Ellen MacArthur wrote:
"Ellen MacArthur" wrote
"Ellen MacArthur" wrote
"Joe" wrote
U.S. Coast Guard | November 29, 2006
Jacksonville, FL. - The Coast Guard has removed a man found on a barge
this morning whose sailing vessel collided with a tug and barge today
at about 5a.m.

Russell Joseph Bolton, 51, of Green Cove Springs, Fla., was sailing off
the coast of St. Augustine, Fla., when his 33-foot sailing vessel
collided with a 115-foot barge being towed by the 70-foot Ybor City.
Bolton was able to jump on to the barge before being thrown in the
water.

The crew of the American-flagged Ybor City was unaware that the sailing
vessel collided with their barge and spotted Bolton this morning at
about 10 a.m. The crew of Ybor City thought that Bolton may have been a
stowaway and called Coast Guard rescue coordinators at Sector
Jacksonville.

The rescue coordinators sent a boarding team to from Coast Guard
Station Mayport, Fla., along with a Customs and Border Protection
officer to board the barge. The Coast Guard boarding team handcuffed
Bolton until they could determine he was not a threat to their safety.


*******s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should've arrested the captain of the tow boat. He violated the
Colregs. He should've kept clear of the sailboat.
Did you notice how it was reported. Biased like snot in favor of the
motor boat. It said the sailboat collided with the barge. Duh! It was the other
way around 10 to 1!!!! I bet the tow/barge wasn't showing RAM lights/shapes.
That's why you gotta know your rights. People and the reporters will
make you look guilty even when your innocent.

And another thing.....
Was unaware. Duh! What ever happened to keeping a proper lookout? That's strike two!
Probably sleeping. Not the sailboat captain. I mean the tow boat captain and crew.

I'm getting more horrified all the time. Five hours it took them to see somebody
on their barge. So much for keeping a proper lookout. It proves they're negligent.


I bet the tow company will buy the fellow a new boat and give him
10-50K to shut him up.

Joe
Cheers,
Ellen