Combined Surface/Air/Land Mobile Units Handle a SUP event
By Jack Leth
Sierra Division Operations Officer
As our summer season of special events was winding down our biggest one was coming up and was of major concern due to several factors.
- It was a SUP (stand up paddleboard) event that would run from the South end of Lake Tahoe (Camp Richardson) to the North end (Kings Beach), a total of over 17 nautical miles. And, it goes right up the middle of the lake, some distance from either shore. For folks in the San Francisco Bay area this would be equal to a race from Angel Island to the San Mateo bridge. Obviously Lake Tahoe does not have the ship and boat traffic the San Francisco Bay does but it's still a long way to do stand up paddling.
-While the lead participants are world class athletes, the back of the pack includes kids, out of shape but eager participants, and novices.
-This time of the year we can get the first of the winter type storms coming far enough South to whip up significant wind (but no precipitation). If the summer pattern is still present the afternoon "zephyr" can give us winds of 12 mph or more. This type of weather generally is more than the back of the pack can handle and some of these folks need to be rescued.
Their safety is totally the responsibility of the organizer but the CG Auxiliary puts assets out there to assist the organizer if he is overwhelmed and declares an emergency. We also assist enforcing the safety zone and/or try to ensure that there are no disruptions on the event perimeter.
When the organizer estimated 100 participants we decided to ramp up our preparations. The rationale was sort of like Hurricane Irene...plan for the worst and then enjoy if it doesn't come to pass.
For this event we decided to get some assistance from the Auxiliary Air group. We just weren't sure if they could really see a standup paddle board from their minimum altitude of 1,000 feet above the lake. So, we scheduled an orientation meeting at CG Station Lake Tahoe, to be followed by the aircraft actually trying to spot a standup paddle board we had "planted" out in the middle of the lake.
Planning meeting
(l to r) Gordon Evans AUXAIR Aircraft Commander, Jack Leth Aux Operations Officer,
BM1 Travis Fraser Stn Tahoe Executive Petty Officer and Auxiliary Liaison,
BM3 Reid Roach OD and Coxswain of the Station's ready boat the day of the event.
After the meeting the plane found the board we had planted and advised they could see it and the blue Type IV cushion we had leashed to it to simulate a PIW (person in the water) so we firmed up our plans to include the twin engine aircraft. We also took the opportunity to do some training with the aircraft so we had effective coordination during the event.
Because we had five boats (surface facilities) and one airplane we activated an ACU (Auxiliary Communications Unit) to handle all the radio traffic and keep it off the Station's primary frequency.
The day of the event was a beautiful day with no wind (great news!). Unfortunately the organizer was unable to provide the assets specified in his CG permit to insure the safety of his participants so the decision was made that the Auxiliary should step up and provide closer support than we do normally do.
The Auxiliary team was in place and ready.
Gordon Evans (Aircraft Commander) and one of his observers (Jerry Terman) prepare to get in the air from the South Lake Tahoe Airport
Bill Stolz (owner and Coxswain on Camie Marie) shown underway.
Note the 3 foot by 3 foot International Orange Banner on his Bimini top. This helps the Aux aircraft identify the surface assets working the event.
So, this is what they look like from our boats.
However, this is how they look from the air. In fact, a little work with Photoshop probably makes the picture a little better than what the observers really see from the plane.
Eventually they all made it to the finish line (red arch) at Kings Beach. Glad to hear it when the organizer reported all 105 of his participants were accounted for.
That let us all RTB (return to base) with the good feeling that comes from a job well done.
If you like what we do, just get in touch...we're always looking for new members
The 2011 Olympic Club Trans Tahoe Relay swim; a different view
By: Jack Leth, Sierra Division Operations Officer
On Saturday, July 23rd, the Olympic Club of San Francisco ran their annual Trans Tahoe swim event on Lake Tahoe. As usual the CG Auxiliary provided support to the event. This year it was four boats, a PWC, and a remote radio facility to coordinate the Auxiliary assets.
The boats patrol the perimeter of the swim and warn approaching boaters they are entering a major event with many swimmers in the water. They are asked to slow down and proceed with caution.
The boats are owned by the volunteer members of the Auxiliary and provided to augment the CG in their many missions. This is a typical one on Lake Tahoe.
Yule Tide Flotilla 11-01 North Lake Tahoe
The Auxiliary Communications Unit used to handle all the radio traffic during the event is located on an overlook on the NE part of Lake Tahoe. This commanding view and antenna height above the lake level makes for outstanding radio communications and keeps our radio traffic off the main Coast Guard channel during a busy summer weekend day.
North Lake Tahoe Mobile 4 (AUXCOM); Bill Leoppard Flotilla 11-01
For those of us who do this on the lake the view is pretty much a lot of boats at the same level we are.
HOWEVER, this past Saturday a passing tourist saw Bill's SUV and stopped to investigate. He not only was interested but had a camera with a large, powerful telephoto lens.
He graciously provided us with some of the shots he took. So, now we know what it looks from up there.
This is an even better view.
This is the final view. It shows a swimmer with the accompanying chase boat (each team has it's own boat).
For those of you interested in this sort of thing, the water temperature was about 62°F.
Our special thanks to Chuck Coxe who stopped by and then provided us with some of his pictures.
We're always looking for new members, so if this sort of boating is of interest to you, get in touch with us.
Hazard to Navigation- Just another day on the job
By: Jack Leth Sierra Division Operations Officer
As force multiplers to the Coast Guard we occasionally get tasked to do some unusual things.
