Would you believe? As heard live and uncut over the Emergency Frequency on Marine VHF! This serves as a caution to all of us to watch out for commercial fishing vessels! If they can't find their Deck Hand they might not see a little kayak!!! Last night, while paddling out of Dana Point, California I overheard the following radio traffic on Channel 16: (This is a short version from the best that I can remember.) Coast Guard Long Beach - Coast Guard Long Beach this is Commercial Fishing Vessel Carra-Lee (CL) Carra-Lee this is the United States Coast Guard Long Beach (USCG) I lost my deck hand. Captain, Can you see your deck hand from your position? No. When did you last see your deck hand? I don't know. I fell asleep and when I woke up he was gone! (In a very panic stricken voice) Captain, What is your location? I am at xxxx XX North and 117 degrees 49 minutes West Was your deck hand wearing a PFD? No, I don't think so. Captain, can your deck hand swim? Sure, but he's an alcoholic! So I don't know how long he can swim! Was he drinking? No, not much today. I mean he was alright today. I mean he hadn't drank much. Where are you coming from and headed to? >From the east side of Catalina Island to Dana Point. I've got to find him. I just have to! I'm turning around now and I'll follow the route that I came from. Maybe I can find him! I just have to find him! Captain, We have a helo and cutter in route to your location now. United States Coast Guard - Long Beach this is the Commercial Fishing Vessel Mojo United States Coast Guard - Long Beach this is the Commercial Fishing Vessel Mojo United States Coast Guard - Long Beach this is the Commercial Fishing Vessel Mojo Transmissions between USGC / CL and Mojo all at the same time and no one can understand the other. United States Coast Guard - Long Beach this is the Commercial Fishing Vessel Mojo I am the deck hand from the Carra Lee. USCG Long Beach this is Dana Point Rescue 2 did you copy the Mojo? USCG Long Beach this is Dana Point Rescue 2 did you copy the Mojo? USCG Long Beach / Dana Point Rescue 2 call me on the land line Mojo / USCG switch to Channel 22 USCG / Mojo: I am the deck hand from the CL Where are you located? I am in Dana Point. How did you get there? It's a long story. Standby please. USCG this is Dana Point Rescue 2: We have the description of the person and verified the individual on the Mojo is the deck hand from the Carra Lee. CL this is the USCG Long Beach We have located your deck hand. SILENCE Thirty Minutes Later CL this is the United States Coast Guard Los Angeles CL this is the United States Coast Guard Los Angeles CL this is the United States Coast Guard Los Angeles CL this is the United States Coast Guard Los Angeles Small weak voice finally responds USCG LA this is the Carra Lee Captain, are you alright? Silence Captain, what is your location? Captain, we just want to make sure that you are alright. Thank you, I'm a couple miles west of Dana Point. I'm alright. OVER So it seems: It had a happy ending! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
That really is funny. I'd love to hear the "long story" <g>. The Coasties must really get some good stuff... I bet they get a chuckle now and then. Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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