SAILBOAT CAPTAIN DIES WHILE TRYING TO SAVE CREW

PORTSMOUTH, Va.- Survivors of the sailing vessel Almeisan distress have provided additional details concerning the loss of the vessel's captain, Thomas Tighe.

After experiencing extreme weather and pounding surf, Tighe activated an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon and began preparing a life raft to evacuate his crew. While he and crewmate Lochlin Reidy were deploying the raft, both were washed overboard by a large wave.

Early news releases indicated that he had abandoned ship when in fact he was preparing the raft for his crew. His family reports that Tighe was a seasoned sailor who had made this trip to Bermuda many times.