Author: Vincent Pica

The United States Coast Guard characterizes their Auxiliary corps as a “force multiplier,” enabling the active-duty and reserves corps to do more with the budgeted dollars allocated by the US Congress. USCG Auxiliarists donate 100% of their time to the tasks authorized by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. And no task is more important than promulgating and expanding the safety of life at sea. This column is about that.   The Ten Commandments Well,…

Last month, we wrote about various repair techniques you could try before throwing the towel and calling for help, whether that be the towing services or your brother-in-law. Mechanical issues are one thing. Electrical trouble are another. This column is about that. For 1,000 years, Safety at Sea starts at the dock So said Admiral Halsey over a half century ago. It was true then, true before and true forever. And a key to safety of life…

By Vincent Pica Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR) United States Coast Guard Auxiliary OK, so you’re done fishing and you turn to the engine and give the key a turn. Ominously, you don’t hear a thing. Or she turns over, but as soon as you give it forward propulsion she stalls. No one is going home soon. Before you call for a tow, here are some tips. Calling for Help v Self-Help Any good tower only…

I’ve written often about hurricanes, great and small. This column is about rip tides, rip currents and undertows – which are what distant storms often leave us. Lest one of us comes to grief… Undertow v Rip Tide v Rip Currents Anybody that has ever been to a beach understands undertow. It is the backwash as gravity returns a breaking wave to the sea. All but small children can stand against it – and its effect ends…

Commodore, First District, Southern Region (D1SR) United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Imagine that you are walking along the sidewalk, trying to get to the coffee shop on the corner. But the person next to you is leaning against your shoulder, keeping pace with you and pushing you away from it… There is only one way you’re going to make it to the coffee shop (short of belting the guy!). You have to lean into him to such…

Previously, we talked in the past about cell phones aboard boats and the issues thereto. And they are fantastic devices – and therein lay another issue. As the functionality of cell phones starts to rival computers (did I say “rival” – I should have said “outpaces!”), we are right at the cusp of technology overload. This can’t be good for safety of life at sea. This column is about that.   U.S. Coast Guard Advisory On October…

With Valentine’s Day in the offing, it is time for all those who stand a watch and wait for the return of those that went to sea to think about being the “safety officer” before they go! And, skipper, how about the love you have for those that go to sea with you – kids, grandkids and mates – and creating the safest environment aboard that is feasible or possible?   From the Heart to the Head…

Many have heard me say, and hopefully act in fidelity with, the words above. While all Coast Guard Auxiliarists have the absolute option to say, “No, sorry. I just can’t do ‘x’ for you,” the vast majority of us say, “Yes, yes and yes” when asked to undertake some task for active-duty. You may notice that I didn’t say “the U.S. Coast Guard” because I didn’t want to subtly imply that Coast Guard Auxiliarists aren’t part of…