Two injured in Boyne Thunder boating accident And Updates

[Serious News]

PETOSKEY — Two people participating in the Boyne Thunder Poker Run power boating event were injured in an accident on Little Traverse Bay Saturday.

In a news release issued late Sunday, officials with the Boyne City Main Street Program, which hosts the Boyne Thunder event, said the accident happened between card stop three in Bay Harbor and card stop four in Harbor Springs.

Main Street officials said the captain of the boat involved, of Marne, indicated the boat hit something in the water resulting in the upper and lower portions of the outdrives to be torn away from the boat.

Officials said the four crew members of the 37-foot boat were ejected from the vessel. One crew member received a hip fracture and another was badly bruised. All crew members were wearing personal flotation devices, according to the release.

"Boyne City Main Street and members of the Boyne Thunder committee are working closely with authorities on this matter. We wish the injured a speedy recovery and safe travels home to all of the Boyne Thunder Poker Run participants and sponsors," Boyne City Main Street Program Director Kelsie-King-Duff said in the release.

This year marked the 15th year for Boyne Thunder Poker Run event.

On its website, the Boyne City Main Street Program describes the event as:

"This unique boating event showcases high performance boats, roaring through the waters of Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan on a breathtaking 150-mile excursion to get the best poker hand. The day includes 5 card stops in Elk Rapids, Northport, Bay Harbor, Harbor Springs and Horton Bay, with a stop for lunch in Charlevoix. The event draw hundreds of participating boaters and thousands of spectators with proceeds from the event benefiting Camp Quality, Challenge Mountain and the Boyne City Main Street Program."

This story will be updated when more information becomes available from the Emmet County Sheriff's Office and Main Street officials later today, Monday.

https://www.petoskeynews.com/blue/t...cle_3082232a-88f6-11e8-ac6f-1ffb60e4baab.html

 

[Ratickle]

We had postponed putting anything up until there was some official release of information.

Mike and Sarah Holford, of CK Performance Marine, were the two mentioned in the article that were injured as many of you know. Sarah had the hip injury, Mike was bruised up pretty badly. The other two in the boat were also thrown out, but not as severely injured.

Whatever they hit tore the outdrives completely off. They were between Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs, a couple miles offshore, when it happened.

The Coast Guard and DNR were planning on returning to the area to see what the heck it could have possibly been there. The water should be around 20 to 25 fathoms out there.

 

[rschap1]

Ouch
Get well soon and heal quick
Must have been something substantial to do that

 

[Ratickle]

Update

There were 6 people in the boat, not 4. Two did not get thrown out.

Sarah was transferred to a Grand Rapids hospital and the injury is not as bad as initially suspected. She may be released to go home this evening, or tomorrow.

Looked at the boat. It hit so hard the transom flexed enough to put smilie cracks in the side of the hull, both inside and out. By the time they got the boat to the ramp, there was about a foot of water throughout, including the cabin. If it had not been a transmission boat, it most likely would have sunk.

 

[Bobcat]

Might be changing the Name of the Boat after that

Had some Friends on the Illinois River hit something and it tore the lower unit off clean...Spun them around at 55 mph...

No one was ejected, but bruised up pretty good...

 

[phragle]

Prayers for a speedy recovery...

 

[fund razor]

Might be changing the Name of the Boat after that

Had some Friends on the Illinois River hit something and it tore the lower unit off clean...Spun them around at 55 mph...

No one was ejected, but bruised up pretty good...

No ****. Without Warning?

We hit logs in the Maumee. I have a friend who tore the lower unit off a Donzi.

 

[fund razor]

Prayers for a speedy recovery...

In.

 

[rschap1]

Any word on what was hit and ripped the drives off?

 

[Ratickle]

Nothing yet.

They have also asked the photographer and videographer to check their pics and footage to see if there is anything. The helicopter was on site within about 15 seconds, called the coast guard, etc.

 

[Bobcat]

Nessy...

 

[fund razor]

If this was off of Cleveland, I would say shipping container.

Off of Toledo, I would say pickup truck from past ice mishap.

But who knows in that spot. Seems unlikely that anything would be there in that much water, that far offshore.
Sucks. I heard the hip injury was not as bad as originally feared. That's good.

 

[rschap1]

Heard red paint, but the big old wooden Chris Craft that disintegrated and sank last year was white paint and south of there...assuming the debris wouldn't have made it up to that area...
Glad to hear good news about less severe injuries

 

[Blue Oval]

The barge runs from Fox Islands and Beaver Island with loads of trees all the time. They bring them back into Charlevoix channel. Would not take much for a couple logs to fall off. I know the guy running the barge. Lol, it is a cousin.

 

[Ratickle]

Went up to CK and talked with Mike about the accident.

Everybody is doing well, Sarah being the most seriously injured with her broken pelvis. The one fracture of her pelvis is directly above the socket so it will take the longest to heal. The current prognosis is approximately 12 weeks with no pressure on the hip.

There are some other things we will get into after we have more time to chat, but let me say this after our conversation:

ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS AND TETHERS!!

 

[Ratickle]

Some are speculating that what was hit could be a red marker buoy. They may test the paint on the drive to see if any results can made

 

[zimmerma323]

Any updates on this? Last I heard from a friend in the area is that it was a submerged buoy?

 

[Ratickle]

Nothing yet.

There were rumors of a possible buoy, due to the red paint on the drive. But so far, only rumors.

They are possibly having the red paint analyzed to see if it is a match for the paint used on buoys.

 

[Ratickle]

JJ, you are absolutely correct.

A red marker buoy was found and is in custody. It does have obvious impact damage. The marker supposedly belongs to one of the marinas up there which used it as a marker for sailboat races.

We will try to keep everybody up to date as more info comes in. However, I'm sure the insurance companies and police will keep this a bit close to the vest as to what is going on behind the scenes.

Thanks JJ, we had not heard yet.

 

[Blue Oval]

Wow, all of the sailboat races in Lake Charlevoix use blow up. The buoy’s we use for Boyne Thunder are used for Tuesday night races.