Happy Ending

[T37 Phil]

Two young men were reported lost on Lake Erie Wednesday evening. They left in the morning (2:30am ??) in a 13' sailboat (looked like a Sunfish). Late on Thursday they were rescued far off shore and miles from where there shoes and clothes were found. It turns out they had planned on a 10-15 jaunt, but a 'sudden' storm took them outside the breakwall and offshore. They spent the night on the boat and were found by a power boater (fisherman?) the next day. I haven't seen the story in print, so I'm not sure why they didn't just sail or paddle themselves to shore at daybreak. At least they were found and are ok.

 

[John24107]

Reckless

These guys were reckless. They were on a Laser without a sail or spar. They paddled themselves out by hand for "a few minutes". The problem with being able to paddle back in is that the wind and waves tooke them 10 miles off shore.For those that haven't seen it, Lake Erie is an inland Sea. 200+ miles wide and 50+ miles across. Here's what their recklessnes cost you and me. COPIED FROM THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER onlineCoast Guard search and rescue costlyPosted by Plain Dealer Reporter Donna J. Miller October 05, 2007 11:10AMCategories: FYIThe search for two Richmond Heights men stranded in a wayward boat on Lake Erie cost the Coast Guard more than $390,000."A close estimate is 390,321," spokesman Matthew Schofield said today."No matter what the cost of any rescue, it is not the price that matters, but the lives saved in the end. The Coast Guard is made up of life savers first and foremost; it is what we started out as when the service was created," he said.Cleveland police and state park officials were also involved in the search for Gregory DeWerth, 24, and Nick Stokle, 23, who disappeared in a small boat Tuesday night and were found at 10:15 a.m. Thursday. They had drifted, without a sail, oars or a radio, from a beach near the Cleveland-Bratenahl border east to a point about nine miles north of Fairport Harbor in Lake CountyA private boater spotted them and radioed the Coast Guard, which had searched with a boat, helicopter and plane for 13 of the 30 hours the men were missing. They were treated at a Painesville hospital and released Thursday afternoon.The Coast Guard's legal staff is investigating and could charge the friends with several boating violations. "It is going to take some time to finish the investigation and question the individuals," Schofield said.

 

[Doug]

Bull

That $390,000 number is plain bull. The helicopter was already there, the boats were going to be doing something anyway, the men were being paid wether they did anything or not.  OK the kids were stupid, so what? All that firepower is for what? I'm not saying lets all be stupid but that is why they're there. Oh and remember they didn't even accomplish anything since a citizen found them. So who actually wasted that money?

 

[John24107]

Almost right

The nearest Coast Guard helicopter squadron to the area is in Detroit. An hour away. They also had the assistance of a Canadian C130. Any idea what it costs per hour to fuel that? I don't know either. Sure they were picked up by a citizen sailor. That doesn't mean the costs aren't real. It costs more to launch a rescue than it does to keep the boats in harbor. I know, maybe not $390k -- but it ain't cheap either. It also sometimes puts Coasties lives at risk -- clearly not in this case. I would never advocate making these geniuses pick up the tab. It is what we have a Coast Guard for. I would, however, hold them responsible for their recklessness in the same way a reckless motor vehicle operator is held accountable. Taking an oversized surfboard (a Laser) into lake Erie at 0230 is at least, stupid. At worst, fatal. Remember, these weren't kids. They were allegedly adults.No, the Coast Guard are not there for the stupid. They are there for the numerous mishaps that occur to folks that are doing everything right. The stupid just get the advantage of having them around.