Close friends have confirmed that 40-year-old Denis Fontaine from Deep Cove,and 50-year-old Richard Juryn of North Vancouver, both experienced adventure racers, died after their kayaks flipped in the stormy waters of Howe Sound on Sunday at about noon.
Fontaine’s common-law-wife, Cheryl Beatty, and another man, Graham Tutti, were also taken to hospital following the accident, and then later released.
The four were part of a group of eight adventure racers taking part in an all-day training exercise in Howe Sound. They were on their way back to Porteau Cove on the mainland when two of the four double kayaks capsized — throwing four kayakers into the stormy waters of Howe Sound.
The survivors reported storm conditions with waves up to two metres high, but no one in the group was wearing a wetsuit.
Bob Faulkner was one eight kayakers involved in the incident.
He told CBC News that after running up a hill on Anvil Island, the group was heading back by kayak to Porteau Cove. Before they set off, he said he had concerns about the stormy weather and steep waves, but said nothing to anyone except Beatty. The group then set out into the extremely rough seas.
“When I say extremely, I’m talking about seven-foot swells and 85-, 84-kilometre-an-hour winds,” said Faulkner.
The group decided Fontaine and his wife were the strongest paddlers, and that the couple would remain at the back to make sure everyone was safe, said Faulkner.
But he said while Fontaine and Beatty were in an unstable racing kayak, the rest of the group were paddling in more stable sea kayaks. When the boats turned at the south end of Anvil Island, trouble began, said Faulkner.
“When they made the turn into the run with the weather, the boat flipped, so Denis and Cheryl ended up in the water,” said Faulkner.