On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:40:58 -0500, Jeff wrote:

So this brings up the question, if you could quantify the risk, at
what point would you say, "please send a chopper"? Would you do it at
50% risk? 10%? 90%? Or should you wait until you're stepping into
the liferaft?

My boat?

1. After I'm in the liferaft and the big boat sinks or is clearly
about to;

2. Someone has become seriously injured.

Easy to say here in the comfort of my home...

Refusing to follow an order from the coast guard is a felony for those
who are inclined to go that way.

In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:
Refusing to follow an order from the coast guard is a felony for those
who are inclined to go that way.

I'm not sure this is correct in all situations. It might also not be
enforceable. What are they actually going to do to you? Say you're 500
miles off, there is high wind and big waves, the epirb is activated
(how about by mistake?), the CG shows up, and you say, no, it was a
mistake. Everyone is fine (of even better, you're single handing and
you're fine). Are they going to stay on station until the weather gets
better then arrest you on the high seas? What if you're not a US
citizen? Are they going to follow you to port or attempt to board you?

I know of at least one situation with a fishing boat out here where
they asked to board for an inspection. The guy had apparently been
boarded many times. He told them to screw off. Finally, they backed
down and left him alone.




--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

On 26 Jan 2006 18:40:36 -0800, lid (Jonathan Ganz)
wrote:

He told them to screw off. Finally, they backed
down and left him alone.

OK, you first.

In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:
On 26 Jan 2006 18:40:36 -0800, lid (Jonathan Ganz)
wrote:

He told them to screw off. Finally, they backed
down and left him alone.

OK, you first.

Not me buddy. I might not be too bright, but I'm not stupid. :-)




--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Jonathan Ganz wrote:
In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

Refusing to follow an order from the coast guard is a felony for those
who are inclined to go that way.


I'm not sure this is correct in all situations. It might also not be
enforceable. What are they actually going to do to you? Say you're 500
miles off, there is high wind and big waves, the epirb is activated
(how about by mistake?), the CG shows up, and you say, no, it was a
mistake. Everyone is fine (of even better, you're single handing and
you're fine). Are they going to stay on station until the weather gets
better then arrest you on the high seas? What if you're not a US
citizen? Are they going to follow you to port or attempt to board you?

I know of at least one situation with a fishing boat out here where
they asked to board for an inspection. The guy had apparently been
boarded many times. He told them to screw off. Finally, they backed
down and left him alone.




What are the Coast Guard doing 500 miles offshore?

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 05:44:34 GMT, Gary wrote:

What are the Coast Guard doing 500 miles offshore?

It was 50 miles. They have routine patrols on both coasts going down
as far as South America, primarily for drug interdiction but also for
Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

In article 6riCf.337319$2k.178832@pd7tw1no,
Gary wrote:
Jonathan Ganz wrote:
In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

Refusing to follow an order from the coast guard is a felony for those
who are inclined to go that way.


I'm not sure this is correct in all situations. It might also not be
enforceable. What are they actually going to do to you? Say you're 500
miles off, there is high wind and big waves, the epirb is activated
(how about by mistake?), the CG shows up, and you say, no, it was a
mistake. Everyone is fine (of even better, you're single handing and
you're fine). Are they going to stay on station until the weather gets
better then arrest you on the high seas? What if you're not a US
citizen? Are they going to follow you to port or attempt to board you?

I know of at least one situation with a fishing boat out here where
they asked to board for an inspection. The guy had apparently been
boarded many times. He told them to screw off. Finally, they backed
down and left him alone.




What are the Coast Guard doing 500 miles offshore?

Air/sea rescues. We were just over 200 miles off when we were
overflown by a USCG Air/Sea rescue plane. I think they were wondering
what we were doing out there, since we were just drifting for a couple
of hours. They did a couple of loops while we waved, and then they
took off in the direction of another sailboat we had seen a 1/2 day
before. I think they did the extra loops so low because a couple of
the women were skinny dipping, but you never know.


--
Capt. JG @@
www.sailnow.com

Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 19:40:58 -0500, Jeff wrote:


So this brings up the question, if you could quantify the risk, at
what point would you say, "please send a chopper"? Would you do it at
50% risk? 10%? 90%? Or should you wait until you're stepping into
the liferaft?


My boat?

1. After I'm in the liferaft and the big boat sinks or is clearly
about to;

2. Someone has become seriously injured.

Easy to say here in the comfort of my home...

Refusing to follow an order from the coast guard is a felony for those
who are inclined to go that way.

Richard Woods (the skipper of the cat we're discussing) is British and
his boat is UK Flagged - and this is international waters. What
felony law would apply?

I do agree that once you've asked for a rescue, you should be prepared
to abandon the vessel, unless conditions have really moderated when
the rescue vessel arrives.

I met Richard last summer and really feel for him losing his boat. I
hope he gets it back.

Evan Gatehouse

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:01:27 -0800, Evan Gatehouse
wrote:

Richard Woods (the skipper of the cat we're discussing) is British and
his boat is UK Flagged - and this is international waters. What
felony law would apply?

Good question, and I have no idea. For US citizens it is clear cut:
You are required to obey an order from a law enforcement officer, and
the USCG qualifies as such.

In article ,
Wayne.B wrote:

On Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:01:27 -0800, Evan Gatehouse
wrote:

Richard Woods (the skipper of the cat we're discussing) is British and
his boat is UK Flagged - and this is international waters. What
felony law would apply?

Good question, and I have no idea. For US citizens it is clear cut:
You are required to obey an order from a law enforcement officer, and
the USCG qualifies as such.


In International Waters, a UK Flagged Vessel, skippered by a UK Resident
would only have to comply with Lawfull Orders of a UK Warship, by
International Convention. However any Warship of any Flag, may ask
the UK Government for Premission to Board, thru its Ambasador to the UK,
and with a good Probubal Cause Showing, these types of requests are
routinely granted to Governments, who are contigiuous to the position
of the vessel. All of the previous, notwithstanding, the REAL Law of
the Sea is, "He who has the Biggest Guns present, decides what the Law
is at that moment in time".

I remenber back a decade or two the US and Canada were having a dispute
over Pacific Red Salmon Fishing. The Canadians decided to charge US
Flagged Fishing Vessels, transiting the Inside Passage between Washington
and Alaska a "Transit Tax", and stated that they would enforce the
collection of said "Tax" with Armed Canadian Coast Guard Vessels.
This would have been contrary to Ratified Treaties between the two
Countries. This so incensed the two Senators from Washington State
that "Scoop Jackson" stated on the Floor of the Senate, that if
the Canadian Government did actuall act in this manner, the US
would respond by convoying it's transiting Fishing Vessels and
escort them with a Destroyers from Bremerton Navy Yard, and if a
Candaian Coast Guard Vessel poiked it's bow over the horizion,
the Destroyer would sink that ship, faster than the blink of an eye.
That threat, ended any talk of "Armed Canadian Coast Guard Vessels", and
the US reimbused the collected "Tax" from fisherman, untill the
Canadians stopped collecting it and repaid the US Government for
ALL funds collected.

"He who has the Biggest Guns present, decides what the Law
is at that moment in time"

Bruce in alaska
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