16-year-old completes historic solo sail around the world

It took her 516 days to do it, but 16 year old Laura Dekker completed her solo voyage around the world covering some 27,000 nautical miles.

She was only 14 when she set sail on the voyage, a voyage that began with much controversy where the Dutch government waged a legal battle in an attempt to stop the teen from making the trip fearing for her safety alone at sea.

Laura is now the youngest sailor to ever solo around the globe.

Check out her story on her blog: http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/Home.html

Five Towboat Captains Honored for Heroism

TAMPA, Fla., January 17, 2012 -- With over 600 tow boats spread across North America, the law of averages dictates that, eventually, BoatUS towing captains will be thrust into the middle of life-threatening emergencies. BoatUS Towing Services recently honored five of its TowBoatUS captains for their heroic actions with its annual BoatUS "Woody Pollack Lifesaving Awards" at a ceremony that capped off the group's annual conference held in Tampa FL. The award is named after the well-respected towboat captain in the fleet who died at an early age.

"Sometimes the routine of normal day is interrupted by a life-threatening mayday call or an incident that unfolds in front of them, and our captains step in without hesitation," said BoatUS Vice President of Towing Services Jerry Cardarelli. "They are not in the rescue business, but their actions save others. We are very proud of them."

US Coast Guard Chief of Search and Rescue, Captain David McBride, who BoatUS also honored at the ceremony for his years of selfless and dedicated service to the nation's boaters, presented the awards on behalf of BoatUS. Here are the details on the incidents: 

One late, blustery summer night last year in July, Captain Kevin Freestone of TowBoatUS Big Pine Key, FL, responded to a mayday call from a 22-foot vessel with six persons aboard. After communications with the stricken boat fell ominously silent, Freestone desperately searched and found the swamped vessel, in which six passengers, standing in the semi-submersed boat, were precariously trying to balance to keep from overturning. Freestone took all aboard and safely returned them to shore and salvaged the vessel.

When a late afternoon thunderstorm rolled in sheets of rain, 30 knots of wind, lighting and thunder, Captain Lee Eckler of TowBoatUS Tarpon Springs, FL was stunned at what he saw in the distance through the tempest: three heads bobbing in the water and an overturned kayak. Eckler immediately took aboard three girls, age 12 to 16, who only had one life jacket amongst them, and then safely deposited them and the kayak ashore at their nearby home. It was likely the luckiest break in their young lives.

One Friday last April, husband and wife Captains Rodney and Mattie Suggs of TowBoatUS Clear Lake, TX, raced to the scene of a disabled sailboat that had reported several persons in the water, but who were unable to swim back to the vessel as a swift current dragged them farther away. After finding one person and safely bringing them aboard, the Suggs' were shocked to learn that six others were still missing. Searching, the captains soon found the remaining group - all of whom were severely exhausted, and one who had ingested a large amount of seawater. His friends said the young man would have soon drowned if it had not been for the Sugg's fortunate actions.

On a Saturday afternoon Captain Mike Dunn of TowBoatUS Homosassa, FL, along with the local sheriff, arrived to a chaotic scene in which a 37-foot powerboat had violently overturned, ejecting its nine passengers into the water. While all had injuries, one 18-year-old was blue, not breathing, and had an exposed open wound to the head. After loading the young man aboard with the help of a Good Samaritan nurse and the boy's mother, Dunn gunned the engines racing for shore while CPR was performed. At high speed, he then dodged dozens of boats along a narrow, constricted waterway, all the while making securite calls on the VHF radio and arranging to rendezvous with EMTs. The teen was life-flighted to the local hospital - and survived.

Boating fatalities statistics in 2011 show the importance of lifejackets

Recreational boating and paddling fatalities on waters of the northeastern U.S. have remained nearly the same for the second year in a row.

The 1st Coast Guard District recorded a preliminary total of 51 deaths during 2011. There were 50 fatalities in 2009 and 51 fatalities in 2010. Capsizing or falling overboard while not wearing a life jacket were the main factors resulting in fatalities.

Boating fatalities were divided between 29 deaths on motorized vessels and 22 deaths on non-motorized vessels.

Due to the tremendous growth in kayaking over the past decade, and the long-standing interest in canoeing, northeastern paddle-sport fatalities are typically double the national average.

Out of the 51 deaths last year, 44 of the boaters were not wearing lifejackets.

"Lifejackets save lives", said Walt Taylor, recreational boating safety specialist, 1st Coast Guard District "Take a boating education course, ensure you have all the required safety equipment to have a safe and fun boating season next year."

One memorable case in 2011 involved the death of N.Y. Police Department officer Patrick Luca who drowned while kayaking with his son off Long Island (Click here for original release.). The high-profile nature of the case captured public interest and emphasized the significance of simple decisions, like wearing a life jacket.

"It's extremely important to get these statistics out," said Lt. Joe Klinker, 1st Coast Guard District public affairs officer. "But it's even more important for all of us to realize that these aren't just numbers. They were friends, parents, spouses, sons and daughters. They were neighbors in a very close maritime community."

While the Coast Guard continues to deliver the message of safe boating, this year, said Klinker, the Coast Guard is making a special plea to the friends and families of all boaters: Hold your loved ones accountable and make sure they take the right steps to come home safe. 

RESOURCES:
For a geographic breakdown and overall numbers of incidents and fatalities in 2011, click here.

For boating safety information, click here.

As the Coast Guard records the national statistics for 2011, the 2010 information is available here

Safe-boating courses are available through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons. Course information may be found at:
U.S. Coast Guard AuxiliaryU.S. Power SquadronsU.S. Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating SafetyNational Association of State Boating Law Administrators