LETTERS
STEVE MORRELL,
EDITOR
“Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” A.J. Liebling
In its continuing endeavor to share its press, SOUTHWINDS invites readers to write in with experiences & opinions. Email your letters to editor@southwindsmagazine.com
TOWING BOATS IN A STORM During the last storm in Boca Ciega Bay, we were out of town and were informed our boat was adrift. We called TowboatUS, and they said conditions were too dangerous (the second time they refused to help). Fortunately, our boat was okay. But there was a female liveaboard on the water who could not get to shore and was terrified. TowboatUS refused her call for help. She called Eckerd Sea and Rescue, and in spite of the conditions, they came out and towed her boat into the marina. Both she and I are considering dropping TowboatUS, and when we need assistance call Eckerd, whom I would rather give a cash donation rather than dues to TowboatUS who won’t come when really needed. Name withheld Name, Times have changed since the Coast Guard quit, decades ago, towing boats no matter what the situation—and with no cost to the boater. That prompted the beginning of towing companies. Private towing companies, though, are not boat rescue companies, and in this case, I can’t question their actions. They tow boats, and they are not really in the rescue business. That’s why Eckerd—which has a great reputation—is called Search and Rescue (not Sea and Rescue, by the way). They are heavily trained in specifically that—search and rescue. I think it was wise of this woman to call Eckerd, but if she felt her life—or anyone feels their life or someone else’s life—is in danger on the water, they should call the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is trained in search and rescue and would do almost anything to try to save lives. It is the duty of the captain of a boat to decide whether he or she has the ability to tow a boat under any conditions. Maybe this was that towboat captain’s decision, but they are not in the lifethreatening rescue business and are not trained for it (that’s the Coast Guard’s expertise). I wasn’t there and have no idea what the conditions were like. They could have been life-threatening. I don’t know. I would only hope that if they were called by this woman who was in fear of her life, they would at least have stayed in radio contact with her and called the Coast Guard until she was helped, and maybe even have helped her get hold of Eckerd, if that was the case. That is their duty as human beings, nevertheless the duty of a good towing company. I’ve known a couple of tow captains, and I can’t believe how they have risked their lives and boats to help someone. My respect goes out to them, but they are not the norm, and I don’t expect them to be. A few months ago, a towboat operator, who had 10 years’ experience towing on the water, was lost at sea on the East Coast (it made the national news). I remember seeing his wife’s plea on TV to look for him, which the Coast Guard was doing as she spoke. But they had no success. Her pleas were as moving as anything I have ever heard, and it saddened me to see her in such a sad state. He risked his life and lost, and his wife and children lost him. It was up to him to risk his life, as it is up to each captain. 10
September 2013
SOUTHWINDS
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