Lake Pepin swallowed a sailor and hasn't let him back up yet

Stay connected in the wind. This forum is for anyone who rides the wind, winter or summer, on whatever board suits their fancy. Share the stoke, find out where people are going, ask any question, share your discoveries, and discuss any esoteric idea you may have related to the pursuit of wind. Please keep it positive.

Moderator: MK

Post Reply
Quetzalcoatl
Posts: 766
Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:26 am

Lake Pepin swallowed a sailor and hasn't let him back up yet

Post by Quetzalcoatl »

Sorry to say but ring a bell one time (if you have a bell) for the loss of a veteran sailor, David John Sheridan.

For about ten years Dave gave sailing lessons and sold sailing rides on his two big Hunter 30 ft. sailboats out of Pepin WI Marina.

He took people sailing in all kinds of weather and often on starlight sailboat rides and MOON light nights.

Saturday night, in spite of the very high waters on Lake Pepin and the very late start of this sailing season,

David wanted to get his sailboats ready for the season and he took out "the Dragonfly" (other boat is named, "The Messenger") for a night cruise and had plans to drop anchor and

sleep on his boat. He was alone, probably NOT wearing a life jacket,,(as I have seen him many times with passengers and no one wearing a life jacket).
Sunday morning his sailboat was found banging against the Minnesota side of Lake Pepin, downstream at Camp LaCoupolous, Mn with engine still
running and running lights still turned on. But no sign of Dave. He's 61 years old and originally from the Twin Cites.

Several local T.V. stations have covered this news event. You can google up U-tube: Dave John Sheridan sailing on Lake Pepin, Pepin WI and see who he is.

The U-tube has him sailing with passengers in 2012 and he discusses how Laura Ingalls Wilder and family crossed "Frozen Lake Pepin" in Feb. of 1860's.

Anyway, nice guy, he' also an official "Skipper' in the Coast Guard."

Five years ago, 2013 in July I saw the 26 foot sloop centerboard sailboat out of the water that held the family and boat as it was sinking. Dave rescued the family first and then went back and got the sinking sailboat back to shore using big power water pumps. (more about that in another post).

Unfortunately, this time Dave didn't rescue himself, by not wearing a lifejacket.

I think he was probably standing on the stern (these big sailboats, like the Hunter boats) have low close to water platforms on the stern (in the dark) and he probably was adjusting something (maybe taking a leak) and he just lost his balance and fell into the frigid water, and the boat kept motoring ahead.

If he HAD a lifejacket on his torso,,,he'd probably still be alive. Or at least we could locate him fairly quickly. Still no sign of him.

A salute to all of you who DO wear lifejackets. IF you don't wear them,,,you're just being too proud. Right now,,,Dave wherever he is, is wishing he had worn one.

Quetzalcoatl out. PS: Now to lift our hearts a bit,,,How about sharing some of those warm heartfilling adventure stories of the epic day YOU had at Cannon yesterday? Come on now share,,,please?
Post Reply