Helping to build a stronger maritime safety net

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 15 Sep 2015 A couple of weeks ago a big storm rolled through Seattle, threatening to blow dogs off chains. Rains lashed and big seas were running on nearby Puget Sound, and the wise mariner was safety ashore, a mug of coffee or tea in their hand. Still, not all sailors heeded prudence, as my wife saw firsthand when she was out walking our dog at a nearby park with sweeping views of Puget Sound. A small sailboat was out in the melee trying to practice their heavy-air technique, but their tiny vessel was no match for the conditions and they were rolled through 360 degrees.

From my wife’s perch, it was difficult to tell if the sailors were still onboard, but it was obvious that their vessel had sustained rig damage.

My wife immediately called the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to report the incident. The Coast Guard dispatcher with whom my wife spoke asked her for as many details of the incident as possible and advised that the wind conditions were at the upper limit of their helicopter’s operating range. Moreover, USCG policy states that anytime a mission is launched, the rescuers must conduct a prolonged search.

While the dispatcher made it absolutely clear that the USCG would dispatch aircraft and other assets to the area (this was never a question), they simply wanted to gather all germane information, so as to be able to minimize the search and rescue work, both for the people in the water and for the rescuers.

Fortunately, someone else had also called-in the incident, and a USCG rescue vessel was headed towards the stricken sailboat midway through my wife’s phone call. While we’re not sure of the outcome of this specific rescue, the fact that the USCG responded so promptly to this emergency is one of a million reasons why sailors of all flags have long trusted the USCG to save their bacon when things get rough.

Still, this incident begs an important question: Who does the USCG turn to when missions go awry, or when the unthinkable occurs?

In the United Stares, we are extremely fortunate to have the Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization that was formed in 1969 to help supplement the USCG’s budget for “academic, athletic and morale programs at the Coast Guard Academy”. In 1986, this job description expanded to create a safety net for the families of Coast Guardsmen who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This includes help with college scholarships and other critical aid that can make world of difference to grieving survivors.

In a timely twist, my wife and I were invited to join the Coast Guard Foundation for a lovely benefit dinner a week later in Seattle. Here, we had the opportunity to meet active and retired Coast Guardsmen and hear harrowing stories of cold-water rescues. Moreover, we had a chance to look into the eyes of the people who are on the other side of an EPIRB call and to better understand the hard-boiled realities that Coast Guardsmen must face when recreational or commercial boaters require USCG help.

While the USCG is one of the world’s most respected search and rescue authorities, it is one of many great and selfless organizations that are dedicated to saving the lives of mariners, even if it means putting their own life in jeopardy. Sailing literature is full of the brave accounts of these courageous rescue teams that pluck unlucky sailors from the drink-usually in the worst weather possible-but this same literature is typically silent on what the sailing and cruising communities can do to show their appreciation for their rescuing authorities, and, moreover, what sailors can do to help ensure a future for families of fallen servicemen (and servicewomen).

For sailors living in the United States, one path is clear: support the Coast Guard Foundation. For sailors living in other countries or continents, spend a few minutes Googling to see if there’s an organization with similar goals and objectives as the Coast Guard Foundation. And if not, see if it’s possible to donate directly to your local rescuing authority.

After all, any help that you give these organizations not only helps its individual members and their families, but it also helps to strengthen the overall safety net that protects all mariners.

May the four winds blow you safely home,