Once, during my military service I watched a trailered boat being backed down the loading ramp behind a rather ponderous camper truck. The driver hit the gas instead of brakes. I watched the entire rig go in. The occupant ( I demoted him from being an operator) was screaming "I'm drowning." I walked into the lower chest deep water, opened the door and escorted him safely to shore. Half the local FD was allready summoned by the Harbor Master. 5 minutes later a high powered boat decided to show off for some bikini clad high school girls. They forgot the slip made a sharp turn, hit the shore and became airborn into ancient fallen logs from the Tillamook burn. After the medics removed those two we got underway to assist our sister boat in a multiple capsizing near the bay's deadly bar ( a wave phenomenon, not drinking establishment.) A fancy italian handbuilt rowing shell crossed my bow, yelling "sailboats and rowing vessels have right away." I neatly cut him in half without major injury ( again, the occupant waded to shore) after fighting with my crewman " He's right Chris!" for control of the helm to keep us from grounding off the narrow channel. I was never so relieved to clear a marina for a 20' bar and choppy seas. Yesterday an orienteering competition managed to disorient themselves in our local park. Theres a freeway on one side, ocean on the other, and either Los Angeles or the naval base as remaining options. Still, barring mountain lions taking advantage of the situation or UFO abductions I figured a few of our local SAR volunteers and the rangers could sort things out before twilight, and we did. Sometimes I'm not sure who needs more rescuing; the victims or us. That helicopter hovered so close my Silva is still pointing N as Disneyland <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
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