Another EPIRB punched

[camaraderie]

I am posting this in politics to save the mods the trouble of moving it when it devolves into a discussion of the role of government in our lives, licensing and other political hot potatoes!

Coast Guard rescues 2 near Cape Fear, N.C.
January 25th, 2009
Frying Pan Shoals, N.C. - The Coast Guard rescued two people Sunday aboard a disabled sailboat 37 miles southeast of Cape Fear, N.C.
The Coast Guard received a mayday call at 6:01 a.m. from a crew member aboard the Audrey and received an electronic positioning indication radio beacon signal.
Coast Guard rescue helicopter crews from Air Station Elizabeth City and Air Facility Charleston, S.C., arrived on scene and established communication with the crew of the Audrey, who reported they had lost power and had torn sails.
A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach arrived on scene and towed the Audrey and crew up the Cape Fear River and transferred the tow to a boat crew from Coast Guard Station Oak Island, who is towing them to a local marina.
The Coast Guard urges boaters to be equipped with a 406 MHz EPIRB whenever they are on the water. The EPIRB provides information such as location, owner of the vessel and contact information which can assist rescuers if the vessel is in distress.
The triangulated position of the mayday call provided a search area that was approximately 40 miles different than the actual position, according to Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Hynson, a watchstander at the Fifth Coast Guard District command center.
“If it weren’t for the EPIRB, we would have been looking in a totally different area for them,” said Hynson.
Also, boaters should try to provide as much information about their boat, situation, and position as they can while making a mayday call, in order to reduce search areas and response times.

[erps]

What if a sailing discussion breaks out?

[camaraderie]

I don't know...I'm soooooo confused!!

[knothead]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

I am posting this in politics to save the mods the trouble of moving it when it devolves into a discussion of the role of government in our lives, licensing and other political hot potatoes!

You are such a pessimistic Old Fart.

[denby]

Now you did it cam, all we're going to get is sailing related post.

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by denby

Now you did it cam, all we're going to get is sailing related post.

Can't talk about sailing, the boat was disabled. Towing is another thing.

[xort]

Round here, the CG has allowed boats to drift onto the beach because they refuse to tow. They remove all onboard and walk away unless the boat is going to hit rocks and break apart causing polution. This boat was 37 miles from NC, easily within reach of a private tow boat and in no danger of causing polution.

Why did the CG take business away from a private firm?

[erps]

Good point. There must have been a hot looking babe on board?

[camaraderie]

So...the weather was not a factor, no water was coming into the boat, the engine wasn't working and ALL?? sails were torn? And the reason for calling Mayday and hitting the EPIRB was??
Meanwhile a helicopter is called out + coast guard vessels + plus a tow is given and not even handed off to BOATUS or SeaTow...depriving our economy of a STIMULUS.
People who want nannies and the nanny state go hand in hand.

[ckgreenman]

Ok I have a question that hopefully someone can clear up:

"The EPIRB provides information such as location, owner of the vessel and contact information which can assist rescuers if the vessel is in distress.
The triangulated position of the mayday call provided a search area that was approximately 40 miles different than the actual position"

Am I reading this right? The EPIRB transmitted the location but the location was wrong and they had to triangulate based on the signal source? WTF?????