Why is it important that we continuously train when we go on patrol? It’s important because we never know what is going happen.

At approximately 2110 on July 28, Coxswain Bob Holden and a crew of Nick Nelson, Larry O’Brien and me, Jim Ryder, had just completed a helicopter mission with the CG Clearwater (FL) Air Station. Since the mission had been performed just west of Clearwater Pass, and with the fuel restriction policy, we planned on going to CG Station Sand Key, fuel up, and return my boat “Going Once” to our home port marina. Our mission could be complete by 2300.

While we were fueling a request came for Bob Holden to talk to the Station’s Duty Officer (OD). It turned out that someone had called the station and reported that he had fallen off a personal watercraft (PWC) and it was now adrift “somewhere.” It was “somewhere” because the caller could not clearly identify his location.

From the caller’s description of landmarks the station thought he might be near the small bridge on the Clearwater Causeway, so we “headed off.” After searching the causeway, the caller indicated that he was just north of the Memorial Bridge, so again we “headed off.” After a search north of the bridge we again talked to the caller and he now indicated he was directly east of Station Sand Key, so once again we “headed off.” The tour he led us on had taken well over an hour.

We finally spotted his light on shore and attempted to head towards it, but it quickly became far too shallow so we turned back toward the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Ever alert, Larry O’Brien spotted the drifting PWC just east of the ICW. The PWC was dark in color and almost impossible to see at night. We now had a “NUC PWC” (Not Under Command Personal Water Craft).

None of the crew had ever towed a PWC so we were not sure how to do it. We first tried a stern tow, but the bow of the PWC kept going under water and we couldn’t pull it in a straight line. We then put it in a side tow, but again we had problems with the bow sinking and keeping it close to the boat. We had it tied securely but Larry, Nick and I had to hold the boat up while Bob drove at a speed of 3 to 4 knots to Station Sand Key.

After turning the PWC over to the Coast Guard at Station Sand Key we finally started to our home port marina arriving at approximately 0200. We were three hours later than we originally expected, but satisfied that we possibly helped to avoid a major collision in the ICW.

On Thursday, July 31, I was part of Coxswain Greg Gamache’s crew for a C-130 mission that was to be performed a few miles west of Clearwater Pass. The other crew members were Auxiliarists Mel Manning, K. Clark and K. Pendergraft of Flotilla 10-1 and Bill Kelly, Flotilla 10-7.

Half way through Clearwater Pass Bill Kelly noticed a PIW (person in the water) approximately 50 yards off the north shore swimming into the channel. At the same time a 26 foot sloop with jib and mainsail set, tacked across our bow about 100 yards in front of us. We went over to warn the PIW of the danger he was putting himself into when we realized he was attempting to swim after the sailboat which was a NUC (Not Under Command).

With 15 knot winds the sailboat was underway, making way, and a “runaway.” We contacted Station Sand Key and the station’s 47 foot boat, already in the Gulf, responded and was coming inbound. A 25 foot boat was also launched.

We maneuvered our vessel to cut off the unmanned sailboat and managed to get a boathook on it, but the boat was rudderless and tacked on its own simply taking our boathook with it. We positioned ourselves again and this time secured it with a line and a second boathook.

Bill Kelly went aboard and dropped the jib and the mainsail then returned to our boat. Then the PIW, calling himself “Jay,” climbed aboard the sailboat. He was bleeding from cuts on his chest, legs, and feet. He clutched a 6 foot plank with which he intended to steer. Another PIW was seen about 50 yards from the shoreline swimming back to the north side of Clearwater Pass. Jay claimed he had jumped off the sailboat. “Turn me loose and let me continue to sail,” said Jay. We had no choice but to let him go.

With the cavalry coming, the Coast Guard’s 47 foot boat from the west, and the Coast Guard’s 25 foot boat closing in on us from the east, we released the sailboat. The 25 boat went after the sailboat as Jay was seen going over the side in chest deep water to anchor the vessel.

The Clearwater police were on shore at that site and apprehended Jay and the other PIW. We later heard that the sailboat had been reported stolen. We requested and were granted permission to proceed on our C-130 mission and upon our return we saw Sea Tow towing the sailboat away.

Most of us have spent many hours practicing towing and rescues of power boats but we never practice towing PWC’s or runaway sailboats. If you want this type of experience, come along with us on a patrol.

~IJLA