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I met Merrill in D.C. at an affair for the National Defense University. He was a gregarious and socially pleasant fellow. We shared a brief cocktail party superficial exchange about NATO's role in post-Soviet threat Europe. I hope the Coast Guard finds him safe. Not wearing a vest is always risky.
Took a leak over the rail and lost his balance ?
From the article: 'A small craft advisory was issued yesterday for most of the Chesapeake Bay because of wind and waves. The advisory remained in effect today.'
### end of quote ###
Bad wind and waves, small craft advisory. 72-y.o. man sailing alone wihtout a life jacket? Hmmm ... and Sigh. Doesn't sound good.
Hope those searching for him stay safe.
Sad.
Operating a boat that size - at any age - is risky. At that age, any boating is risky because of sudden medical risks.
My first thought, because of a boat that size, is the boom. Even with calculated tacks you have to be careful. With the wind conditions, and if he was before the wind, he could have had one terrible hit by the boom. I would assume that he had all sorts of sail gadgets so that he wouldn't have to leave the cockpit, but the boom is a swinging bat and he may have been standing at the wheel. A bad target.