Coasties earning their pay today in S Florida

[Captain Bill]

The cold front passage in south Florida today really has the coasties jumping. I'm hold up in Barnes sound where the wind is gusting 45kt. There are 6 active maydays being worked from Sector Miami and 2 from key west. Of course we are on the edge of both radio footprints so the sectors are walking all over each other. The worst part is despite a coast guard request for radio silence on 16 if not involved in S&R numerous private and commercial vessels continue to broadcast on high power on 16 for routine traffic. The worst are the dive boats in Key Largo.

This weather has been forecast for at least a week. It absolutely amazes me that so many idiots went out in small boats. At least 3 in the 20 foot range are reported capsized at the moment. Now we just got 2 more maydays. They are earning their money today. I guess it's good that no one towed Carebear to open water.

[boatman61]

LOL.. its arrived then.. on time..

[Steadman Uhlich]

Thanks for posting the "reality check" about how rescues can be needed by many at the same time when in busy coastal waters of South Florida.

The point about the radio Ch 16 problems is a good one to share too.

[Captain Bill]

They just called a pan pan for people in a life raft off of Palm Beach. There's also a sailboat taking on water in the gulf stream off of Miami. The forecast today for the gulf stream was 13-18 ft waves with a 6 second period. I guess some people didn't believe them.

[Drift Woods]

Captain Bill, Barnes Sound is a fantastic place to hide. You get 5 or 6 tv channels from Miami. 15 if you speak Spanish.

[Sid at SailAway]

Yep, as we were headed down the ditch from the Nasa Causeway bridge to Pine Island, we heard the calls all day long. All you had to do was look at the sky and you knew there were weather issues, but they still went out. The CG was definitely busy. I do wish though when they report the lat and lon they would slow it down a bit. Took me three pan pan pan's before I could get some of them written down. Be safe out there folks...

[BillyM]

The Coast Guard has saved the life of many who ventured out when prudence dictated staying in. I love my Coasties.

[Bay Breeze]

Thanks for posting - there are a lot of both inexperienced and inconsiderate folks on the water - and you post applies to both. Good point about the Ft. Lauderdale boat not being another one of the CGs rescues.

[bmz]

It's just as windy here, but we don't have any of those problems--everything around here is frozen solid.

[tstano]

[Sailshabby]

Well said!

[Elie]

At this time of year, northers can be very dangerous. And going out in the Gulfstream, can be a very memorable experience... Not the nice kind!. And I agree completly: The professionalism of the US Coast Gard, the courage of its sailors, is really fantastic. I have the greatest respect and admiration for those professionals.

[newhaul]

So others may live

[subie]

Salute to the coastguard.
As a newbie myself on the south African coast I have to wonder. These people going out to sea without checking the weather . Have they got no fear? How did they lose their fear and respect for the sea so early in their boating life ?

[UNCIVILIZED]

Originally Posted by Captain Bill

The forecast today for the gulf stream was 13-18 ft waves with a 6 second period. I guess some people didn't believe them.

Is there a copy of this weather forecast/report available? As I'm having trouble picturing a dozen waves/minute of that size. Including the physics of such huge, short period waves. Though, yeah, the Gulf Stream can definitely throw tantrums at times.

Originally Posted by subie

Salute to the coastguard.
As a newbie myself on the south African coast I have to wonder. These people going out to sea without checking the weather . Have they got no fear? How did they lose their fear and respect for the sea so early in their boating life ?

Not to sound (too) harsh, or like an ass. But, in theory, people like that go offshore in such weather, & self-remove from the gene pool. And as such, can't reproduce. Thus allowing for Darwinism. But thanks to modern tech. such things happen less often.