Trouble at Cape Kiwanda

I surf, but never on the mainland.
no way.

Out of curiousity kerbster are there any signs or anything to educate those who may not know the area? The only reason I ask is that in the midst of summer I could totally see someone getting in danger on their vacation if they didn't know the risks at this particular beach.

I agree branstem, it is a tragedy, and I also believe that it could have been avoided. Unfortunately there are too many people on this board who lack empathy and would rather throw blame than try to find intelligent reasonable solutions. Around here, surfers and boaters use completely separate areas. Boaters are not allowed in where the surfers are, and surfers are not allowed in the boating lanes. I suppose that concept has been lost on the community where this tragedy occurred. In all fairness, I'm not familiar with the area where this took place, but I can't imagine that there isn't a way to regulate separate usage areas like has been done successfully elsewhere. I don't know, maybe I'm just trying to be a brain surgeon, or maybe I'm simply using my brain the way it is clear that you have. It's too bad folks don't rush to understanding near as fast as they rush to blame.

What I'm saying is that people shouldn't have to give up something they love to save fishermen the trouble of being more careful. People shouldn't have to give up their freedoms to save a community the trouble of making their beaches safer. I'm sorry these people are limited in their career choices, but that shouldn't by default, limit my freedoms. Your attempt at an insult is pretty empty considering that you know nothing about me, my abilities or my level of intelligence. By all means though keep playing your hand, it doesn't make ME look bad.

Just trying to figure out what you are saying,while I'm sure there are plenty of other kinds of occupation in this country doesn't mean that anybody can just switch to somethingelse because it would be safer for surfers or swimmers for that matter..like you trying to become a brain surgeon next week..

I've surfed at Pacific City multiple times, and doing so enjoyed the pub located on shore within 100 feet of the water at the end of the day. It is not often good surf is found at Pacific City when the weather suits the Dory Fisherman (ie... sunny and beautiful like that day was). Typically the good days for surfing are late October, November, December.... Sometimes on a rare occasion, the stars align and good weather mixed with prime waves results in a mix of Dory Fisherman and surfers. Make no mistake, the dory fisherman who cast out there are not doing so to make a living. They do so for the sport, just like the surfers. The blame is on both parties and those who observed from the shore, the surfers who sat outiside the break chilling watching the fisherman, the groms who surfed inside the break on the north end. You can see from far away the potential for Dory boats riding up on surfers. It is obvious in my experience if the observer from the shore had in fact been observing and not enjoying the local brew from the pub, the child would not have been run over. It takes awhile for a 14 year old grom to padddle into the way of the incoming boats, and he could have been observed long before hand enjoying the waves. Like wise seasoned surfers could have seen the young lad paddling close to the lane of the incoming boats and warned him. It was a sad experience, a lesson to all who pick up the sport and learn at short sands, south beach, otter rock, or pacific city. The ocean is not to be taken lightly, and the experienced riders warnings are to be headed. The father, or any adult for that matter, could have observed the action on shore prior to letting the grom entering the water and established the danger involved with the dory fisherman. I regret this tragedy, and feel sorry for all involved.

What exactly is giving you difficulties?

If anybody can translate what Phenix76 is trying to say ?????? please enlight me.....My obvious limited knowledge of the English language is facing a serious challenge here !!!

"they have plenty of other choices,like: hiking,riding a bicycle,running,bowling,or even stay home and watch tv (or maybe read.....)"

I guess fishermen couldn't possibly have other job choices, I didn't realize that there was only one occupation in this country, my bad.

"the argument made by Phenix76 is clearly that of someone who has never experienced the rush/fear of picking the moment between waves and commiting, knowing that if you screw up you could be in serious trouble, without a wetsuit or surfboard to hold on to..."

Boy, you sure got me, now I have something to think about when I paddle out for dawn patrol tomorrow. My point was NEVER that it was the boater's fault, simply that negating the boy's right to use PUBLIC waters for surfing or whatever is bull. If the region is too hectic for surfers and boaters to coexist, than maybe the community should do something about regulating this area like many other states have already done. I suppose I'll be called names again for not joining the club and kicking rocks at people who have done nothing but enjoy the ocean as is their right.

So far as this genius comment is concerned, "We aren't talking SWIMMERS here, moron. We are talking SURFERS." What we are talking about is someone in a boat running over someone who isn't. An accident that could happen just as easily to a swimmer as it did to a surfer (if not easier). So I guess you're saying it would be different had he not had a surfboard? Pretty dumb to act like it's night and day huh?! The end result is the same, a 14 year old boy who got severely injured. Being as ***, hating on surfers, or casting your personal problems on other people won't fix a thing. Solutions will only be found when people make an effort to understand both points of view. But by all means, if it makes you feel more like a man to hide behind your anonymity and hurl insults go for it bro. Pretty weak and childish.

