Sports
While Safety Standards Reviewed, Two Sailing Races to Change Routes
Decisions made in light of fatal Farallon Islands yacht crash in April.
The U.S. Coast Guard is helping offshore racing organizers adjust the courses for two upcoming sailing races in the Bay Area in response to safety concerns raised after a fatal yacht crash earlier this month.
The two races affected are the Offshore Yacht Racing Association Duxship Race on Saturday and the Singlehanded Sailing Society Farallons Race on May 12.
Races that stay within the Bay past the demarcation line from Point Bonita to Land's End will not be affected, Coast Guard officials said.
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The new safety concerns come after a 38-foot yacht was during the Full Crew Farallones Race on April 14. One of the yacht's sailors, 46-year-old Marc Kasanin of Belvedere, was found dead in the waters nearby. Four others -- Alexis Busch, of Larkspur; Alan Cahill, of Tiburon; Jordan Fromm, 25, of Kentfield; and Elmer Morrissey, of Ireland -- remain missing and are presumed dead.
Last week, the boat was salvaged and transported to Half Moon Bay via helicopter.
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The accident prompted officials to reassess offshore race organizers' safety plans and procedures, and the Coast Guard is asking all offshore race organizers and participants to conduct their own safety stand-downs.
During the stand-down, U.S. Sailing, the national governing body for sailing sports, is conducting an independent review of Bay Area offshore racing safety procedures, according to the Coast Guard.
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