Sport Today

Don't bother with 911, they will only call this #. My buddy who drives for
Muni has a sister that is a city dispatcher. If the wind dies on a strong
ebb tide, its getting dark and your 200lb buddy can't make it back on his
sinker. Consider this #. You will talk directly to the dispatching Petty
Officer. The guy is kind of a jerk, but if you make it clear that he better
put down his coke and quit popping his zits and get help quick he will do
his job.

Coast Guard Rescue.
415-399-3451

does anybody carry a VHF radio? it might work better for rescue. not
only can you get the coastguard easily, but you could also
communicate with other boats.

i have seen a new VHF by Standard Horizon, the HX460S, which is
very small - only slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes -
and is completely waterproof. i.e. it is submersible. i asked
a manufacturers rep and he said that they saw no problem with
windsurfers carrying the radio without a waterproof bag. the
thing is very rugged looking - i think the case is aluminum.
it's sold for about $270.

jeff

Jeez, you guys make me feel pretty lucky with the service we got in our NM
lake. If the State Parks guys just SUSPECT we need some help, they launch
their armada and come check us out. Phone calls for help bring them at full
speed, night or day, in overhead swell or driving rain. They take their
responsibilities seriously, and I've never heard any of them complain yet.
They were called out twice for me over the years, arriving once just a I
emerged from the water after a one-mile swim (they launched 10 miles away)
and another time after I swam 2-3 miles to shore. All I perceived was their
pleasure that I was OK, and their surprise to find me alive. They said most
people are not a well dressed or prepared, and that they REAL:LY get tired
of pulling dead bodies out of the dang lake.

After the one-mile swim, I swam out to their boat from shore (too rocky and
shallow for them to risk coming ashore in onshore winds), they hauled me on
board like a caught marlin, and took me out for a 1/2-hour search for my
lost board and sail. We found neither of those, but found something even
better: the biggest swell I had ever seen in NM. THAT'S when I expanded my
risk threshold, just to access those overhead swell way down and across the
lake.

So two rescues, a gear search, a swell hunt, a heck of wild boat ride, a
12-month season, unlimited camping, and a feeling of security. All for a $20
annual permit.

I got the same kind of service from the Hood River County Sheriff and their
special Columbia River heavy-water boat after turtling my boat there years
ago.

Maybe the difference is the size of the bureaucracy.

Mike \m/

I know a few people who carry radios. I don't know much of models, but they
bought them at West Marine. You have to buy a submersible model, and then put
it in a waterproof bag that they sell if you want the best protection. I've
thought about it, but haven't done it yet. I know one friend who used his with
no problem to call for a rescue of a guy drifting under the GG bridge with a
broken mast.

do you know where this model is sold? Something that small would definitely be
worth carrying.

does anybody carry a VHF radio? it might work better for rescue. not
only can you get the coastguard easily, but you could also
communicate with other boats.

i have seen a new VHF by Standard Horizon, the HX460S, which is
very small - only slightly larger than a pack of cigarettes -
and is completely waterproof. i.e. it is submersible. i asked
a manufacturers rep and he said that they saw no problem with
windsurfers carrying the radio without a waterproof bag. the
thing is very rugged looking - i think the case is aluminum.
it's sold for about $270. >>

[...]

Maybe the difference is the size of the body of water.

Jeff

i saw the Standard Horizon model HX460S at the nyc boat show in january.
at that time, the model was awaiting fcc approval, which they thought
would take a few weeks.

the standard horizon web site is under construction, so you can't see
it. consumers marine electronics - http//www.consumersmarine.com  
was taking orders at the show for delivery after approval. i'm sure
that all the big marine electronics shops will carry it.

jeff

Could be, but I wonder which armada has to travel further ... Golden Gate
Coast Guard troops or the State Parks guys 10-20 miles away? Besides, if the
CG guys don't get off on a little adventure, why join the CG? Look at the
level of effort and risk they put out in on all those Learning Channel
rescues! If the problem is with local individual attitudes, enough
complaints and publicity could influence that. If the problem is policy or
resources, that would be tougher to change.