When I read,that in this case the surfers have :"no choice,but going to that stretch " I,personally disagree,they have plenty of other choices,like: hiking,riding a bicycle,running,bowling,or even stay home and watch tv (or maybe read.....)on the other end, the fishermen don't have an other choice,their mortgage,or food on the table,and any other bills depend on them go fishing,I'm pretty sure they would rather stay home or play golf instead,but they are the ones with no other choice,so, while infortunate and regretable this accident was,we cannot blame the fishermen for trying (the hard way..) to make a living,ultimately the caution should be on the side of the surfers..If you decide to skateboard on the wrong side of the highway because it has a wonderfull downhill ride,you cannot blame the driver if you get hit head on by a truck...In another word, if you decide to do it anyway,watch out for the boats,don't expect them to watch for you,it's hard enough for them to go back ashore fighting the natural challenges,avoiding surfers should not be another source of concerns...

When I read,that in this case the surfers have :"no choice,but going to that stretch " I,personally disagree,they have plenty of other choices,like: hiking,riding a bicycle,running,bowling,or even stay home and watch tv (or maybe read.....)on the other end, the fishermen don't have an other choice,their mortgage,or food on the table,and any other bills depend on them go fishing,I'm pretty sure they would rather stay home or play golf instead,but they are the ones with no other choice,so, while infortunate and regretable this accident was,we cannot blame the fishermen for trying (the hard way..) to make a living,ultimately the caution should be on the side of the surfers..If you decide to skateboard on the wrong side of the highway because it has a wonderfull downhill ride,you cannot blame the driver if you get hit head on by a truck...In another word, if you decide to do it anyway,watch out for the boats,don't expect them to watch for you,it's hard enough for them to go back ashore fighting the natural challenges,avoiding surfers should not be another source of concerns...

Have you tried to get out of the way of a boat-not gonna happen. What happened here was inevitable-an out of control boater who abused his right to a power he couldnt control. Screw your traditional boater history-if you cant drive something right, then it doesnt matter how long it's been going on. Maybe the boaters should take it easy on the booze cruise and learn how to miss a 2' X 2' floating object-though it does get a little harder when your 12 Bud's deep. Here is a perfect example of one way to ruin ones day at the beach. I wish the kid the best-sucks he has to learn that idiots affect us both out of and in the water. Boaters...

To charnie and murphy: If you are going to start spouting the rules, you need to learn them. Those dories have the right of way. Operating in the surf as they do, they are considered to be Restricted in Ability to Maneuver . With the single exception of a Vessel Not Under Command (meaning she cannot maneuver because of mechanical malfunction) all other vessels (including surboards) must give way.

The Dory fishermen have been up there for decades. Lots and lots of places people can surf. Not many where you can launch a dory into the surf. It's one of the most exciting ways in the world to fish, and a dying art and tradition. Ninety-nine percent of the time, I am a firm believer in mutli-use recreational opportunities. Not here. The problem matter would be resolved--and future tragedies avoided--if surfers would honor that this tiny, tiny fraction of the Oregon Coast is simply not the place for surfers to be.
Mark Donachy

Some of the opinions/arguments have focussed on motor vehicle vs. aqua-pedestrian. This is not the case. As a surfer of 23 years in both Hawai'i and up and down the California coast (also sure Int'l) and citizen of HI and CA I can tell you that this was a terrible tragedy that should be chalked up as a misfortunate draw.

The tuna fishing industry has long been established in the area way before people started surfing the frigid waters. The have the right of way as they always have. Smart surfers the world over know that the most important thing before jumping in is surveying they beach/reef and knowing the dangers. These "people" trying to surf made a few very bad errors: 1) they entered waters with a heavy presence of commercial fisherman casting off the beach, 2) the paddled out into high surf knowing that visability of boats and visability of them by boats was non-existent (can't see surfers in 5 foot swells let alone 12 footers), and 3) they paddled into an area not supervised by on-shore authorities designating swimming and boating lanes...anything undesignated is unregulated.

Tragic accident...just like anything else, if one wants to call themself a "surfer" then maybe one should learn how to properly surf.

Mahalo, GB - San Diego

wow what a thing to say thomas, either it be on the side of the surfer or the fisherman, the waters are all of ours. We need to look between the waves and watch for awhile before making the landing on the beach. The surfers too need to watch for the fisherman as well. I think that the boater could have made a turn to maybe just bump him instead of running directly right over him..... and to say they are the dumbest.. I have some very great young kids that are really very very smart. probably smarter then yourself when you were there age. I think it is so great to have kids in the water at day break not on drugs or hung over like alot of other kids. I have surfed in my younger years and really loved it but now to old to do that now, so I have taken up the boating thing. I respect the surfer as well as the fisherman, but we all have to live together so JUST DO IT and get over your studip attitdute, the surfer may someday save your life when you boat turns over or you get taken out by a undertow . If they are there, they will save you..........................