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The solution arrived at after the meeting was topermit recreational vessels to keep the existingMMSI number provided that they register withBoatU.S. or Sea Tow. The re-registration isdesirable since the FCC did not collect the full suiteof vessel descriptive and contact information untilrecently. In registering with BoatU.S. or Sea Tow,the applicant would enter the existing MMSInumber to be retained. The FCC plans to remindholders of expiring Station Licenses of the optionand procedures to retain the MMSI number, andfinally Captain Rick Hartman provided an update onthe Coast Guard program to complete the coastalnetwork guard on MF-DSC so as to enabledeclaration of Sea Area A2.

Unfortunately, the progress on rehabilitatingantennas and ground planes that has been foundnecessary to enable effective operation of the newMF-DSC hardware, has been slow and acompletion date cannot be predicted at this time.

When better projections can be made, there couldbe a decision to work toward phasedimplementation dates for the Atlantic, Gulf ofMexico, and Pacific coasts so that recreationalboaters might begin to utilize their DSC VHF radiocapabilities.

The Task Force agreed to meet next inWashington DC on Thursday 19 August 2004.Rooms 3200-3204 in the Department ofTransportation Headquarters in SW Washingtonhave been reserved. Individuals or organizationsdesiring to present briefings during the Augustmeeting should contact Jack Fuechsel.

DIRECTORY OF S ERVICES AVAILABLE Jesse L. Harrup, Jr., DC-B

The new 2004 Directory of Services is nowavailable. The information in this document is aninvaluable resource for Auxiliarists, as well as forsharing with the boating public and any others whowant a brief understanding of what the Coast Guard

Auxiliary is about without also having to read the AUXMAN.

The directory is available on the Department ofBoatings national web site athttp://www.uscgaux.org/~boating/main.htm

A big Bravo Zulu is in order for the work of theB Department Resources Division staff and theDCs who helped us revise statistics for getting this2004 version out this year!!!

HURRICANE PREPARATION S TARTS WITH THERIGHT LOCATION

from BoatU.S.

With NOAA forecasting above average tropicalstorm activity this year, the July issue of theBoatU.S. damage avoidance newsletter Seaworthytook a look at the lessons learned from last fall'sdevastating Hurricane Isabel. What the newsletterfound could help boaters better prepare for thishurricane season.

The Seaworthy story reviewed the experiencesof three Chesapeake Bay area marinas in Isabel'spath - Hartge Yacht Yard, MD; Herrington HarborNorth, MD; and Jordan Point Yacht Haven, VA. Allwere well run marinas, well respected and popularwith local boaters.

Beginning three days before the storm hit, all297 boat owners at Hartge's were reminded thathurricane preparations were their responsibility.Boaters took the news seriously, coming down toprep their boats in droves decreasing windage,adding extra lines and chafe protection. Severalboats were moved to hurricane holes. Yardemployees prepared buildings and grounds thenwent home, leaving a handful of volunteer staff.

At Herrington Harbor North - one of the largestmarinas in the Chesapeake Bay with 1,300 boats,elaborate plans were made while Isabel was stillwell off the Georgia coast. Everyone was notifiedand dock walkers made notes of potentialproblems, giving some owners a second call.

Anything on the grounds that could float or fly wassecured, windows battened, and as the stormmoved ashore power at the docks was finally cutoff.

Jordan Point boaters were also contacted andheeded the call, but the message was different.Boats had to be moved to a hurricane hole or theywould be hauled and stored ashore. No one couldremain in the slip at this low-lying marina whosefixed docks were vulnerable to a southern stormtrack. Several boats had sunk when Hurricane Fran

skirted the area in 1996.By late Wednesday in the nick of time 80

boats had been neatly blocked ashore in two neatrows. After the grounds were secured, nothingcould be done except go home and wait.

Hurricane Isabel struck with its full force onThursday evening, September 18.

