by Wayne Spivak; National Press Corps United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Source: americanboating.org
“BOSTON (AP) – A disabled fishing vessel that drifted overnight in waters 80 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard during the first major snowstorm to hit New England this season, was being towed to shore Saturday.”
“WARRENTON, OR – An amazing story of survival, after a 67-year old man gets stuck on a sand bar in the middle of the Columbia River and ends up spending the night there.” – KATU 2 News
“LONG BEACH, Wash. – The Coast Guard airlifted Tyler McLaughlin, 21, of Tillamook, Ore. from the fishing vessel Grenada yesterday evening.” – US Coast Guard
Three events, seemingly un-related: fishing vessel south of Martha’s Vineyard; man on the Columbia River near Warrenton, Oregon; and another man off Long Beach Washington. Three events that happened in the first week of December 2003.
No, this is not the beginning for a new episode of the Twilight Zone. It’s real life news, events that have happened, and unfortunately will probably happen again.
In New England, the vessel Miss Judith, out of Freeport, NY lost her engines. She was adrift in 60-knot winds and 18-foot seas. What did the Miss Judith do? They called the Coast Guard.
In Warrenton, Oregon, Jerry Hanes was moving his boat from Chinook, located in Washington State to Warrenton. As is common in that area of the country, fog rolled in, but what was uncommon was the density of the fog. Mr. Hanes struck a sand bar and grounded. What did Mr. Hanes do? He called the Coast Guard.
Seven miles off the coast of Long Beach, Washington, Tyler McLaughlin was working the fishing vessel Grenada. While handling deck lines, he suffered a compound wrist facture. What did the Captain of the Grenada do? They called the Coast Guard.