Latest news with #boating
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Survivors of Lake Tahoe boating disaster credited for life-saving decision after 'freak storm' killed eight
The two survivors of the deadly Lake Tahoe tragedy that claimed eight lives were wearing life jackets at the time of their rescue. Ten boaters abroad a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel set out the California side of Lake Tahoe last weekend, eager to enjoy a sun-drenched day on the water for a 71st birthday celebration. But the day turned fatal when a sudden, powerful storm erupted over the lake - unleashing eight-foot waves, pounding hail and torrential rain - that struck without warning and ultimately capsized their boat, claiming eight lives. The victims of the disaster were identified as: Paula Bozinovich, 71, Terry Pickles, 73, Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, Peter Bayes, 72, Timothy O'Leary, 71, Theresa Giullari, 66, James Guck, 69 and Stephen Lindsay, 63. However, the two unidentified individuals who survived the tsunami-like storm were revealed to be wearing life jackets when rescued, before being transported to a local hospital, according to a Facebook post from the Washoe County Sheriff's Hasty Team. 'The most common mistake boaters make it not being aware of the forecasted weather,' BM1 Justin Smith, executive petty officer of Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 'Life jackets being worn continue to be the primary survivability factor,' he added. On the morning of June 21st, the conditions outside were perfect for a carefree weekend outing - clear skies, gentle breezes and steadily rising temperatures. Despite a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms - a common occurrence for seasoned boaters - hundreds still took to the water that day. But something shifted around 2pm - some boaters spotted whitecaps forming on the water, while others noticed the wind suddenly picking up, blowing fiercely from the north, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. From that moment, conditions deteriorated rapidly, transforming a calm day into a desperate race against time and nature - as eight-foot waves, 30-knot winds, snow and hail engulfed the lake within just minutes. 'It felt like we were in a tsunami that was starting,' Brittany Glick, who was on a nearby pontoon celebrating a bachelorette party, told NPR. 'I had never experienced anything like that.' 'It happened suddenly. The water was just screaming toward the shore,' Ms Brigantino, who was visiting the lake with friends, told BBC. 'It was bad.' Some vessels broke free from their moorings, while others sank or crashed into nearby piers. Several buoys were also washed ashore, according to the LA Times. Before many could reach shore amid the chaos, several boats capsized - hurling passengers into the raging, churning waters. At around 3pm, multiple people reported seeing a group in the water after their boat met the same fate - all while waves in the area at the time were around eight-feet high, according to a news release from the El Dorado Sheriff's Office. Both the sheriff's office and the Coast Guard swiftly responded to the shores of D.L. Bliss State Park, where they successfully rescued two individuals wearing flotation devices. 'Weather in the Tahoe Basin can be unpredictable and change quickly,' Smith warned boaters while speaking with Fox News. 'Mariners should be hesitant to operate in conditions where wind advisories or small craft advisories have been issued,' he added. A massive search-and-rescue operation involving multiple agencies was quickly launched to locate the remaining boaters, including North Tahoe Fire, California State Parks, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Coast Guard. The recovery operations also required advanced divers and specialized teams, including Wilderness Finder Search Dog Teams. Six bodies were recovered on the surface of the water near the capsized boat shortly after the storm, according to the Facebook post. The following day, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded to a request from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office to assist in recovering the two remaining victims. An extensive underwater search was conducted by the Washoe County's Search and Rescue Hasty Team, the Specialized Vehicle Unit aboard Marine 10 and the Marine 9 crew, the department wrote. Both the sheriff's office and the Coast Guard swiftly responded to the shores of D.L. Bliss State Park, where they successfully rescued two individuals wearing flotation devices The search employed the team's Outland 1000 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), equipped with multiple cameras, lights, onboard sonar, and an articulating claw - capable of diving to depths of up to 2,000 feet. That afternoon, a seventh victim was found at a depth of over 300 feet. Then, on Monday afternoon, the final missing boater was discovered deceased at a similar depth, bringing the death toll to eight, according to the department. 'The success of the search and recovery operations would not have been nearly as efficient without the assistance of our partner agencies,' the sheriff's office said. Among those who lost their lives was 37-year-old DoorDash executive Josh Pickles, along with his parents - 73-year-old Terry Pickles and 71-year-old Paula Bozinovich, ABC 7 News reported. Pickles' wife had stayed home taking care of their seven-month-old daughter at the time of the disaster, according to Fox News. The group was celebrating his mother's 71st birthday on Lake Tahoe. Two other victims were also from California: Josh Pickles' uncle, 72-year-old Peter Bayes, and 71-year-old Timothy O'Leary. The three remaining victims - 66-year-old Theresa Giullari, 69-year-old James Guck and 63-year-old Stephen Lindsay - were visiting from New York. 'These individuals were part of a closely connected family group enjoying a birthday gathering on the lake,' the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said in a June 24 statement. 'We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were lost and all those who have been affected by this tragic event.' But even boaters who managed to reach shore during the storm weren't out of danger - many suffered after falling into the frigid water, which remained below 60 degrees throughout the day, LA Times reported. 'There was just a massive amount of people that were in hypothermia or shock,' Joby Cefalu, a lifelong Tahoe boater, told the outlet. 'It was just a tragic day on Lake Tahoe.' Last weekend's tragedy is believed to be the deadliest boating incident in the Golden State since 2019, when a 75-foot boat caught fire and sank near Santa Cruz Island, killing 34 people.
