Callin' the Coasties

[ted]

de-masting

recently demasted on sunday afternoon, unconscious for fve minutes, lost two teeth. not much by many standards.motor boat arrived and offered help.four sail boats also. but managed to keep cool and managed on own.thanks to those that offered.caused by convoy of large motor boats opening out having come through mantoloking bridge on sunday afternoon for last speed thrills of the weekend.coast guard flew overhead from nowhere. must have got message from helpful boats. hovered about for half an hour to see we were o.k. and all under control.lessons seen 1. there are good boaters about to say the least. 2. shame to see that the motto from salesmen and new boat owners generally seems to be 'you will be o.k. as long as you do not hit anyone'!anyone heard the saying -'manners maketh the man'or'oh, that is how they were brought up'!!still some great people about though.glad to be able to say that we have helped out in past.coast guard - great - shame when something goes wrong, it is always all their fault and a rare mistake condemns it forever.have the critisers ever thought of their mistakes or imperfections.coast guard auxillary - greatest organisation - the best nature of all boating.

 

[Bill]

One oops

As a CGAux member I try to stay out of these discusions, but I always remember as in the CS field one oops wipes out all the Thatta boy's.It's easy to foget the ones saved, people remember the losses.Bill

 

[Brad]

Very Professional

I had a positive experience with the Coast Guard about four years ago on Lake Erie. I was on a friend's 40 foot house boat which we had taken to Kelley's Island in Lake Erie. The day was calm when we arrived at the island. After a few hours we headed back to the Marblehead, about five miles away. The wind had started to blow around 25 knots and the waves began to build. The waves were breaking over the bow and the boat seemed sluggish. I went down to the forward deck to find the forward compartment was filled with water. About one third of the volume of the boat was filled with water! We instantly put on the old orange life jackets-with no one complaining about the color. We radioed the Coast Guard not knowing if we had a hole in the boat or what. I instructed the captain to hold the boat into the waves and I jumped into the forward compartment and started to bail, with water up to my chest. I remember looking at the waves and thinking that I did not want to end up in the water. The Coast Guard arrived in about fifteen minutes in their 40 foot cutter and sent a water tight drum containing a gasoline pump to assist in dewatering the boat. The Coast guard crewmen were very professional and handled the cutter expertly in the six foot waves. I handled radio communications with the cutter while we pumped the water from the boat. It was later determined that the forward hatch did not have a latch to keep it closed. Therefore it had shipped water with every wave hitting the bow. The Coast Guard followed us back to shore and then did a complete inspection. They were very professional and very courteous the whole time. I have boated for over thirty years- on the Great Lakes,the Gulf of Mexico, and on inland waters and that was the closest I have been to sinking. It sure is reassuring to see that red striped boat coming to your aid. I believe that considering the resources that they have to work with and the conditions that they work in these fellows do an outstanding service to us all. They are the ones who go out when everyone else is safe in the harbor. They are true heroes on a daily basis.

 

[Bill Leonard]

to help or not to help

I have to admit owning a sailboat gives others the impression that when all else fails, throwing out the anchor is the only way you can save your vessel when a squall moves through. Last late winter, we were tacking in the AH Harbor, without fuel (my mistake), with a full main up in a good 20 knot wind. As the squall hit us, an increased wind change of about 20 knots, we tried to maintain a head to wind to take down the mainsail, but the wind was more powerful than we thought. A combination of falling off and back up, in the midst of a deserted mooring field, we were being forced to run as the main came down. Now, sitting beside us, safe in the harbor, about 50 yards away were two NJ state police boats that came for shelter from the nearby rivers. These law enforcement folks watched us and did not even try to lend a hand, and of course I never tried to call for assistance because I was taught to take care of a sailing vessel and if all else fails, there is an anchor. Well, after the anchor went in, we weathered the squall and enjoyed the thrill. Since I did not call for help I cannot say that the state troopers were not in the wrong, but if the roles were reversed, I would have tried to lend a hand, possibly a quick tow to the docks. Sometimes we have to be human and not follow the rules of the sea.

 

[Tracy]

911 is the next best thing...

My only (thus far) call to the Coast Guard was cut short when the engine fire (which was why I NEEDED to contact the Coast Guard) melted the power and antenna wires of the marine radio. I dialed 911 on my cell phone before I had to abandon ship, and the local Police Dept's responded and co-ordinated my water rescue and the salvage of my vessel with the Coast Guard. I am forever very appreciative to the sailors who pulled me from the 6-foot seas and the Marine Police from Westport CT; Fairfield CT; and Bridgeport 911 and Harbor Patrol. I now carry a handheld marine radio as well as a fixed radio on-board.

