Coast Guard Requests Windsurfers carry Strobes/Smoke

From: Don Hejna (djhejna@enounce.com-DeleteThis.com)
Date: Mon Aug 27 2001 - 16:47:24 PDT


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Date: Mon, 27 Aug 2001 16:47:24 -0700
From: Don Hejna <djhejna@enounce.com-DeleteThis.com>
Subject: Coast Guard Requests Windsurfers carry Strobes/Smoke
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Visited the Golden Gate Coast Guard open house
this weekend and talked with some of the guys
that do the rescues at the Golden Gate (and outside
it). They said the single most important item
for Windsurfers to carry is an emergency strobe
light.

FYI: the Coasties consider a lit strobe to mean
"distress" and that you need assistance.
On the odd chance you are sailing after dark
fully powered and doing fine, use a calmulite (sp?)
or two for your "running lights" not a strobe.

Other items they suggest for sailors:
 * marine band radio (Channel 16 is the monitored channel)
 * smoke / flares
 * wet-suits and helmets that were bright colors (not black)

We talked with a coast guardsmen who went to
pick up a windsurfer who radioed in he was 1/4 mile
outside the GG bridge. When they went out
they couldn't find him until he lit a smoke flare
he had with him.

The crew at GG stations does lots of pickups
for windsurfers and they said one of the hardest
things is knowing whether or not a sailor is
in trouble. In their view the strobe is the
single easiest/cheapest way to say "I need help."
(hand-held strobe: ~$21 at www.westmarine.com
click safety on left side, then click)

The second hardest thing for them is finding a
sailor. I was surprised to learn that they
dont have night vision goggles on the boats they
use (maybe the choppers do.. or is that only the
military).

-Don



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