NYCkayaker Captain and Paddlers Day at Pier 66

[bob1may at optonline.net]

This is just amazing.First, we have a CG representative advising the public to violate the law by displaying a distress signal when no emergency exists.As if that's not bad enough, they then say "we assume that someone displaying a distress signal is not in distress."Bob----- Original Message -----From: Warren Date: Monday, May 19, 2008 2:14 pmSubject: Re: NYCkayaker Captain and Paddlers Day at Pier 66To: bonnie13 at earthlink.netCc: nyckayaker > Even after hearing the USCG folks say it would be the best > thing, I  > knew this would not be the end of the matter.> > My interpretation of what they at the event were saying is:> > The number one easiest thing to see on the water, day or night > is a  > strobe. The human eye is naturally is attracted to a strobe. If > you  > are crossing a ferry terminal singling with a strobe makes it > more  > likely that you will be noticed.> > When questioned about the legality of it, they seemed somewhat > caught  > off guard. They stated that they would not see it as a distress  > signal, the first thing they would do is look at you through  > binoculars and see you are not in distress. They acknowledged > that it  > would be used as a signaling method not as a boat light. Of note > in  > their presentation was the requirement for paddlers in regards > to  > lighting; have an electric torch ready to signal with as needed.> > There is a recording of what was said it, is of course more  > authoritative and accurate than what is stated above.> > What I took away from this was to realize that the strobe debate > is  > not dead.> > -Warren> > On May 19, 2008, at 1:41 PM, bonnie13 at earthlink.net wrote:> > > I was not sure I wanted to say anything because - well, just > becasue.>> > But I was pretty sure that what Stevie said was right, and I > was  > > curious enough to go find the relevant rule on the USCG > Boating  > > Safety site, in the visual distress signal section. And this > isn't  > > about kayak politics, this is just about making sure we know > what  > > the actual rules say. So here it is, straight cut & paste from > http://uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_vds.htm > >  :> >> > Under Inland Navigation Rules, a high intensity white light > flashing  > > at regular intervals from 50-70 times per minute is considered > a  > > distress signal. Such devices do NOT count toward meeting the > visual  > > distress signal requirement, however.> >> > Regulations prohibit display of visual distress signals on the > water  > > under any circumstances except when assistance is required to  > > prevent immediate or potential danger to persons on board a vessel.> > **********************************************************************> The NYCKayaker mailing list is hosted by www.rockandwater.net, > and is a public service offered to the kayaking community by the > Hudson River Watertrail Association. Learn more about HRWA at > www.hrwa.org> To unsubscribe or change delivery options:> http://www.rockandwater.net/mailman/listinfo/nyckayaker>