By Staff
The catchy aphorism, condo commander, suggests a self-proclaimed commander of sorts in a beach-front condo with a beverage of choice in hand surveying the open waters of Lake Michigan while faithfully standing by to fulfill his duty as guardian of the Inland Sea.
With a mere phone call he can launch rescue boats, whether needed or not.
Recently a Condo Commander called the Coast Guard in Michigan City, Ind., from his waterfront roost and reported 50 aerial flares in the skies over Lake Michigan, which turned out to be red collision lights of aircraft in holding patterns off Chicago's O'Hare International airport.
In spring, a Condo Commander called Station Frankfort reporting a 40-foot-high iceberg in the Manitou Passage, which turned out to be the super structure of large motor vessel.
Whether the reporting parties were influenced by their favorite beverages of choice one can only imagine, but make no doubt about it, Lake Michigan can play on the imagination, beverage or not.
To untrained eyes on shore, the water offshore often teases the eye. Small sailboats and wind surfers may appear as doomed adversaries in the mist of wind-tossed seas. However, in my many years of responding to Condo Commander calls, many have failed to live up to the concerns of the reporting source, but there have been times…
I recall years ago a woman calling Station Manistee from her home atop a bluff over looking Lake Michigan. She had watched her 65-year-old husband repeatedly try to re-right his 14-foot Sunfish sail boat. She soon realized from her own sailing experience, he needed help.
She was right. A gusty offshore wind had him Wisconsin bound. She called, we launched and found him, clinging to the boat. Fortunately he was wearing a lifejacket. We pulled him aboard, strapped the sailboat alongside, wrapped him in blankets and pounded back to Manistee.
Two years later the radio watch stander at Manistee piped me to the mess deck. Moments later, a man greeted me with a hand shake,
I explained two factors caused us to go code red, demanding an urgent response. One, she kept an eye on her husband as she relayed her concerns over the telephone. Two, she knew from her own sailing experiences that he needed immediate help. But, of utmost importance she kept her eye on her husband.
Too often though we find reporting sources racing off to seek help for what appears to be a boater in distress only to return later to find it no where in sight.
Now what?
Imagine the Coast Guard's dilemma. Do they launch boats, aircraft and request help from fellow rescue agencies? Once again Coast Guard officials find themselves betwixt and between--did the boat sail or motor away? Did it sink? Or was it a boat at all? One thing is for certain--the caller opened Pandora's Box and could have easily closed it had they stayed put and monitored the situation.
Understandably, the reporting party may not be near a phone, but unless it's an obvious life-threatening emergency, staying put to determine the true nature of the concern is far better than running off half-cocked. Even if the emergency seems life threatening, it still might not be an immediate do-or-die situation. But even if so, it may preclude a timely response unless rescue responders are nearby. In most cases, it is best to stay put and gather useful information to pass to authorities.
Also, call the Coast Guard, not 911. Coast Guard personnel are trained to ask questions specific to the marine environment, an unfamiliar area for many 911 operators. Besides, 911 will call the Coast Guard anyway. To further complicate manners, the reporting party may fail to provide 911 a call-back number, or provide a wrong number, or lose communication due to a cell-phone dead spot. The importance of maintaining an open line with rescuers can't be overstressed. Call the Coast Guard and right off provide a call-back number just in case of a disconnect.
Several years ago, I responded to a 911 call. A male reported a capsized sail boat with people in the water just south of Muskegon Harbor. We responded code red and within minutes reached the reported position and found nothing, not even after conducting a thorough search. I called the number the reporting party provided 911. A woman answered. She confirmed her husband had made the call, but was unavailable, he was in the bathroom. I requested that he return the call, which he didn't.
After a prolonged search, command directed us to RTS (return to station).
What did the caller expect the Coast Guard to do? He calls for help then ignores them. Give them a break. Lake Michigan does not offer street signs, street intersections or other land marks that guide 911 responders. Instead it offers a vast undulating body of water brushed by a collage of colors and shifting light patterns that can find small water craft darting to-and-fro amongst the mix. Also the wind can knock down a small sail craft, and in no time the operator can re-right it and sail off.
Two years ago while responding to a reported capsized sail boat near South Haven's North Pier, I watched from a bluff through binoculars the operator re-right a small catamaran and within minutes beached it a mile or so north of the harbor. When I received the initial call, I jumped on my bike and raced to a nearby beach. Although concerned about the boater, I was far more concerned about gathering intelligence to determine whether we needed to respond at all. We didn't.
Bottom line: keep your eye on the target and stay in touch.
Note: Seven beach-goers lost their lives near St. Joseph on July 4. That brings the total to 19 beach fatalities between Michigan City and Empire since last summer. As the 2003 beach season heats up, officials urge swimmers to pay heed to warning flags and stay within designated swimming areas and keep away from piers and breakwaters.
Senior Chief Tom Rau of Coast Guard Group Grand Haven writes a weekly Boat Smart column.