Search Party for Missing Boater

[SHARKEYMARINE]

Urgent!!! This Sunday, February 01, 2004, 10:00am in Florida, any volunteers and boats will meet at the ramp on the Tampa side of the Gandy Bridge to search for the body of a lost powerboater involved in last Sunday's capsizing.

[Fish boy]

just getting ready to put it up here when I saw your post. As of right now, the organizers are planning to divide the boats into two groups- one group for the north side of the bridge, and one group for the south. They are also making a search grid for boaters to follow, and research being done to determine the most likely aresa to search based on tides, currents, and all other relevant data. Plan is to monitor channel 68, but cell phones will do in a pinch.

If anyone in the area is willing to volunteer this sunday, I am sure chris' family and friends will be greatful for any assistance in helping bring some closure to this tragedy.

Thanks,

Fish

[Fish boy]

Here is the lastest info on the recovery effort. Thanks,

Fish

_____________

10am Gandy Boat Ramp Tampa Side Near Jimmy Macs

Boat Owners Needed!

Officer Randy Lopez (TPD Marine Unit ) will be dock side with instructions. He is the only official so please follow his instructions.
Monitor VHF Channel 68
Northern Sweep - 10:20 sweep the Eastern side of Tampa Bay from Gandy Bridge North toward the Howard Franklin Bridge. Line up along the bridge @ approx. 10:20am - 200' apart. Smaller boats search the shallow water and canals. Larger boats search the open water. As the group approaches the Howard Franklin the larger boats should spread out to the west to continue the open water coverage, circling back to the Gandy.
Southern Sweep - After the Northern sweep returns to the Gandy the same format will be used heading South down the Macdill shore toward Gadsden Point then circling back to the Gandy
Important - Any meaningful discoveries that you may believe to be associated with the accident need to be treated with the utmost of care. Immediately contact Randy Lopez (TPD) on Channel 68 for instructions.
Randy Lopez (TPD) will go into much greater detail for coverage in other areas of the bay so please be early. For those of you without boats please meet at the Gandy ramp so we can pair you up with other boats needing crew.

Saturday 1pm First Baptist Church, 1900 Gandy Blvd. There will be a Celebration of Life for Chris Parker.

[SHARKEYMARINE]

I want to forward this:

Just received word that over 100 boats showed up to get involved in the search efforts. The Tampa Marine Unit & St Petersburg Units are involved. They are scanning the Bay, 100- 200 feet apart, and it is now sunny and calm in Tampa Bay. I was told it was astonishing to see so many boats show up. God Speed.


In Memory of Chris Parker, lost but not forgotten.

Wear your PFDs!

Dangerkitty

[Fish boy]

Sharkey is right, there were an awful lot of boats. So many that on the south side of the gandy bridge, there were enough boats to spread from one side of the bay to the other.

Although we were unable to find chris, it is truly a testament to the person he was and the rallying of the boating community to see so many boats of all types in the rain searching for him.

The search was called off at approximately 2:30 this afternoon and was followed by 1 minute of radio silence and then all boats blowing their horns together in memorium.

This is a picture of the boats in a line towards the west (pinellas county) lined up and searching. THere were about twice as many to the east from where I was in the line, but the picture did not come out.

Fish

[SHARKEYMARINE]

I am so sorry Fish.......

I passed the word onto the rest of the boards.

I will be leaving for Orlando tomorrow. Chris will be in my prayers.

Thanks for your effort today. I am sure it meant alot to his family.

Sincerely,

Sharkey

[Fish boy]

thanks for your help in passing the word along to everyone Sharkey. Appreciate the kind words as well.

Fish

[SHARKEYMARINE]

Anytime!

Keep me informed if anything develops. I don't know if I will have Internet access where I am going, but I will try to check in on my emails...

Take care!

[Mr X]

It looks like they found Chris today around 1:30 PM about 1/2 mile from the St. Petersburg Pier. Hope this brings his family some closure.......
R.I.P. Chris

Here is the link to the story... :frown:

http://www.baynews9.com/site/content/32835.html

[SHARKEYMARINE]

Thanks HP...