Jun 15 2009
Surgeon General warns that Pacific Ocean is hazardous to your health
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The Surgeon General wasn’t sure how to proceed. Is it the Pacific that is hazardous to your health or stupidity? If it’s stupidity, well, that sounds like a judgment on someone’s judgment and what politician would want to take a stand on someone’s right to be stupid?
So here you have Zebulon Tryon and Chris Reuter after their rescue, an effort that involved a C-130, two helicopters and, presumably a couple of boats and about a billion Pan, Pan, Pan calls. The search covered 2,200 square miles, give or take a bit.
According to an account in “Latitude 38,” Tryon admitted that they “didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into” when they spent their $2,000 savings on the boat and headed out to sea. Indeed, video shot onboard during the trip shows Tryon holding a copy of Sailing for Dummies.”
It’s really hard to pump up the irony on this one, especially when Team Irony USA seems to have recruited Zebulon’s mother and encouraged her to say to the Daily Breeze that “They were just toodling along up the coast.”
Toodling up the coast. Toodling up past Point Conception. Toodling indeed.
A couple of blogs ago, we discussed the possibility of licensing boaters to ensure that those who set to sea have at least a rudimentary knowledge of boat handling, navigation and emergency procedures.
We didn’t know then that the Pacific is considered a most excellent place to toodle.
You can’t license, control or restrict that right. It’s inalienable. It’s somewhere in the Bill of Rights, I’m pretty sure.
So here’s plan B: charge them for the search and rescue. Based on news reports, it seems the captain of this vessel was negligent in a variety of ways. Costs associated with mishaps that result from negligence can be recovered in some instances. Why not in these circumstances?
We’ve been moving towards pay-as-you-go rescue for a long time. Used to be, if you ran out of gas or your engine quit, or you were drifting toward the rocks and had no anchor, the Coast Guard would man-up and tow you in. You’d thank them and that would be that. But run out of gas now and call the Coast Guard and what do you get? “For Vessel Assist/Towboat US, hit 3.” And what’s the first thing they ask? “What’s your member number?” And if you’re not a member, they’ll give you an estimate of the cash price for the tow. If you’ve been listening in on these conversations, you know a 20 mile tow is pretty pricey. It’s more at night or if a Small Craft Advisory is posted. Think of what a multi-airplane 2200 square mile search would ring up on the cash register.
As it stands, Zebulon can buy a couple of life jackets, a fire extinguisher, a 6-pack of flares, a loud whistle, a life ring, check that his nav lights work and he’s legal to head for Japan.
It’s a free country and our Navy is charged with protecting our Freedom of Navigation. But Zebbie, I think you only get one free SAR and if I’m in the area the next time you’re in trouble, I’m going to own your boat. Actually, I wouldn’t want that Craig’s List POS. You’ll just have to Toodle on. Since you don’t have a VHF radio, I won’t have to listen to your whining.
As a brethren of mine aptly pointed out “We’ve all done stupid stuff when we were young.” but this bone headed voyage really goes above and beyond “normal stupid”.
The Coast Guard should fine them but it’s obvious that Zeb & Chris could never pay it uttering the phrases “Ding, fries are ready” and “Would you like to super-size that?”
I’m sure someone told these guys something along the old cliché “what you don’t know won’t hurt you,” and they obviously bought that hook line and sinker (since they love the sea and fishing so much). However, my belief is with most things in life (especially adventures at sea) it is exactly what you don’t know that can hurt you or worse!