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Monday, October 19, 2009
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$\"LakeErieRescue_101909\"$
Three people rescued in Lake Erie
Incident prompts water safety awareness

LUNA PIER, Mich. - Three boaters were rescued from Western Lake Erie by a Coast Guard helicopter Thursday evening, October 15, after their 41-foot boat ran aground.

The boaters were on their way to the Toledo Beach Marina when it became lodged in the 4-foot-deep water. The vessel stopped about one mile south of Luna Pier in Macomb County.

A Coast Guard helicopter lifted the three boaters safely to shore, where the Macomb County Fire Department was waiting. All three were reported to be in good condition.

This crash has prompted the Coast Guard to review some safety suggestions for people who plan to be on the water.

First, always wear life jackets while boating.

Also, carry a marine-band radio. If there is an emergency, broadcasting on channel 16 will reach the Coast Guard as well as other boaters. A cell phone is a good backup, but a marine-band radio is the best option because calls can be relayed to other boaters.

Boaters should tale a safety course and take a vessel safety check. These tests and checks can be found on the Coast Guard Web site .

Make a float plan for family and friends. This plan should include your location, departure destination, return destination and an estimate of how long the trip will take.

The US Coast Guard Sector Detroit Operations Center can be reached 24 hours a day if there is an emergency. Their number is (313)568-9560.

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Watch Your Wake
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Some boaters need to wake up
By Tom Rau, Coast Guard Senior Chief (r)

Manistee, Michigan, September 21, 2009. When my accountant, John Spratto, emailed me about being nearly dumped overboard while fishing with a friend on the Manistee River, I took note. It has been my experience that public accountants are conservative by nature: that is, until nearly being dumped over board by a boat wake.

   In his spirited email he described how a large boat had passed within yards of his 14-foot boat, trailing a huge wake. The operator waved at John and his fishing buddy, Jim, as it flew by them. “Had we not headed into its large wake we would have capsized,” said John, who went on to say: “The boater must be the same type that dumps his ash tray onto the parking lot at our local Kmart.”

    Thoughtless, yes, and a boating safety issue close to my heart: I share John\'s concerns and disdain for thoughtless boaters and their destructive wakes. I also share his disdain for those who throw trash onto public spaces, especially along Manistee’s beautiful River Walk, cigarette butts especially.

Shortly after John sent me the email, I was walking along the Manistee River Walk picking up spent cigarettes thrown by a butt or two. A small boat heading up river, caught by eye, it was pushing a large wake towards boats docked in the City Marina. I hollered out for him to slow down; the boat operator\'s response was less than pleasant.

   To that I responded: “Hey, Butt-head, you are approaching a gas dock with a boat taking on fuel.” He slowed down.

   Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a water Nazi; as with my accountant, we only wish that boaters would wake up and look around and ask where and what might their boat wake roll into. For instance, could it roll into a small fishing boat, a moored boat, a paddle craft, or many other objects vulnerable to a boater’s carefree passing? A carefree passing that could be destructive and, worse yet, deadly.

     According to Coast Guard Statistics, recreational boating wakes could have a great deal to do with a leading cause of boating fatalities. According to the Coast Guard report, the leading cause of recreational boating fatalities are falls overboard, flooding, swamping, and capsizing. Since most boating fatalities occur on nice days, I suspect boat wakes could be a leading culprit, which is just one more reason to wear a life jacket.

    The ugly fact about boat wakes is that many are untraceable because too often the aftermath of a wake occurs long after the source motors away. Or if there are several boats throwing out wakes, who is to blame should a wake result in a boating fatality? For me, the true test of smart boaters is their consideration for other boaters, and in no way is that smartness more tested than to avoid waking another boater.

Unfortunately too often smartness is non-existent in the do-as-you-please world of recreational boating. With that in mind, I offer boaters the following advice to protect themselves until, hopefully, the less enlightened boaters wake up.

     “Slow—No Wake” is defined as the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and does not create a wake.

       When operating a boat in wake-infested waters, keep people off the bow where they are more likely to be tossed into the air or slammed into the deck.

      Sound off if you see an approaching wake, especially if people are below decks. If aboard a small boat, stay low in the boat and to the center and avoid standing.

     If time allows, steer into a wake with the bow at a slight angle to the wake and keep way on at 3-5 knots, and keep the power on until the wake passes. If possible, do not take a wake broadside or off the stern, especially in a small boat, for it could swamp.

       Many no-wake river channels lead into open lake waters with wake free zones. Here boaters should be on the alert for menacing wakes and wear a life jacket.

