From: tflynn@encore.com (Tonya Flynn)
Subject: Re: Boarding(was Re: Coast Guard Boating Tax, NOT!)
Organization: Encore Computer Corp., Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 17:12:00 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.131139.13513@mwhhlaw.uucp> uunet!mwhhlaw!tim writes:
>In article <1gnputINNlae@charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu> cworth@OAVAX.CSUCHICO.EDU  
>(CHUCK WORTH) writes:
>> In article <7975@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM>, alany@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Alan  
>Yelvington) writes:
>> >PLEASE!  No matter what you think, the
>> >Coast Guard is our friend.
>> 
>> HORSEPUCKY!  As long as the Coasties are conducting armed, warrantless
>> boardings and searches of US ships in US waters (under the pretext of
>> drug interdiction) they're no friends of mine.
>
>I have actually been boarded a couple of times.  The boarders were 
>businesslike nd courteous.  My impression is that the Coast Guard is 
>doing this job because they have been directed to do so.  They did not
>invent the policy of "zero  tolerance."  That policy was a political one.
>
>On the other hand, I have overheard (on the marine radio) the Guard go to  
>extremes to assist boaters (not sailors :-)!) who have gotten in trouble 
>doing something amazingly stupid.

I'm afraid the Coast Guard has proved to be no friend of ours.  Living in
south Florida and frequently sailing between the U.S. and the Bahamas, we
have had the occassion to be boarded twice by the Bahamas Defense Force
and twice by the Coast Guard.  On SEVERAL occassions, while out for a
day sail, we have been stopped by the Coast Guard and interrogated as
to where we were from, what we were doing, how many were on board, who
was on board, where we were going and the Captain had to produce the
proper documentation.  

The boarding and searches by the Bahamas Defense Force was basically
a pleasant experience.  While they were indeed armed and thoroughly
searched the boat, they were professional and pleasant.  The searches
by the Coast Guard, on the other hand, were humiliating and expensive
encounters.  They accompanied us to the nearest public dock and had 
everyone but the Captain disembark.  We were all held at gunpoint while
they searched the boat.  They emptied every locker of its contents and
left the contents thrown about wherever it landed.  They went through
the women's purses and left some of the contents to be found all over the
boat.  Some of the watertight fittings had not been opened for a long time
and were reluctant to  come free.  They simply pried them open with a 
crowbar and screwdriver.  They ripped out the head liner in the main salon.
After all this, they issued a citation for not having a plaque about oil
discharge laws in the engine compartment.

If this was just one of a few isolated instances, I probably wouldn't
be as 'down' on the Coast Guard as I am.  This seems to be a frequent
manor of operation.  I was not upset by the fact that they boarded
and searched, I am alarmed at the manor in which they conduct their
business.  Yes, there have been many reports of the Coast Guardies
rescuing foolish boaters from themselves but it doesn't dismiss the
shaddy treatment of your basic American sailor.

It seems the latest 'job' and/or accomplishments of the Coast Guard,
at least in this area of the country, is to escort Haitians to and
from Guantanamo and to south Florida.  Nope.  I'm afraid I'm no friend
of the Coast Guard.  And if we "fit the profile", then almost every
group of average 30-something Americans must fit the profile.

                                           |
Tonya Flynn                               /|\      6901 W. Sunrise Blvd.
(305/797-2446)                           / | \     Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33313
"Let's just punch through that        ----------   UUCP:  uunet!gould!tflynn
sand bar"--Crew of Natty Dread          ------     INTERNET: tflynn@encore.com
Newsgroups: rec.boats