Mike \m/

In the march issue of Boat US there is an add for a Horizon radio that is in the
HX line but probably not the HX460S that is so small, however the one in the add
is completely waterproof, doesn't look to big and it is considerably cheaper, only
120$. It is the HX 150S

the crissy field coast guard station is actually quite close. The Golden Gate
station is located at Fort Baker, which is in the shadow of the GG bridge on
the north side of it. If you have a problem from Crissy field, depending on
where you are, it is unlikely they are more than 1-2 miles away. In fact the
way I got their phone number, which I posted earlier, was when one day I was
near Fort Baker after a nice sess. and looked out and saw a windsurfer in
trouble. I picked up my phone to call, and realized it would be quicker to
drive. I drove over, the guy got in his truck and followed me back to the water
edge so I could point out the guy in trouble, and then he took over, using a
radio to radio for the boat and direct them. At that time I asked for their
direct phone line. By the way, they were very courteous and professional and I
have never heard differently from anyone who had needed their services.

i'm not an expert, but there are different standards of "waterproofness".
at the nyc show, i spoke with a horizon employee at their display. he said
that the 460 was much more waterproof than any other model. sometimes
"waterproof" only means that it can withstand spray and an occasional
short dunking. i was told that the 460 could be continually immersed
in water, and that it would still be waterproof even in the high-speed
impacts that characterize windsurfing.

for example, my etrex gps is "waterproof" but not to the same standard
as the standard 460. i don't use it windsurfing, but i have been told
by garmin that if it were going to be continually dunked, it should be
in a waterproof bag.

if you look closely at the specs of the different radios you may see
the particular standard of watreproofing that they are built to. if
your budget constrains you to the cheaper model, you could get one
of the bags specifically made for vhfs, they are about $25. i think
that the other good thing about the 460 is that it is supposedly built
to take abuse.

jeff

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

- - Lot's of people sailing the SF bay carry them. I think the
  concensus is that you pretty much need to get a "submersible"
  radio, not just a "waterproof" one. And even then carrying
  it in a bag is a good idea.

- - If you want to check out previous discussions on this topic
  you can search the bay area wind-talk email list discussions.
  My archive of the list is available at

     http://www.stanford.edu/~bbense/wind_talk

- - Booker C. Bense

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.2

iQCVAwUBOp/EJgD83u1ILnWNAQHsIAP/Rvmo0Pk8s8d+hFlMan85kl9y2IEkpLGH
TADXdUdHwJ32sEayoxMl3AgeK+1lQVpGvHUkPhsKcTQFjAnO4W5CskepkkIj7jkV
7tOKtBf5G6MkwYRmOHLU5NjNBGVR345B+72IHSxR/Stx15N/ByoyAhQEcCSwp7pQ
Bh1K1afWmkc=
=gne7
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

- - The problem is the number of calls these guys get, I suspect.
SF bay is a kind of wilderness in the middle of a densely
populated urban environment. The local windsurfing association
[1] has an ongoing effort to help the coast guard understand
the nature of windsurfing and when a rescue is required.
They often get called when one really isn't. A mile swim
with your rig is part of the deal when sailing the bay,
most people are ready for it.

- - Booker C. Bense

[1] - www.sfba.org - If you sail the SF bay and you haven't
joined shame on you!

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.2

iQCVAwUBOp/IJgD83u1ILnWNAQGTcAQA2bcc5JPOkaGJc5UZK4c9+advpRs2Kpt9
ZwHDwrqQYsAkSBOjUV8oJrmvaqvxUfLJ3zs12Ez4hWR9wJmTlva1w0+j1pd7578f
EH4fn+p3mfg2EjM06cRTDiSpSY0NNA274aWTCEvkhHZyWw3bTw4tkmbI4OOY44gn
L+eZQvNAxYo=
=gXpO
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

My first time out at Crissy I had to swim back from the South
tower(tide was coming in--LUCKY!!!).  I was on an AHD 262(1991

below the horizon, and big a$$ boats/ships/etc going by fast!
It was ok, 5-6 seals kept me company the whole way back  ;)
Don't get me wrong it's a great place to sail!!! just have to
be careful.

ave-

: - - The problem is the number of calls these guys get, I suspect.
: SF bay is a kind of wilderness in the middle of a densely
: populated urban environment. The local windsurfing association
: [1] has an ongoing effort to help the coast guard understand
: the nature of windsurfing and when a rescue is required.
: They often get called when one really isn't. A mile swim
: with your rig is part of the deal when sailing the bay,
: most people are ready for it.

: - - Booker C. Bense

: [1] - www.sfba.org - If you sail the SF bay and you haven't
: joined shame on you!