Early Friday morning dawned bright and sunny,with the Chesapeake Bay watershed a salad bowl

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of littered yards, downed power lines, damagedhouses, sunk boats, and thousands of downedtrees. At Hartge's whose sheltered location at theend of a narrow inlet kept it protected thecombined storm surge and rain flooded severalequipment buildings, but the boats only had minordamage, thanks to the volunteers who had stayedup the night first lengthening, then shortening linesas they rode the cresting surge. While its ultimatesuccess lies in the marina's sheltered location, thevolunteer staff effort was also commendable.However, at the exposed Herrington Harbor orJordan Point, walking the docks would have beendeadly.

A seawall at Herrington was broached by thesurge, destroying large sections of docks that wereexposed to the waves. Eight boats were sunk andmany were damaged. The worst damage came toJordan Point, where despite the many precautions,the eight-foot surge and six-foot breaking waves

destroyed the vacant docks then proceeded tosweep the low-lying storage area, lifting all 80 boatsoff their stands and pinning them against a hill. Allof the boats were damaged and about a quarterwere a total loss.

So what is there to gain from this experience?Location and preparation are key," says Bob

Adriance, BoatU.S., Marine Insurance TechnicalDirector and author of the story. "Try to select yourmarina with hurricane protection in mind. Theirexposures to predominant storm tracks, elevationand protection from headlands are key factors.Sometimes a hurricane hole is a better option," hesaid.

Adriance also acknowledges that it's impossiblefor all marinas to offer the protection such asHartge's location, "So look at your stormpreparations now. Have you reviewed yourmarina's hurricane policy, and your ownpreparations? Are you ready if a hurricane strikesyour boat in the next 72 hours?

As Isabel becomes a faint memory for some,Herrington Harbor is rebuilding 250 slips, adding a

higher sea wall and another new seawall that offerssoutherly protection. Jordan Point is replacing itsdevastated fixed docks with floating ones, addingtaller pilings to ride the next hurricane surge andadding a breakwater.

Boaters can get their own free hurricanepreparation help with the Seaworthy brochure,Hurricane Warning: A Guide to Preparing Boatsand Marinas for Hurricanes, which includes a freeHurricane Planning Worksheet that takes boaters

step-by-step through the storm preparationprocedures. For both of these free valuable toolsand for other information on hurricanes, visithttp://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-283-2883.

BOATING P ROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR N AMED Bob Sterzenbach, BC-BSP

At the Western States Boating Administrators Association conference held at Friday Harbor,Washington last May; Bonnie and Keith Hardingreceived the Boating Professional of the Yearaward from the State of Washington.

Auxiliarists Bonita (Bonnie) and Keith Hardinghave been outstanding supporters of boating safetyeducation in Washington State and havecontinuously for many years worked in close liaisonwith WA State Parks to improve communicationbetween State Parks and the Auxiliary at everylevel.

Bonnie is the Auxiliary State Liaison Officer(SLO) to WA State Parks and has held this postsince 1995 while Keith is the Coast Guard AuxiliaryDistrict 13 Education Officer (DSO-PE).

Several years ago Bonnie and Keith initiated theconcept that WA State Parks support local

Auxiliarists with their public education classes byproviding the basic supplies, materials, andequipment. WA State Parks responded bysupplying all 28 flotillas and ultimately the 15 U.S.Power Squadrons with all their material and

equipment needs as well as committing to re-supply as needed.

As former public school teachers, both Bonnieand Keith take it upon themselves to work with

Auxiliarists to help them improve their publiceducation skills. They developed the Have Class

Will Travel concept over the past three years bygoing to peoples homes to conduct boating safetyclasses when someone can get 2 to 5 people totake the class.

They have worked diligently over the past 5

years to assist the Auxiliary and WA State Parksenter into an agreement to conduct a Life JacketLoaner Program.

Both have been instrumental in getting the Auxiliary to participate in vessel exams andeducation at launch ramps the opening day offishing season.

Bonnie and Keith have attended the annualMarine Law Enforcement Conference for manyyears as a way to better understand boating safety

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issues from law enforcement officers perspectiveand to provide the Auxiliarys perspective as well asprovide training sessions at the conferences fromtime to time.

