Lack of Communication Triggers USCG Search and Costs Taxpayer $

A recent story about a massive search by USCG for a sailor who took longer than expected to return.
Broken VHF and no cell range triggered the search (Ex-wife who cares).
This is a challenging situation: If your comms gear fails, there's a lot more to worry about than just your own safety.
SEA takes safety and trip planning seriously.  To learn more and prepare for your own offshore trips, attend our high quality  Navigation Planner sessions to find out more.

Read more in Seattle Times Article

... Ira (Foreman) was reported missing nearly a week after he was due to arrive on Oahu. The Guard unsuccessfully searched more than 200,000 square miles, then suspended the effort Thursday. He was surprised to hear about the massive effort to find him, said Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Leigh Cotterell. Winds apparently pushed his boat out of their search zone ...Ira had enough supplies and food, but his VHF radio wasn't working and he was out of cell phone range, Cotterell said.

The Power of Adrenaline

Please watch this video and read the article on Coldwater Bootcamp. Incredible footage of hypothermic person shutting down near shore - you could drown near shore due to your brain's shutoff of adrenaline.

When a victim sees the shore and thinks they are safe, or a victim is on the hands of a rescuer, their body stops releasing adrenaline. Unfortunately, without that adrenaline, their body shuts down. Watch as Megan experiences this when she reaches the shore and finds herself unable to move. This is an example of how the skills covered in Rescue, Recover, Re-warm can be used by responders to save lives. First Responders need to encourage the victim to keep working to assist in their own rescue, recovery, and re-warming process.

When: October - See Below
Time: 09:00 - 20:00  2 Days
Cost: Free
Category: Adventure Sails

Join your fellow SEA members for a great overnight trip negotiating the shipping channel, avoiding the south channel then steering clear of the reefs north of Half Moon Bay. This is a great trip to test your sea legs. Please make sure you sign up for our navigation planner session so you can review charts and safety procedures with our skippers. The trip will take you out past the main shipping channel, usually a left at buoy number two. It is not advised to cut corners but there have been more then a few boats lost in the "South Channel". Please read SEA's Offshore Checklistabout the nonexistent south channel. A leisurely downwind leg (ha!) takes you past Pt. San Pedro, Devil's Slide, Pt. Montara, then Colorado Reef before you duck in past Pillar Point. Not too close though, watch out for the outer breaker reefs, Maverick's and the inner reefs as well. Catch up on all the details at our next navigation planner. Enjoy the trip!

Dates: Quarterly, See Below
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Location: Skipper Assignment
Cost: Free
Category: Adventure Sails

Attention Sailors! Get ready and prepare for our upcoming Adventure Sail to Half Moon bay on Oct. 15.  Get your sea legs and practice your skills. Do you need seasickness meds? Find out now before you go farther afield.

All SEA skippers and adventure sail members should check this out and kindly report your findings to us.

When: Wednesday, Sept. 14

Time: 19:30

Location: Oakland Yacht Club

If you're in the east bay Wednesday evening, swing by Oakland Yacht Club. It's the skippers meeting for the SSS Richmond South Beach Race, and David Weiss is giving a presentation on bay traffic from the bar pilot's perspective. Everyone's welcome, whether or not you're entered in the race. Wednesday Sep. 14, 7:30 pm.
Max Crittenden

Date: Mar / Oct
Time: 9:00-15:00
Cost: Members $65 | Non-Members $95
Location: Marin
Category: Worshops

SEA brings back long-time member Bob Cassel for our CPR/First Aid workshop this October! Bob has been sailing and teaching CPR for many years, and we welcome his return!
Please sign up early as this class usually fills up.

The Red Cross certification in CPR/First Aid training is required for all our Instructors, Assistants and Counselors.

When: August
Time: 9:00 - 20:00 2 Days
Category: Adventure Sails

Drake's Bay overnighter trip information

Day Schedule For Counselor Day 6/19/11

Date: Sunday, June 19
Time: 09:30-16:00
Location: Marin Yacht Club
Cost: Free
Category: Youth Camp

Join us for our season opener and get ready for summer!

9:30AM Meet and greet/paper work/job descriptions and responsibilities/proceedures. Feedback from years past/ overview for the year.
10:00 - 11:00  SR Police and local USCG Aux discuss safety procedures and emergency responses. Past experiences.
11:00 - 12:00  Counselor and JR discussions on sail camp emergency procedures/past emergencies/ power boat and Pico assembly including final inventory of the fleet/ organize dock boxes and PFDs/new yellow PFDs for couselors and jcs only. All boats will be etched with a number so we can track each boats progress. Set up tool boxes and 1st aid kits for patrol boats/radios and radio procedures/patrol boat procedures/discuss instructor sail days and events/ brainstorm upcoming season/ Mark and Wayne discuss overall sail camp safety/fun philosophy.
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Rig and sail test boat to boat communications using proper radio protocols. Set up emergency scenarios and reactions. Discuss pros and cons of responses including mast stuck recovery, bad weather, plan b, personal safety and responsibility including gear and physical conditioning.
1:30 - 3:30 Sail and sail games
3:30 - 4:00 Derig final discussion on schedules and other teaching opportunities, time sheets, reiterate overall sail camp season goals and philosophy.