US Sailing Report: Competitors Raced Past Stricken Yacht

Byline: Associated Press/Paul Elias SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A report on a fatal yacht crash during a race off the San Francisco coast says it was “troubling” that other competitors did not stop to help the ailing yacht. The report by sailing’s governing body concluded, however, that little could have been done to save the five crewmembers who drowned after the yacht, Low Speed Chase, was hit by a massive wave and capsized near the Farallon Islands April 14.             Instead, investigators blamed “poor seamanship” for the tragedy and said better safety gear may have helped save lives, according to the report released Aug. 6 by a safety panel appointed by US Sailing. The crew sailed too close to the Farallones shore and across shallow water that generated massive waves. The boat briefly capsized, tossing seven of the eight crewmembers into the frigid and rock-strewn water. “If the crew of Low Speed Chase had sailed in deeper water, they could have prevented the tragedy,” the report concluded. “Although the course sailed was the direct cause of the capsize, there were additional safety issues that came to light during the investigation, which may have mitigated the outcome.” The report made several recommendations for better management of...