boat for pleasure, and the unthinkable could rear it's ugly head at any time. Even though I prepare for the worst case senerio, and have extensive boat handling experience. Sh1t happens, and things get out of control all by themselves if you don't keep a careful eye on everything. I'm human, and make mistakes. I just wouldn't want every tom, dick, or harry second guessing my decisions and saying how bravado and carless I was should I perish on my trip to the islands this summer. Mike
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Tonka Boater said:
Yes, very well said :thumbsup:
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I agree. The fellow did not do this intentionally. I would guess, which is what we are all doing, he felt as thought he had enough experience to handle a fishing trip. His decisions resulted in an unfortunate result. I will not cast a stone judging the fellow on his decisions. I was not there and cannot tell you what I would have done under the circumstances. I can tell you what I think I would have done but hind site is 20/20.

I am truly sorry for the losses and hope someone has learned from this tragedy. It will certainly make me think twice in trying off shore circumstances.

The story I read on the USCG report is sad and the trauma that the survivor went through is life changing. I cannot imagine nor do I want to imagine one of my friends dying in my arms or slipping away into the water on what was supposed to be a pleasurable outing.


I would suggest that we pray for the surviving family members in dealing with this tragedy.
 
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