Bonnie and Keith have demonstrated interest inexpanding boating safety messages directly todiverse audiences. In 2003 with their help,

Auxiliarists worked at a boating safety exhibit booth

in a cultural events fair and they also taught aboating safety course to a Chinese group.

In 2003, both attended monthly meetings of theWashington Alliance for Mandatory BoaterEducation and 4 day long meetings of the WA StateParks Boating Safety Advisory Council, culminatingin a report to the legislature recommendingmandatory boat operator education.

Congratulations to Bonnie and Keith for earningthis award and for their hard and continuing work inworking with the CG Auxiliary and state of

Washington to promote recreational boating safety!

S TUDY COULD HELP EFFORTS TO INCREASE LIFEJ ACKET USAGE

from BoatU.S.

Two hunter and angler focus groupscommissioned by the BoatU.S. Foundation forBoating Safety and Clean Water reveal the topthree reasons sportsmen don't wear life jacketswhile boating - and why some choose to.

"The number one reason for not wearing a life jacket was lack of comfort," said Chris Edmonston,Director of Boating Safety Programs at theBoatU.S. Foundation. "Hunters and anglers believethat life jackets are too hot, too uncomfortable, andtoo bulky. What is surprising, however, is their lowawareness of the new class of lightweight,comfortable inflatable life jackets that have been onthe market for several years now. Unfortunately,many sportsmen still see life jackets as those boxyorange foam ones they wore as kids," hecontinued.

Inflatable life jackets, which weigh as little as 13ounces, come in camouflage and nautical colors,yet provide more buoyancy when inflated than atraditional foam-filled jacket. "Manufacturers seesportsmen as a viable market," said Edmonston."And they've succeeded in creating styles that don'tinterfere with shooting or casting."

The second most common reason for notwearing a jacket was that this group rarely seesprofessionals on TV wearing their life jackets. "We

believe that the media should lead by example,"said Edmonston. "Unfortunately, hunting andfishing shows don't treat life jackets the same as,for example, home improvement shows whichroutinely depict eye or ear protection."

The third most common reason for not wearing alife jacket was that sportsmen feel comfortable withtheir swimming ability, "A dangerous mistake which

has led to many deaths," said Edmonston.So why do some hunters and anglers choose to

wear a jacket? A close call on the water by a friendor family member was the number one reasongiven in the study. "Sometimes it takes a trulyfrightening event for a boater to understand theimportance of wearing a life jacket," saidEdmonston. "It's like wearing a seat belt. It isn'tgoing to help you after tragedy strikes."

The second reason to wear a life jacket was topresent a positive role model for children or

grandchildren. The third reason given was that it'ssimply a common sense precaution.

The focus groups were commissioned by theSportsman's Forum, a coalition of sportingorganizations like the North American Fishing Club,B.A.S.S., Cabelas, and the BoatU.S. Foundation.

Additionally, the Forum has released the results ofa second national telephone survey on boating andthe media. This study looked at the media's role inpresenting boating information and messages, andits impact on viewers. The full reports of bothstudies, along with practical boating tips for hunters

and anglers, are available as a free CD by e-mailing your name and mailing address toBoatingSafety@BoatUS.com

The studies and subsequent analysis wereconducted in Spring 2004 by the research andpolling organization Responsive Management. TheSportsman's Forum performs research andeducation campaigns on safe boating through aU.S. Coast Guard grant, funded by the Wallop-Breaux Trust Fund.

$$$ GRANT SEASON IS ALMOST HERE! $$$Keep an eye on the Whats New page for details, or c ontactEd Sweeney, DVC-BR at esweeney-uscguax@comcast.net

Distribution: Via direct email from BC-BRN to:NEXCOM, N-H, G-OPB-2, G-OCX-1, GOCX-2. Uponreceipt, DCOs are encouraged to copy and/orprovide the widest possible dissemination to DCPs;DCPs are further requested to provide the widestpossible dissemination to FCs. Upon receipt, FCsare asked to copy and provide copies to flotillamembers.

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