CTV News
18 hours ago
- CTV News
Jobbie Nooner expected to draw hundreds: OPP issue safety tips for boaters
Essex County OPP officers are warning boaters as one of the most attended boating events takes place on Lake St. Clair on Friday. Hundreds of vessels from across Lake St. Clair, including Ontario, are expected to drop anchor at Jobbie Nooner. OPP say before you head out, remember: If you're mooring or tying up, you must report to U.S. Customs first. Your boat must be water-ready: -Enough life jackets that are Canadian Coast Guard approved for everyone on board your vessel. -No drinking and boating — legal limit is 0.08 in both Michigan & Ontario -Navigation lights must work if you're out past daylight Every year, OPP say avoidable tragedies happen. Stay safe, if you're in an emergency, call 911 or use channel 16 on your VHF Radio. When returning to Canada, report in with CBSA. And remember: Just because the event is in U.S. waters doesn't mean Canadian authorities won't be patrolling. They will. 'Have fun, stay safe, respect the lake. Remember, boating and alcohol don't mix,' say OPP.
Top Gear
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Ferrari is getting into boats... again
Ferrari is getting into boats... again The Ferrari Hypersail is leading the Prancing Horse to water Skip 4 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 4 First it was Castoldi's record-setting V12-powered craft. Then it was the Riva Ferrari 32. Now, Ferrari has a new boat; the Hypersail, which is, er, (combustion) engine-less. Due for launch in 2026 and designed by French boat designer Guillaume Verder, the fancy hydrofoil boasts a 100-foot monohull prototype, where three points of contact provide stability, a canting keel to support one underwater fin, another fin on the rudder and two additional foils, deployed alternately. Advertisement - Page continues below Ferrari proudly reckons the thing "is the first of its size to be entirely energy self-sufficient", sailing with a flight control system developed from its fancy cars, and powered by solar, wind and kinetic energy. Giovanni Soldini, team principal of Hypersail and record-breaking yachting bloke, said: "From a nautical perspective, it's innovative in both its structure and how it will fly; on the systems front, Ferrari's contribution is driving the development of on-board control technology that has never been seen before. "To prepare as well as we can for the variability and force of the phenomena and conditions encountered at sea, our top priority is to strike the right balance between the pursuit of extreme performance and maximum reliability." Let's 'sea' what it can do when it gets on the water, eh? Advertisement - Page continues below Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Jobbie Nooner attendees reminded about U.S. border water crossing rules
Boaters who plan to take part in the Jobbie Nooner boat party activities on Lake St. Clair have been given a reminder from U.S. Customs and Border Protection about legally reporting their arrivals in the United States. Small pleasure vessels that arrive from a foreign port or location including Canada, to include visiting a hovering vessel or having received merchandise outside U.S. waters, must report their arrival immediately to CBP upon landing in the U.S., the law says. Lake St. Clair, which is part of the Great Lakes waterways, is sited along the international boundary between Michigan and Ontario. "If you do not follow the reporting requirements and enter the United States illegally, you will be prosecuted, and your vessel will be seized," U.S. Border Patrol Detroit Sector Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris, said in an announcement directed to Jobbie Nooner attendees. Jobbie Nooner is a popular, but unofficial, all-day boat party on and around Gull Island on Lake St. Clair. The schedule is twice a year on the last Friday in June and the first Saturday after Labor Day, according to the Lake St. Clair Guide. The CBP says arrival sites that count as reporting locations in the U.S. include Metro Beach Public in Harrison Township, Erma Henderson Park in Detroit and Elizabeth Park in Trenton. As an alternative, the CBP suggests boaters who want a convenient and fast way to report their arrival use the CBP ROAM™ mobile app. A boat's arrival to the U.S. can be reported using that app on a smartphone or tablet, and qualifies in most cases as an "alternative inspection system."
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Police cracking down on dangerous driving ahead of unofficial long weekend
With school coming to an end and the unofficial Canada Day long weekend on the horizon, the roads are expected to get busier. There won't be a formal police blitz on Ontario roads this weekend, that's according to the Ontario Provincial Police - but that doesn't mean drivers won't notice an increased number of patrol units along the highways. Police are urging drivers to be cautious this weekend, or they could face serious consequences, 'So you can expect to see an increased police presence of traffic enforcement on our major roadways,' said Const. Jesse Nobleman with the Ontario Provincial Police. While it's not an official blitz, officers will be actively monitoring the roads as people visit family, head to cottages, or travel for a weekend getaway. Distracted driving and improper seatbelt use are also key focus areas. In 2023, 382 people were killed on OPP-patrolled roads. According to police, most of those deaths were the result of careless or poor decisions made by drivers and passengers. Among last year's 344 fatal crashes, 95 deaths were caused by speeding, 80 involved an inattentive driver and 53 were linked to alcohol and/or drug use. On top of that, 60 people who died were not wearing seatbelts. And it's not just on the roads, OPP will also be patrolling the province's waterways this weekend. Boaters are being reminded to take extra precautions, and to always wear a properly-fitted lifejacket. 'We do see tragic incidents where people pass away as a result of a collision and that's why we're out here doing proactive enforcement, trying to get those aggressive and speeding motorists to slow down, as well as impaired drivers of course, get them off the roadway,' continued Const. Nobleman. Police are also reminding the public that the same laws around impaired driving apply to boats. Officers will be on the lookout for anyone operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or cannabis. 'There's no sense in risking your safety or the safety of loved ones,' concluded Const. Nobleman.
