PAGE 4 • AUTUMN 2005 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
LIVING THE DREAM
continued from page 3
As the captain of this crowded ship, I have
to confess that to me, what would be crazy
would be to miss this magical stage in my
children’s lives. We decided to live the
dream early on while our children were
young and could still double up in tiny
bunks.
My wife Mary is the real hero. When we left
Washington, D.C., her only sailing
experience was crossing the Chesapeake
Bay … once. I told her that crossing the
Gulf Stream would be kinda like that. Did I
mention that she was seven months
pregnant? Little Noah, our fifth child, was
born en route at a hospital in Florida before
continued on page 8 Elijah and Caleb take time off to catch some rays before a landfall.
SAFETY AT SEA - EXPLORING THE EPIRB
By Wayne Spivak, USCG Auxiliary
T
hree people were rescued from the 35-foot sailing
vessel Dulcinea 85 miles southeast of Cape Fear,
Remember to register your EPIRB. Go to:
N.C. After drifting for more than two days, the trio www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/epirbfrm.pdf
activated an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon
(EPIRB) about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. A C-130 airplane
purchase an EPIRB, the Coast Guard recommends the
from Elizabeth City, N.C.,
following types:
was launched and quickly
located the demasted
Category I - 406/121.5 MHZ. This model floats-free, and
sailboat. An HH-60
is an automatically activated EPIRB. It is detectable by
Jayhawk helicopter was
satellite anywhere in the world. Recognized by GMDSS.
also launched and safely
hoisted all three people
Category II - 406/121.5 MHZ. Similar to Category I,
aboard in 55 mile-per-
except is manually activated. Some models are also
hour winds and 10-15
water activated.
foot seas.
A simple decision
The crew of the sailing
If you boat off-shore or in areas that are not transited
vessel Dulcinea was
regularly by other boaters, you should strongly consider
lucky. They were lucky
purchasing an EPIRB. If you boat in an area frequented
because they chose to
by many other boaters, think about the number of times
carry onboard their vessel a non-mandated, somewhat
you’ve helped a boater in distress, and then rethink your
expensive piece of safety equipment.
decision (especially if it’s against spending the money)
and buy an EPRIB.
They were lucky because they remembered that they had
this piece of equipment onboard their vessel, and they
Buy quality
were lucky because they triggered the EPIRB and were
rescued in short-order.
So you’ve purchased a 406 MHz EPIRB. Congratulations
- you have your new EPIRB!
What is an EPIRB?
Remember, older models are not recommended and are
An EPIRB is a device that costs anywhere from $200 to
considerably less accurate. Like most things in life, you
$1500, depending on the Class or Category, and optional
get what you pay for. So, spend a little more money, even
features of the device. Today, if a boater were to
though you may find the deal of a lifetime on eBay!
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24