Glowstick and Survival Suit: Rescue Near Gabriola Island, PNW

[Amgine]

Boater rescued after radioing for help. The rescue hovercraft located the man who was floating in the Georgia Strait in a survival suit, presumably sighting the glow stick (late night rescue.)

Times Colonist: Man rescued from water after sailboat sinks in Georgia Strait

Will update if I can find further reports, like why the boat sank.

[daddle]

I wouldn't rely on a glowstick for rescue. They are good for finding the EPIRB, waterproof flashlight or flares, that's about all.

[Amgine]

A log strike is reported as the cause of the sinking of the 37' sailboat. The boat was sailing near Entrance Island/Nanaimo, the northern end of British Columbia's Gulf Islands, when the sinking occured.

The survivor had a handheld vhf, and was wearing a dry suit with glowstick (see Grab bag), which the coast guard credit with his rescue. Steve Jackson of the Nanaimo Coast Guard Auxiliary told the Daily News "it probably ended up saving his life. It wouldn't be an easy (rescue) at that time."

Daily News: Lower Mainland man rescued after his boat sinks near Entrance Island

[hummingway]

It would have been a decent day to cross the strait yesterday. I wonder why he chose to cross in the evening?

[Snore]

I agree glow sticks are not my first choice. When ACR was sponsoring me they gave me a rescue strobe.

See http://www.amazon.com/New-ACR-Rescue.../dp/B004J1CM8Y the strobe is highly visible and has survived several years on my paddling PFD and still works fine. If it survived that it is darn near bulletproof!