 

[Steve Marquardt]

Broken Rudder

Memorial weekend 2001, my son and I sailed to Pentwater, MI. Sunday a.m. we decided to head south to Muskegon. We had following wind and seas.It was in the mid 40's, with gusting winds between 20 and 30 MPH. After approx. 25 miles the rudder broke at waterline. We were drifting our course at 1.5 mph, so we drifted for 4 hours to get closer to our home port.Unfortunately, I had gotten sea sick for the very first time in my life, after sailing for 35 yrs.My son(15 yrs. old)asked for a tow over the VHF radio.We were hoping a local fisherman would tow us in. Due to the the 35 mph. winds and 8ft+ seas there were no fishermen out there. The Coast Guard (CG) heard our call, and asked details of our situation and weather conditions. Of course we were cold and tired, but we were ok and still drifting to our home port. The CG would not tow us because the conditions were too bad. They would pick us up if we would abandon ship. We did not want to abondon ship and denied their offer. They then told us they would keep contact regularily. They put us in contact with commercial tow, but we were still ok. Our goal was to drift to within sight of our channel, anchor and wait out the storm. The CG knew our course because of the regular contacts.They could see we were on a course headed for the sea wall of our channel.At that time they decided to come and tow us, but it would take approx. 1 1/2 hours to get there due to the sea condions, even though it was only approx. 15 miles. They arrived as expected. They came with a 47 ft. rescue vessel. They were very professional in assessing the situation. They tried to get a man on board to rig for a tow, but because of the conditions, were unsuccessful. They threw us a sea anchor. With a boat hook type device they were able to catch my bow eye. We deployed the sea anchor as they started towing us.We were being towed at approx 300 ft.When we got into the channel they shortened us to 100 ft. After we got through the channel they rafted us and took us to the first marina gas dock. They filled out their paper work, I thanked them for the job well done and they were on their way back to Grand Haven.We do thank the CG for following up on us, even though we felt safe on our 25 ft O'Day, which had been repowered with a saildrive. We were staying warm, we had food and we were not taking on water.When the harbor master was taking me back to my car, we got to talking about the rudder breaking. The rudder was of a foam core/fiberglass design. Because of the tendancy of the boat to broach in following seas,we often times were abeam. When the rollers passed under the hull, the rudder couldn't handle the broad side pressure and snapped. We found a new rudder made from solid fiberglass, and were back on "Fixin' to Cruize" in no time at all.

 

[Steve Dion]

Wow Ted!

I am sure that there are laws concerning a boater being responsible for their wake. Did anyone see this happen? Did they do anything about the slobs that did this?How did their wake cause this accident?

 

[Jerry]

Some people need help of a different kind

"Overheard on the marine radio - a distress call from someone whose sailboat was taking on water:Coast Guard: "What is your position?"Distressed caller: "Vice president, State Street Bank"!Someone gave this to me from the Reader's Digest.

 

[Phil Herring]

Reminds me of another one

Supposedly true, probably urban legend:A novice sailor was out on some large bay or another and found himself sailing across the path of a large tanker. He immediately picked up the VHF to inform the tanker of his position. He got no answer, and in spite of his course adjustment, the tanker appeared to be veering back into his path. He made several more panic-stricken calls to the tanker. Still no answer, yet the tanker was getting closer and closer.  Our skipper tried the VHF one more time: "We are on a collision course! What is your intention, repeat, what is your intention?"Finally the tanker responded with one short, simple, humiliating message: "Our intention is to remain anchored."

 

[Bob Carlton]

Yet another one

This isn't a Coast Guard story but is similar to posts by Jerry and Phil. If true, it goes in the "anybody can have a bad day" department. My information claims that this radio conversation occured between a US Naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995 and that a transcript was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10/10/95.US: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.Canada: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.US: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.Canada: No, I say again, divert YOUR course.US: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN. THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.Canada: This is a lighthouse. Your call.

