November 30, 2010 Tuesday

Tribute to Rick Racich

County Supervisor Charles McGlashan read the Marin County Board of Supervisors tribute to firefighter and surfer Rick Racich for his rescue of two sport crab fishermen Sunday November 7th at Cronkhite. I was at the Supervisors meeting and the room was packed, all seats were taken and bodies lined the three walls that surrounded the supervisors’ table. A grateful and humble Rick Racich accepted the accommodation. Twenty firefighters in uniform and standing against the back wall exploded into applause and cheers. Cameras flashed, including mine.

The Chief of the Fire Department and Surfrider Foundation Marin sponsored the dedication. Both groups had alerted McGlashan’s office and suggested that Rick’s heroic deed warranted a county dedication. McGlashan didn’t hesitate and all the supervisors joined in signing the dedication. Rick’s wife, kids and father were there. It was a great feel good moment.

On Sunday November 7th at 9 am Rich arrived with a surf buddy at Cronkhite, his favorite spot. Surf conditions were heavy after the recent storms that had hit Marin: seven to ten foot swells with a four-foot wind swell on top. They had just pulled into the parking lot when they noticed a small craft dangerously close to the rocks and cliff at the south end of the beach. Rick thought these two fishermen were crazy because it was so rough. A couple minutes later Rick realized they were in trouble and their boat was drifting towards the rocks. A park ranger called the Coast Guard while Rick and his buddy suited up. Rick was able to punch through the pounding waves, but his companion couldn’t and had to give up. Rick paddled over to the boat and convinced the frantic occupants to abandon ship. With life vests on they jumped overboard and Rick paddled over to them. All three hung onto Rick’s board and frog kicked their way away from the cliff. Rick managed to move them away from the rocks and get far enough from the cliff to allow a Coast Guard rescue boat to pick them up. The two fishermen suffered a little hypothermia and that’s all. A few moments later the sea crushed their 25-foot Bayliner against the cliff. Rick saved their lives.

As I left the building to return to my car, there was Rick sitting behind the wheel of a huge fire engine firing it up. He casually saluted to his buddies and drove off to return to duty.

Thank God for people like Rick.

FYI – for you who don’t know your Supervisors, in the picture above from left to right are Hal Brown, Susan Adams, Judy Arnold, Charles McGlashan, Steve Kinsey and our hero Rick Racich.