Tom- I hope they enjoyed the story. I was wondering
where they were based? They were on us within 15-20
minutes from the time our progress slowed. Is there a
helo base on Great Inagua or nearby? Thanks for all
you guys do, from real rescues to just "holding the
flashlight" for us!
Jim

--- Tom Beard <tom16@wavecable.com> wrote:

> Jim,
>
> I could not resist the temptation. I passed your
> story on to the Ancient
> Order of Pterodactyls, a group of Coast Guard
> Aviators and supporters,
> http://www.aoptero.org. As the evacuations following
> Katrina unexpectedly
> exposed the world to the innovative abilities of
> Coast Guard crews, few know
> or follow the day-to-day challenges facing these
> young men and women. Your's
> is yet another example. Thanks.
>
> Tom (a former CG helo pilot)
> MOONSHADOW
>
>
>
> Here's a fond sewing memory...We were sailing from
> the
> Dominican Republic back to the states through the
> Old
> Bahama Channel. It was just after dusk, and we had
> the wind coming behind us. The old genoa finally
> gave
> up the ghost, and we suddenly had a 15 ft long tear
> in
> it. Being the overly prepared sailors we were, we
> broke out the sewing machine, extension cord,
> sailcloth...Of course our progress slowed from 4
> knots
> to 1 knot without the genoa. As darkness settled
> in,
> I could barely see with the decklight. Just as we
> were ready to bring out more flashlights, a USCG
> helicopter suddenly appeared over us and lit us up
> with their spotlight. They thought we had stopped
> our
> progress along the coast of Cuba to pick up
> refugees,
> especially given the timing after dark. Judy
> answered
> their questions over the vhf, and kept them on the
> air
> long enough to let me start and finish the sewing
> using their spotlight. If only I had a picture...
> Jim
>
>
>
>
>
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Received on Thu May 11 11:40:25 2006