Re: Potter capsize on Great Salt Lake

Ron Force (rforce@uidaho.edu)
Tue, 01 Sep 1998 13:02:46 -0700


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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Here's the news story (8/27/98):

Sailor on Great Salt Lake saved after boat capsizes

Search and rescue crews pulled a soggy sailer from the waters of the
Great Salt Lake Wednesday, 17 hours after his 15-foot sailboat capsized.
Gerald Spencer, 60, of Salt Lake, was headed back to the Great Salt Lake
marina after a trip to Promontory Point, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt.
Lane Larkin said. His trip began 9 a.m. Sunday and he was due back late
Tuesday. But gusts of wind up to 60 mph made for treacherous waters with
15-foot swells, and Spencer lost control of the boat, which tipped over
off the west side of Antelope Island. The boat had no radio, but Spencer
was wearing a life jacket, Larkin said. Spencer's wife called police
Wednesday morning to report him missing. A search and rescue helicopter
spotted Spencer about 11:30 a.m. bobbing in the water about 250 yards
from Antelope Island. "He stayed with his boat for a long time and tried
to push it and swim toward the island, but it was pretty rough out
there," Larkin said. Spencer was taken by medical helicopter to
University Hospital where he was treated and released.

© 1997 Deseret News Publishing Co.