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Sad News from Calif Delta

by Douglas Gould on August 18, 2009

One of our own has died in a tragic accident aboard his Vessel Assist boat. Here is a news report:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_13147205?nclick_check=1

Our condolences go out to Captain Campbell’s family and the Delanos.

Be careful out there!

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Fines for hiker rescue in New Hampshire

by Douglas Gould on July 18, 2009

Maine Daily News – Portland Maine News | Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram.

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire plans to fine a Massachusetts teenager for the cost of rescuing him from Mount Washington in April.

A planned day hike turned into three nights alone in the woods for Scott Mason, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Halifax, Mass. He decided to take a shortcut after spraining his ankle, but that emergency route led him into rising water and deep snow caused by unseasonably warm weather.

New Hampshire law allows the Fish and Game Department to charge negligent hikers for the cost of rescuing them from the woods. Mason’s family confirmed that he has been fined, but had no other comment today.

When the law was tweaked last year, officials estimated that they could seek reimbursement in about 40 of the 140 rescues it typically handles each year.

I’ve commented on this subject more than once, most recently:

http://www.redrightreturning.net/will-the-coast-guard-ever-charge-for-service

So, how is this hiker’s situation in New Hampshire any different than the sailors who left in the middle of a winter Nor’easter?

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Sorry, the Bar is Closed

Today’s Federal Register contains this tidbit – perhaps not totally unexpected.
————————————–
ACTION: Notice of proposed
rulemaking.
Regulated Navigation Areas;
Bars Along the Coasts of Oregon and Washington
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish Regulated Navigation Areas (RNA) covering specific bars along the coasts of Oregon and Washington that will include procedures for restricting and/or closing [...]

February 12, 2009 Read the full article →

Weather, relatively speaking

My post on the sailors who where towed by the USCG after departing into some lousy weather received a number of comments, and I was surprised that most of the comments were to scold me for “being to harsh” in my criticism of the MOONSHINE’s crew. (No one challenged the idea that the USCG might [...]

January 12, 2009 Read the full article →

Are You Prudent?

Mariners speak of prudence all the time. What would the prudent mariner do? We criticize poor judgement when we say “he failed to do the prudent thing.” This week, David Brooks of the NYT wrote a column about politics – completely unrelated to anything maritime. But he wrote two paragraphs defining prudence that are so [...]

September 17, 2008 Read the full article →

Bad Doug!

Yeah, everyone who wrote and mentioned that I wasn’t wearing my PFD while working off the North Reef at night is absolutely correct in pointing out my very poor behaviour and bad example. I should have had one of these on, which was hanging in my wheelhouse. I urge everyone to wear one, and [...]

August 31, 2008 Read the full article →

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