■ The danger of submerged rocks and hard reefs in Hawaiian waters cannot be emphasized enough, as was sadly illustrated during the Memorial Day weekend. The holiday ended in disaster for two boat owners whose vessels ran aground.
On Sunday, May 27, Darryl Johnston was completing the second leg of the three-day Around Oahu Race, sponsored by the Waikiki Yacht Club, when his 44-foot, custom-built boat, the M-1, hit a submerged pinnacle off Ka’ena Point. At the time of impact, the M-1 was speeding along at 10 knots plus under full spinnaker. The vessel had a 10-foot draft and weighed 10,500 lbs.
What happened next may have been a blessing in disguise. The keel feel off.
“There are two possibilities,” explained Mike Doyle, the marine surveyor handling the accident. “If…
