As boats head south from their summer homes in New England to Florida, the Caribbean or the Bahamas the radio is alive with traffic from the Coast Guard. These anonymous voices travel across the ether and often seem akin to the voice from George Orwell’s Big Brother. They magically coordinate rescues, broadcast navigation hazards and, like guardian angels, keep a watchful eye on every brave soul who takes to the high seas. But where do these voices emanate from and what happens when you are in dire straits?

Instead of hearing a voice out of the ether Commander Tim Easton called the Salty Dawg Fleet to order and then the education started. The room was full of sailors who between them had sailed around the world time and time again but they were not too wise to learn.

You can always learn from history and first up was a blow by blow account of the events in the 2013 Salty Dawg Rally where a number of boats found themselves in difficulty in the confused and turbulent waters of the Gulf Stream. With the first of the distress calls helicopters with escorting C130’s were scrambled, Coast Guard cutters and fast boats headed out to sea in support and a highly complex recue was successfully executed with no loss of life. The network of assets required was staggering, from command and control centres to refuelling vessels, in addition to all those that we commonly see and hear.

For offshore vessels the usual safety kit was ticked off, EPIRB’s, PLB’s, SART’s, AIS, SSB, VHF and other TLA’s. Carrying all this kit on board makes the Coast Guards’ job easier and it was a huge eye opener to hear what goes on behind the scenes when all hell breaks loose and the magic distress buttons are pushed.

When all hell does break loose and the Coast Guard arrives on the scene, either by air or by sea, they have to work with the vessel to get everyone to safety. Understanding the Coast Guards’ capabilities, how persons are picked up and how stricken vessels are put into tow ensured that the assembled fleet would be ready if the worst were to happen. This would make everyone’s lives easier and most importantly safer.

Skippers were shown how to best position their boats in the trough and peaks of waves for air rescue and the most effective way to attach lines if going under tow. Having this knowledge, in the event of a rescue, would save valuable time. Time is of critical importance to the helicopter pilots and cutter captains where time and fuel capacity go hand in hand.

Theory is all well and good, but it is no substitute for the real thing and the Salty Dawgs were in for a treat. The Coast Guard, as part of their exhaustive training regime, was to affect a rescue in the middle of Hampton River, in front of the newly educated crowds.

The chopper could be heard approaching with it’s tell tale rotor noise and twin jet engines. Then with residential structures towering above it, it came to a standstill in the middle of Hampton River. In the water was a body and the helicopter positioned itself perfectly to drop a rescue swimmer into the noise, wind and spray of its downwash.

The noise and spray was a revelation to all and how the swimmer works amid all that confusion is a testimony to the level of skill of the Coast Guard. The body and swimmer got themselves connected, and then with seamless communication happening between the swimmer, the mechanic and the pilot, the body was recovered. It had taken just minutes from arriving on scene to completing a successful rescue.

Gaining knowledge of exactly how the Coast Guard works and first hand testimony from swimmers, pilots, cutter captains, and coordination centre heads, was invaluable. In the long run this will lead to fewer rescues and more efficient rescues when they are do happen.

Huge thanks are due to the Coast Guard for investing in the event and the Salty Dawg Rally for organising this educational forum.

Lieutenant Commander Richard Mach closed the day by wishing us a safe trip and he’d have his fingers crossed that he wouldn’t hear from anyone in the fleet in the days and months to come.

Never too old to learn new tricks.


The Coast Guard. The boys with the toys.


That’s one way to make the seas flat.


Ready for the off.


The body is saved.


The crowds appreciate a happy ending.


We take our hats off to the Coast Guard.


The stars of the show.