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West Wight Potter Mailing List maintainer
dfarrell@ridgecrest.ca.us
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Potterers
The Coast Guard has been cutback just like the military. The tasks assigned
have increased but the manpower and equipment is suffering. The military is
hurting badly, but that's another story. The CG VHF systems are too old to
even be called obsolute. Yes, I think you should have a VHF in big waters
or coastal. However, I personally wouldn't count on the CG answering, being
able to triangulate, or coming to your rescue. It's not that they don't
care. Having spent 20 years in the Navy and a good part spent in Search and
Rescue I am certain they care, but the equipment they have may not be
sufficient and they may not have anyone to send to you. I have heard
emergencies on VHF on inland lakes, but also believe that a cellphone might
be quicker in some areas.
This site may interest some of you. http:(//www.uscg.mil/news/under.html
Concerning the sailboat lost where VHF was concerned I believe the following
site will give the facts to anyone interested. It was off Charleston, S. C.
The sailboat was the "Morning Dew" and the incident resulted in the lost of
the owner and 3 young boys. Many things apparently contributed, but lousy
VHF coverage and failure to follow-up on a Mayday were the probable casues
of the deaths as there was a log period between the Mayday and the time a
ship heard a voice calling for help.
http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/jhc991103b.htm
http://www.ntsb.gov/speeches/jhc991103b.htm
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Mar 31 2000 - 03:27:08 PST