For example, last Saturday, after doing a safety patrol in conjunction with a SUP race, Auxiliary facility Yule Tide was returning to it's slip when Station Tahoe received a call of a large, partially submerged log creating a hazard to navigation.
Yule Tide was dispatched to the reported location off Sunnyside Resort on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.
Arriving on scene they spotted this-
A log? Are you sure? It looks like an alligator! Or, maybe we've finally got a picture of "Tahoe Tessie"!
So much for our fantasies. It turned out to be a really big log. Yule Tide was directed to take it in to Sunnyside Resort. Once we had it safely next to their boat hoist area (they use a large fork lift) we got a good look at it-
That's a BIG log.
However, getting a line on it and towing it in through a buoy field and a tight marina was quite a challenge. Fortunately the Semper Paratus crew of Yule Tide was up to the challenge. Calling on their towing skills from all the two-boat towing practice they improvised and made it happen.
The Lake Tahoe basin snowpack this spring was way above normal so when it all begins to melt the rising waters pick up all sorts of logs and debris off the shoreline and it floats out in to the Lake. You can imagine how much damage this size log could do to a recreational boat that might hit it.
As force multipliers to the Coast Guard we are happy we contribute to keeping the Lake as safe as possible for all boaters.
If you'd like to be a part of this active organization get in touch; we'd love to talk to you about everything we do.
Semper Paratus
Photos by Pat Walter, Flotilla 11N-11-01
A busy winter day on Lake Tahoe
Author: Jack Leth-Auxiliary Liasion to CG Station Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a winter wonderland but the Sierra Division of the Auxiliary keeps busy all 12 months of the year. Last Saturday (05MAR2011) was a good example of things we do during the winter.
Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe is located just outside of Tahoe City, CA.
Every year, usually in early March, the town has a two week celebration of winter called SnowFest. Because the Coast Guard Station is looked on by the locals as "one of their own" they are always included in the SnowFest Parade (and the Auxiliary with them).
The parade is a fun local event with most of the locals in attendance. It's a real Norman Rockwell event.
The organizers have us get there and lined up in our parade positions about an hour and half before the parade actually begins.
As long as we're there with plenty of time the Auxiliary puts on a tailgate breakfast for the our participants, including active duty members of the CG Station and their families.
Good looking group!
Our chef is Auxiliarist Bill Stolz from Flotilla 11-01 (North Lake Tahoe)-
Once the omelet is ready, breakfast is served-
11-01's Flotilla Commander (Tom Henderson) seems to be lecturing the active duty but I think they are a little more interested in the breakfast!
This is BM2 Macri, the Station's Auxiliary Liasion Officer with the Station Mascot, Tahoe Tessie. Note that Tessie is properly equipped with a life jacket and whistle.
Good fellowship (one of the cornerstones of the Auxiliary). It was also a nice chance to spend some time with the active duty members of Station Tahoe.
It's finally time to get the parade underway so Chef Stolz and his wife Cameran get in line behind the CG boat and we're off.
After the parade one of the local waterfront restaurants (Gar Woods) was having it's 21st annual Polar Bear Swim, so it was off to Carnelian Bay for this event.
The water is 41°F which is quite a challenge to the swimmers, so we have done a lot of preparation to be ready for the event. If a swimmer gets in trouble they are brought to the end of the pier. You can see two of our members at that point. (Bill Stolz is in an international orange "Mustang" suit and he is standing next to Tom Henderson in ODUs; both are from 11-01, North Lake Tahoe.) The swimmers go from the beach to the two orange balls, turn around, and swim back. It's a little over 200 yards total.
Because going in amongst the swimmers with a boat is dangerous the basic rescue craft are PWCs (Personal Water Craft...jet skis).
The one in the foreground is equipped with a sled to transport the swimmer to the end of the pier. Incline Fire provided two such sleds. The one in the back is from the CG Auxiliary but does not have a sled. They will be used to spot swimmers in trouble and provide them with a stable place to hold on to until they can be transported to the end of the pier.
This event involves various agencies as well as the Coast Guard and the CG Auxiliary. Here we are talking to the Placer County Sheriffs Patrol Boat (Marine 6) confirming last minute details. Marine 6 will be on scene with a diver in case one is needed.
Here is the start of the men's race..."They're off!"
Here's what it looks like from the pier. We have safety observers on the pier and one of them (Dee Dee Kincade from 11-01 NLT) took this picture.
In the background., just beyond the turning buoys, you can see CG Auxiliary facility Following Sea (Tom Komadina, 11-03 Reno, Coxswain and Owner). To the right of his boat is one of the AUX PWCs.
This view gives you a look at where the PWCs and Marine 6 were located.
The following sequence of pictures shows an actual rescue as it occured-
Swimmer (in orange cap) is in trouble and elects to hold on to the mooring buoy.
You can also see another one holding up his arm to signal he needs help.
The CG Aux PWC moves in to assist as one of the Incline Fire PWCs picks up the other swimmer.
The Aux PWC Operator (Jim Kremsner 11-03 Reno, NV) gives the swimmer a Type IV cushion to hold on to.
The CG 25 foot Defender comes over as backup.
The Aux Operators signals he needs a pickup and one of the Incline Fire OWCs comes over to assist.
Once the swimmer is on the sled it heads for the pier.
With the swimmer safely on the pier it's time to pick up the type IV cushion and start getting ready to call it a day. In "coastie" talk, it's RTB (Return to Base).
Good planning and execution assisted seven swimmers. In the Sierra Division of the CG Auxiliary we work with other agencies at these types of events. If you'd like to join us, we're always looking for more volunteers. Just get in touch with us.
