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A Lack of Clear Communication

So you’re in charge of Search & Rescue for the Coast Guard, and somebody calls and says "My friend who is sailing a 24-ft boat from Hawaii to San Francisco sent me a message that read, ‘I lost my life raft, in danger now.’" What the heck does that mean? And what are you supposed to do in what could be a life and death situation?

Rimas Meleshyus sailing on board his 24-foot San Juan, Pier Pressure.

© 2014 Rimas Meleshyus

Last Thursday morning the Coast Guard was informed of just such a message from Rimas Meleshyus of the San Juan 24 Pier Pressure, who was 944 miles northwest of Hawaii and in gale conditions. After unsuccessful attempts to establish communications with Meleshyus via cell phone, computer and satellite device, the 14th Coast Guard District, Honolulu, decided such a text message warranted a search. They sent a HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Oahu, the Coast Guard Cutter Kukui from Honolulu, and two other vessels toward Pier Pressure’s last known position. Better safe than sorry, right?

But on Thursday afternoon, Meleshysus sent another text message saying he was all right and didn’t need assistance. Search called off.

Meleshyus had left Hilo on February 9, which means he was making very slow progress toward San Francisco. Last year he left the Pacific Northwest on a much-publicized proposed solo circumnavigation attempt with a boat that he’d bought for a few hundred dollars and that was clearly not designed or built to sail around Cape Horn. As we recall, he made it to Baja, then bailed to Hawaii.

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You didn’t want to be transiting the Santa Cruz Harbor entrance this weekend.
With the America’s Cup in an off year and the next AC World Series not having started yet, fans of stadium racing on big catamarans fortunately have another option; the Extreme Sailing Series.
"I was also in a meeting at the SAT (Mexican IRS) with their legal department, Banjercito (the military bank Temporary Import fees are paid to), Aduana (Customs),  and other agencies, with Maria Elena Carrillo, the attorney for our Mexican Marina Owner’s Association," reports Tere Grossman, president of the Mexican Marina Owner’s Association.