Joint Training in Good Company

Patrol action on Wednesday often means joint training with Station Fort Meyers Beach and other nearby flotillas.

RB-S33 preparing for stern tow.

The rendezvous on January 25 was Doctor’s Pass at 1300 hours, with our guys aboard the facility Angel, Phill Smith’s 30-foot trawler. 

The Coasties did not want to tow Angel but sent a couple of their crewmen aboard to observe and assist when Angel towed them.  Their initial skepticism melted away after our facility executed three stern tows without assistance.

John Gaston and Ned Herrmann ready heaving line as BM Alvin observes.

After the two Coast Guard crewmen were returned to the RB-S33, another boarded Angel to offer guidance and practice in carrying out search patterns.  Finally, both facilities returned to their home ports with the useful experience of working together.

That same night, our flotilla heard Ned Herrmann’s report on the joint exercise at one of the first of the scheduled monthly meetings for operations personnel this year.  Judging from the interest stirred up by his report, we will not lack for volunteers for Wednesday patrols. Photos by Michael Dobrovic

Stranded Sailors Get Lucky

Two novice boaters, Gary and Jim, bought an old Morgan 41 sailboat in the St. Petersburg area and ended up stranded at the Wiggins Pass fuel dock for several days in January.

This was their first sailing experience and in many respects their first boating excursion. Putting into various harbors each night on the trek south to Marathon, they came into Wiggins Pass to avoid the strong winds which had greeted us all. Seeking safe harbor, they had no idea that our water depths were so unfriendly to vessels other than pontoon boats and the adventurous. Their vessel, Anjalaca, draws 50-inches, a rarity in our channel for most of a normal day.

 After spending a few days repairing various components on board, they were set to launch with an escort of Angel and Pegasus on the bump tide of a Sunday. But that was not to happen as their starter motor quit. They diligently replaced the solenoid, thinking that was the problem, but to no avail. After trying other options, they got the full Good Samaritan treatment from members of Flotilla 96.

Anjalaca braves the Pass behind Pegasus

Phill Smith acted as babysitter, advisor, confessor, chauffeur and research assistant. Emily Harris contributed an old Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys.  Ned Herrmann and Michael DiPierro rebuilt their starter motor Tuesday afternoon. By Wednesday morning, January 18, they were ready to brave the channel on the bump tide at 1015 hours.

 With Dr. Phill and Mike DiPierro on Pegasus, the sailboat was rigged in a pre-emptive stern tow arrangement and motored out of the channel. Reaching the cross channel at the north-south crossing, she began to scrape ground, but with full throttle and Pegasus pulling, she breached the shoal and made it to the S-turn.

Breaking tow, Phill Smith in the foreground on Pegasus.

Carefully navigating the remainder of the channel to the Alpha marker, she met up with a sailing buddy waiting for her outside the channel and they headed south to their next stop, likely Marco Island, on their way to the Keys.

As we broke the tow, they expressed their sincere thanks to all the folks who helped them over the past few days and said how remarkably welcome they felt in a strange place.  A good reason to “Pay It Forward.”   Story and photos by Michael DiPierro