    Others might not boat smart, but you can, my friend, by staying ever vigilant.

*******
Tom Rau, a leading authority on boating mishaps, is a retired 27-year Coast Guard veteran, boating safety columnist, and author of Boat Smart Chronicles, Lake Michigan Devours Its Wounded. His book is a 20-year journal of recreational boating mishaps with valuable lessons learned. It, along with recent rescue stories, can be viewed at: www.boatsmart.net
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Australian Boatbuilder Opens New U.S. HQ
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RIVIERA YACHTS USA RELOCATE
TO NEW HEADQUARTERS

Australia’s largest luxury boat builder, Riviera, celebrates the opening of its new headquarters in Stuart on the east coast of Florida, United States of America.

Riviera Yachts USA provides our dealer network and owners in America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East a support resource for all their sales, service, warranty and spare parts needs, further enhancing Riviera’s quality customer relations.

A team of seven highly trained and long time Riviera professionals are on-hand to help dealers or Riviera owners.

Riviera CEO John Anderson said the company prided itself on its superior customer service and continued to work with its network of 31 strong dealership locations in the Americas to ensure this level of support and commitment was maintained.

“Quality, integrity, sheer boating enjoyment and absolute peace of mind are the hallmarks of the Riviera brand and has made Riviera one of the leading boating brands in the US,” said Mr Anderson.

“We are motivated to continually innovate the design of current and new models and are proud of our spectacular new designs and Motor Yacht range.”

Riviera has reported record success with the launch if it’s stunning new 5800 and 5000 Sport Yachts, the 3600 Sport Yacht with IPS, the enclosed 51 Flybridge also with IPS, and the new Motor Yacht range including the 73, 78 and 85 foot models.

At the Sydney International Boat Show held in early August and in the three weeks since the show, a total of 13 new boats have been sold, resulting in a total of AUD $16.6 million.

In Australia, we have altered our business from a growth phase structure to a more nimble organisation better able to operate competitively in the current market.

“In the United States we have undertaken a similar restructure of our business with the opening of Riviera Yachts USA in Stuart, Florida.

“Our commitment to the United States market continues with strong resolve and we look forward to exhibiting at both Fort Lauderdale and Miami boat shows and a great many regional shows.”

Riviera will showcase it’s 41, 45 and 47 Flybridge models, 43 and 48 Offshore Express, and 4400 Sport Yacht at this year’s Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, which will be held between October 29 and November 2. Scale models and plans will also be on display for all of Riviera’s 2009 release.

Riviera is proud to celebrate its 29-year history is moving forward in leaps and bounds with innovative and unrivalled designs.

Riviera offers 20 different models from 36 to 70 feet across four model series Flybridge, Sport Yacht, Offshore Express and Motor Yachts.

For more information, please go to www.riviera.com.au

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Great Lakes Beach Cleanups
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Volunteers are urged to sign up for the September Adopt-a-Beach Event scheduled this Saturday, Sept. 19, in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, a cleanup event that attracted some 6,191 volunteers last year.

The Alliance is pleased to announce the support of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who had a sneak preview of the program during a Chicago neighborhood Adopt-a-Beach cleanup on Sept. 12.

Such volunteer efforts “are critical to improving our sustainability and environment for future generations,” Quinn told the press at the event, which was hosted by Illinois state Rep. Harry Osterman.

Quinn said he was proud “to set an example for how people across the state can pitch in and help preserve our parks, shorelines and landmarks.”

Register today at http://www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach to take part in the cleanup. Date and times may vary depending on location.

To read more about Saturday\'s cleanup, see http://www.greatlakes.org/SAAB09.
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Ghost Hunting in the 1000 Islands
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Gather round to hear a spooky tale!

In 1984 there were three famous men best known for fighting evil spirits which had taken New York City by storm. They took to the streets in a fancy white car complete with sirens and flashing lights and carried equipment designed to inhale ghostly spirits from the sky. Those men, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler, were better known as the Ghostbusters. Some twenty five years later, their concept lives on and most recently right here in the heart of the Thousand Islands.

In late June, the newest celebrities on the ghost scene rolled into Alexandria Bay in their black vans with bright yellow script spelling out TAPS (also known as The Atlantic Paranormal Society). The members of the number one ranked Syfy Channel TV series Ghost Hunters were in town to explore a well known island which had reports of ghost-like activity.

Finish this ghost story here.

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Three people rescued in Lake ErieIncident prompts water safety awareness

Three people rescued in Lake Erie
Incident prompts water safety awareness