 

[Rick D]

USCG Usually Responsive and Professional

I have had many contacts with them over the years. I have called them to report dismastings for me. They set up a reporting schedules. I have reported a sinking vessel. Rendered assistance a bunch of times. Once, I reported a distress flare. I was politely reminded it was the fourth of July and I was seeing the beginning of a show from Catalina Island. Duh.The only annoyance I have is when there is a broadcast notice that gives the position only once and early in the broadcast with no relative positions. IMHO, the position should be repeated twice with some time in between to allow time to write it down, and whenever there is a notice of distress, the CG should not only broadcast the location, but also the approximate bearing and distance from some local reference point. This would permit a greater possibility of response from local mariners. Rick D.

 

[John Visser]

mixed feelings

If the Coast Guard keeps interrogating folks who call to report situations, and keeps asking more and more information, they will continue to discourage people from calling, and this will lower safety overall. I for one am tired of being subjected to the third degree when calling to report a partially submerged this-or-that.

 

[73mensailed]

A lot may change now

Now that the USCG will be under the Homeland Security they will get more funding and better equipment and more people. Good for them.

 

[mike todd]

No help from coasties

We had an accident in the winter of 97 where we ran out of gas(our fault of course, the gas guage didn't work)in a friend's 17' wahoo powerboat. We were in masonboro inlet, and the wind was howling out of the northeast at about 15 to 20. We had gone surfing at the adjacent island, otherwise we'd hadn't have been out on such a day. When the engine puttered out, we were a stonesthrow away from the wrightsville coast guard station. After trying unsuccessfully to anchor in such deep water, we called the coast guard over the vhf, recieving no response. We then shot flares, beginning to get quite frantic b/c even though this area is highly traveled and protected the chest high swells were sending us straight for the south jetty. The u.s. cutter diligence even passed right by us, doing nothing. Our boat crashed on the rocks a few minutes later. In between the swells it nearly flipped upside down, destroying the craft. We all had jumped ship. It was the scariest moment i have ever encountered on the water. The coast guard later replied that they had seen us, but thought we were in no apparent danger. Wrong! It was our mistake to not properly fill the tanks, but we needed help, no further away than about 500 yards, and we didn't get it.

 

[Glenn Greene]

Right is right and wrong is wrong.

Thanks Phil and Bob, loved the stories. It just goes to show, no matter how experienced you are, there may be times when you still may not be right.

 

[Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO]

A Lot May Change Now

A lot may change all right. The Coasties may spend ALL of their time inspecting cargo containers and forget the stranded sailor completely. Don't expect more marine safety action from the Homelan Security Agency. Expect less!

 

[Tom]

Mike Todd you said you tryed to hail the CG on the

VHF and said you got no response. I find that hard to beleive. Did you hail on Ch. 16? Did you say "mayday" ? Did anyone at all hear you, even ? I would think that if anyone heard the mayday on Ch 16, they would make sure that the CG would get the message! Maybe there was something wrong with your VHF. Has it been tested? Of course this all could have happened, especially if it all occured within a matter of minutes , it might seem like a much longer time though.Also you said the u.s. cutter diligence passed right by us, doing nothing. Did you try shooting a flare at that time !?! You mentioned shooting some flares, but shooting them without a vessel/people in sight is like yelling in forest. Chances are nobody is going to hear you. Were they handheld flares or CG/SOLAS approved rocket flairs? You should always save some flares for when a vessel is in site.

 

[Frank]

Right on th Money

Tom, you hit the nail right on the head. And ALWAYS carry more than the minimum number of flares (red or orange, any other color is not a sign of distress). That way you can fire two or three to try and get some attention and then have some in reserve to help the coast guard zero in on your position.Mike did you hail the cutter on the vhf on ch 16. Vessels that size are required to monitor and I can't imagine a coast guard skipper not wanting to help.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Changes

Homeland Security.What a joke.Domestic Tranquility, now that's more like it.

 

[73mensailed]

That's telling them Stu !!!

How come all these stories start out with "We"?We ran out of gas. We left when the weather was bad. We rather go in the water a mile off shore then try to call for help(that one cracked me up the most). Was the Coast Guard originally part of that "WE"? No! But some seem to call them names when they don't get answered or helped right away. Did they ever think of preparing without the Coasties having to be their Mama too? Sure, accidents happen. But how about personal responsibility? Double check the gas, as well as everything else. If the vessel, weather or captains ability is suspect, don't go. Don't drink and boat. Jees, no wonder some Coasties have attitudes, they meet so many fools. I consider them as fine as their Marine, Navy, Army and Air Force counterparts. Dedicated young people giving of themselves for the sevice of the country.