Willy Vogler, who runs Lawson's Landing in Dillon Beach, and his friend Cameron put their own safety aside yesterday to help rescue five boaters at the mouth of Tomales Bay in harrowing conditions on Saturday. You can read the whole story on Willy's blog.
"In this case, the boat flipped and the child was trapped under the boat. When dad figured this out he started diving under the boat in a frenzy to get his child out. As you would. Well, as I hope I would. Diving under a flipped boat with God knows what hanging under with possible fish hooks, ropes, whatever to tangle up or get trapped in without a wetsuit or fins or mask..... I want to believe that I would do it too, and I think I want to think I would, but Goddamn..... But he got her out. And when we got there he was so spent he couldn't even speak. We grabbed the kid, because she was easy and light and if a wave comes and I gotta leave, well, I ain't leaving a kid. Then Cameron blew his back out trying to get the dad on board. But between him pulling and the other guy in the water pushing, they got him in. I was leaning like a sailboater trying to balance the boat and watching for waves. The other fellow scrambled in (former surfer and accustomed to cold water. I may have to start trying that cold water immersion thing) and said two more were on the boat but they were swept in towards the bay."
Hopefully everyone is ok. The mouth of Tomales Bay is a dangerous place and there was a solid swell filling in yesterday. Always wear a life jacket, check the conditions and know your limits. Thank you to Willy, Cameron and the first responders who saved these folks.
