Page 4. MAINE COASTAL NEWS August 2015


Maine Coastal News Winterport, Maine 04496-0710 U.S.A.


P.O. Box 710 (207) 223-8846 Fax (207) 223-9004 E-mail - igmatats@aol.com Web site: www.mainescoast.com Publisher's Note


Maine Coastal News is published 12 times a year and is dedicated to covering the news along the entire coast of Maine, Kittery to Eastport. We cover general marine news, commercial fi shing, yachting (power and sail), boat yard and waterfront news and maritime history. Distribution of Maine Coastal News is from Eastport to Marblehead, MA and is free on the newsstand. It also can be obtained by subscription. A year subscription, 12 issues, is $20.00. A single copy is $2.00, which covers the postage. Foreign rates for subscriptions are $40.00 per year.


The Maine Coastal News offi ce is located at 966 North Main Street, Winterport, Maine. Comments or additional information write: Maine Coastal News, P.O. Box 710, Winterport,


Maine 04496. Publisher Editor-in-Chief


Jon B. Johansen Rachel Elward


Advertising Sara MacCorkle To contact Sara directly: (207) 350-7094


mainecoastalnewsads@gmail.com


Advertising Deadlines: The deadline for the September issue is August 14. The deadline for the October issue is September 11.


Anyone who has been around the water has heard of dramatic rescues by the U. S. Coast Guard. Just a few years ago, we all heard and watched the sinking of HMS BOUNTY and the rescue of most of her crew during a hurricane out in the Atlantic. Despite all the technology and training peo- ple go through I am amazed at how many people get into serious trouble and then put other lives in jeopardy to rescue them. Yes, there are those out there on the water that do not have the smarts and should never have left the security of dry land, but then there are times things just happen that you have no control over and you need a little help. One his way to the Friendship sloop races in Rockland, Ralph Stanley got in too close to shore and grounded his lobster boat SEVEN GIRLS. The Coast Guard came to his and his wife’s assistance, but ultimately his son Richard rescued them. A letter was sent to me that questioned whether the Coast Guard is prepared to rescue someone in amongst the rocks, especially if they are seriously injured. The letter said: “Someone suggested that I contact you about some questions that I have concerning my friend Ralph Stanley’s recent grounding and the CG’s handling of it.


The article in the BDN said that the


CG’s response boat could not get to SEVEN GIRLS because of the shallow water. I fi nd this a bit odd. The CG boat draws about 3 feet and is wicked tough aluminum. If it is the one I think it is it has outboard engines which could get tilted up lessening the draft. But it has been my experience as a Mas- ter Maine Guide in doing training exercises with the CG that there is some reluctance to


pull up the engines. I know that the CG does not carry the simple setting poles that allow us in MITA boats to routinely land and take off from rocky ledges.


So we have Ralph trying to row himself and Marion out to the CG. Dinghy tips over when Marion is trying to get in. In shallow enough water so that they both can stand. CG sends in a rescue swimmer to help, but it was good that Richard got there in his boat, landed on the ledge, and took Ralph, Marion and the rescue swimmer out to the CG, as I am not sure how the rescue swimmer would have taken Ralph and Marion out to the CG. This isn’t the fi rst time in the last bunch of years that there have been problems doing a ledge/island evac. Probably the most nota- ble case was in Casco some years ago when there was I think a heart attack evac needed. Portland fi re boat dinged a prop trying to get in, CG couldn’t do it, and I think they fi nally used a small infl atable.


When I was guiding we worked out and practiced ways to get people off an island where a deep draft boat could or would not go. It has been my experience that most lobstermen have no problem grounding their bow if they have to. Don’t mean to disparage the CG. They do good work. I think they are poorly equipped for ledge and intertidal zone op- erations and there may be some command pressure not to ding the aluminum. Anyway, it might be worth a bit more probing especially if the CG can get itself set to do some of this ledge work. A couple of poles and a stern anchor could be all that was


Continued on Page 14. MCN's Calendar of Waterfront Events


On-Going Exhibits: – 1 November 2015


Making the Best of It: The Spirit


and Work Ethic of Marine People Maine Maritime Museum Bath


Info: (207) 443-1316


7 August – 28 September 2015 Staying the Course: Working


Women of Portland’s Waterfront Maine Maritime Museum Bath


Info: (207) 443-1316 8-9 Monhegan Race


14 November 2015 – 15 May 2016 Wavelength: The Story of Signals


at Sea


Maine Maritime Museum Bath


Info: (207) 443-1316 – 18 October Out of the Fire: A Tool-smith’s Art


Maine Maritime Museum Bath


Info: (207) 443-1316


JULY 25 Sequin Island Trophy Race


25-26 Camden Regatta Camden Yacht Club Camden


26 Harpswell Lobster Boat Races Harpswell Info: Albert Rose (207) 844-0346


16 Merritt Brackett Lobster Boat Races State Park Restaurant Pemaquid


Info: Don Drisko & Laurie Crane (207) 677-2432


16 MS Harborfest Lobster Boat Races Portland Yacht Services Portland


Info: Jon Johansen (207) 223-8846


28-30 ONE Championship 30 Far Out Challenge Pursuit Race


10 Maine Lobster Boat Racing Assoc. Awards Banquet & Dinner Jeff’s Catering Brewer


Info: (207) 223-8846 NOVEMBER


7 - SailMaine Regatta - Frosty Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245


14 - SailMaine Regatta - Frosty Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245 15 MS Regatta


MS Society of New England Portland Harbor


15 Long Island Lobster Boat Races Long Island


Info: Lisa Kimball (207) 332-3968


15 Maine Retired Skipper’s Race Maine Maritime Academy Castine


AUGUST 1-2 BHYC Regatta Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Boothbay Harbor


2 Tom Morris Memorial Pursuit Race 7-8 Downeast Race Weekend


8 Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races Town Dock Winter Harbor Info: Scott Young (207) 963-7272


SEPTEMBER 12 Around Islesboro Race Penobscot Bay


17-20 Newport International Boat Show Newport, RI Info: www.newportboatshow.com


26 - SailMaine Regatta – Fall Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245


29-1 NEFMC Meeting Radisson Plymouth, MA


OCTOBER


3 - SailMaine Regatta – Fall Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245


10 - SailMaine Regatta – Fall Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245


21 - SailMaine Regatta - Frosty Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245


28 - SailMaine Regatta - Frosty Series 58 Fore Street Portland


Info: (207) 772-7245


DECEMBER 1-3 NEFMC Meeting Holiday Inn by the Bay Portland


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