Prayers needed. OSO member HIGH LIFE killed
 

Yesterday driving his beloved 27 Magnum sedan, Mike Spirito was killed in a boating accident off the Massachusetts coast. Mike was better known on OSO as HIGH LIFE.

Mike was an old school offshore racer from Massachusetts and competed in many Gloucester and Plymouth races over the years. He loved the 27 foot Magnum sedans and was driving one with twin 300 HP Merc outboards when the accident happened.

The police are still investigating, but in general terms here is what happened....Four boats were running together and were going over a large cruiser wake, Mikes boat either tripped on the wake and stuffed... or rolled on re-entry. The deck tore off and Mike was killed instantly and his passenger sustained massive chest injuries and is hospitalized. The hull with the engines sank and the deck was towed in to the Coast Guard station by the inlet.

Please remember Mike and his family in your prayers. Funeral arrangements are yet to be made. He was a really good guy who died doing what he loved so much, may God have mercy on him and may he rest in peace.

My thoughts and Prayers to Mike and his family. I never met Mike but he was a respected member on this site, especially the Magnum forum.
Mike; Rest in peace.....
Bob

I also didn't know Mike. Sounds like a very experienced boater. As part of the OSO community, I'd like to send my condolences to his friends and family. RIP

What an absolute shame!

My condolences to his family and friends!

He is in my prayers......Rest in peace.

man i hate to hear that.....at least he left us doing what he loved to do.....thoughts and prayers to mike and his family...rest in peace....

So sad, hope the passenger pulls through... :(

Prayers and condolences.....sounds like he was a great guy

Reminds me for all of us to be safe. Sounds like he has way more expereince than me......Makes ya think. RIP

Truly sorry to hear RIP.

Re read his posts.........always friendly, helpful and positive....may he rest in peace.

A big loss for OSO.

Prayers for him , his family and friends.

Mike was a great member on our Donzi.org board

a great contributor to the hobby

he will be dearly missed

Damn, Thats Terrible News. He was allways helpful and Kind. T&P Going Out (thoughts and prayers)

Tragic news. RIP.

Thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

RIP Mike.
Steve

Very sad to hear...my condolences to his friends and family.

Godspeed Mike, RIP.

My condolences to his family and friends.

WOW I am so sorry to hear this! My thoughts and prayers to his family, he seemed like such a nice guy, he was always helping anybody on here!

Very sad, he will be missed. :(

My wife and I are great friends of MIke. In fact I was just with him this week and as usual he inspired me with his incredible enthusiasm for offshore boating. He died the way he lived and we will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and love go out to his family.

Knew Mike from donzi.org, he certainly was a great guy. Our thoughts and prayers to Mike's family, and also the other person injured.

Godspeed Mike, see you on the big pond.

Two years ago Mike invited me to go on a poker run with him up on Narragansett Bay. It was the first time I met his son as he was just a little guy when we raced back in the day. He joined us in the boat that day.

We showed up with Mike's 27 foot Magnum sedan with the twin 300 HP outboard Mercs. All the other boats came with their assortment of blowers and number 6 drives etc. Total boat count was close to 30. Mike's son said it looks like we are outclassed....Mike and I laughed and said let's see how we do at the end of the day.

First stop we were the 5th boat, second stop we were the 4th boat and the lunch stop we were the 3rd boat in, behind a 38 foot Cigarette with blower motors and a 32 foot Sutphen.

We explained to his son that the difference was navigation. We didn't follow the boat wakes of the other runners, but set our own course and followed as straight a line as possible. That was old school open ocean racing skills and we both still loved doing it.

I could see the pride come up in his son's eyes for his dad. What first appeared to be a day in an old out of date boat with outboards, proved to his son to be a day worth remembering....which I am sure he is doing right now.

I didn't know Mike, although sounds like the OSO community knew him quite well. Prayers and thoughts to family and friends. RIP "High Life"

RIP! My thoughts and prairs go out to his family and friends. Very sad.

my thoughts and prayers to him and family,RIP

I've had some scary flights off cruiser and freighter wakes. RIP

Only knew him on OSO but felt like i knew him as a friend. RIP high life

Nice memory.

Prayer's and condolences....Godspeed "RIP"

My prayers go out to his family and all that knew him :(
R I P

RIP High Life. You will be missed.

Prayers and condolences to all family and friends from everyone in the Active Thunder extended family.

Sad. RIP.

our prayers and condolences go out to Mike and his Family as well as his passanger..we will also pray for his speedy recovery. RIP Mike..

Great story!
 

Still in shock.

God Speed Mike! You will be missed.
Gary

RIP, My prayers go out to all. This seems so real to me after hitting a 5' wake last weekend that i did not see. Testing a new prop on a high speed run and lost control. almost threw my passenger out and barrel rolled my boat. happens fast.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Met him once several years ago Great guy! This is terrible news my familys thought and prayers are with his family and friends..
Gods Speed Mike...

Godspeed Mike !
 

Mike on left & Charlie.
My heart & prayers go out to the Families.
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/46...500x500Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/48...500x500Q85.jpg

God Speed fellow boater...........Praying for a quick and full recovery of his passanger.