Flotilla News: The End (of the year) is Near

Our October meeting was was a very informative one. Que Pho was kind enough to run the meeting and had member training about our flotilla website and focused on some of the resources available there.

Another topic of discussion is the upcoming elections. If you have the desire to serve a term as an elected officer please attend the upcoming meeting and let us know. We will be happy to help you explore the possibilities.

Sunrise Over the Los Angeles Port Complex

Flotilla News

It’s dues time. The notices went out a while back and due upon receipt. If you have not had a chance to drop yours in the mail please do so soon. Or better yet, join us for our next meeting and bring it with you.

Giants in LA Harbor

Patrolling in LA/Long Beach Harbors is often patrolling amongst giants. There is so much going on in port complex with container ships, tankers, tall ships, tug boats, and barges on the move. Also in the mix are pleasure boats, sailboat races, kayakers and windsurfers all sharing the water. It would be hard to find anyplace the can offer a better patrolling experience.

Tall Ships Passing in Front of Angles Gate

Within that mix the Sea Hawk has been working hard again this year. In Los Angeles port complex alone she has done 13 tows year to date. They did 14 in the harbor in 2013. BZ to the Sea Hawk and her crew.

Sea Launch in Long Beach Harbor

There are  hidden gems in the harbor complex too. Have you heard of Sea Launch? It’s a launch pad located in Long Beach Harbor. When needed it’s companion vessels tow it out to sea and launch missiles. You can see their website here.

Upcoming Events

TCT Training: If you will be REYR this year due to not having TCT. The last session this year will be held soon. If you need information about the class or to register contact your FSO-MT.

Links of Interest

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Lake Lanier Georgia spotted a very strange vessel.

In Halloween news the Coast Guard is wondering if the Cutter Taney has a haunted hull.

So what can possible happen while on a boat? Well, this website logs maritime accidents all over the world. They even listed the recent sinking of the fuel barge that fuels the Catalina Express in Long Beach harbor.

Our Next Flotilla Meeting

Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday November 11. Please join us. It will be located at Valley Presbyterian Hospital located at 15107 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys Ca 91405  in the Health Education Center Classroom #1. You may use the Guest Parking area in the parking structure on Noble Street

Please feel free to leave comments below. We are always interested in your feedback.

Flotilla News for August

The August Meeting Was A Busy (and Lively) One!

We had a very informative meeting to start the month. Our members are very involved and brought a lot of information, fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the meeting. Additionally, we were visited by the Division Diversity Officer (SO-DV) Carol Davis who assisted us with our diversity training and gave us feedback with regard to our approach.

Flotilla News

We had a number of awards given out at this meeting. A tribute to how active our flotilla is. They are as follows:

Robert Uy - USCG Academy Citation and an E  Award

Que Pho - ATON Citation

Jeremy Broyles - E Award

Eric Williams - E Award

Ivan Mendoza - Vessel Examiner

Richard Torres - Certificate of Completion TCT Training

Angela Wayne - Certificate of Membership

Deanna Kulacz - 5 year Membership Service Award

William Costello - 10 Year Membership Service Award

William Caban - 10 Year membership Service Award

At the meeting we were informed that all USCGAux members have new mandated training. You can find the page to take the training here. Remember you will be asked to establish a new password the first time you go this page. If you have any problems contact your flotilla FSO-MT.

If you missed it Long Beach Harbor had a tall ship festival. Yes, your flotilla had a presence there on patrol during the event. They also got to see the largest rubber duck in the world which was in attendance.

In other news our flotilla commander got to get away for a little vacation to Hawaii. He stopped by the USCG Station Kauai for a visit. Hopefully he’ll share his experience at our next meeting.

Upcoming Events

District Elections will be held on September 13 at the Hilton in Costa Mesa.

Links of Interest

Should boating safety become the law in California? Some believe so.

Misuse of flares is costing taxpayers millions of dollars.

Emergency beacon, preparedness save mariner off Diamond Head. A lesson for everyone.

The Coast Guard mission is not to only save human life but wildlife as well. Here is 800 lbs of wildlife.

If you were Bill Gates what kind of boat would you rent? You can see it here.

Our Next Flotilla Meeting

Our next meeting is scheduled for September 8th. Please join us. It will be located at Valley Presbyterian Hospital located at 15107 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys Ca 91405  in the Health Education Center Classroom #15. You may use the Guest Parking area in the parking structure on Noble Street

Please feel free to leave comments for below. We are always interested in your feedback.

Flotilla News: Elevating Communication

The last couple of months we have been looking at ways to improve our flotilla's communication. As many of you know things are posted on the flotilla's Facebook page but all members are not on Facebook. Also, those that are will not necessarily see posts in a timely manner on the "timeline". Up till now we've used this blog page for limited original content.

Starting this month we will use it as a clearinghouse of information and forward each entry to the entire flotilla email list as well as post the link on our social media pages. This format may also be used for any staff officers to distribute information to our members. We are also open to considering content that has to do with the Coast Guard, it's components and other other information about boating safety. Please feel free to give any feedback as we move in this direction.

Flotilla News
We are happy the hear that the Sea Hawk is back in action. Just in time because August looks to be a very busy month.

Links of Interest
Did you know that the U.S. Coast Guard has it's own online news publication? Coast Guard News offers very up to date information about what is going on in the Coast Guard community.

The Coast Guard also has a blog. Coast Guard Compass is also a great resource for information.

The Coast Guard even has a Flikr account to share photos.

The Coast Guard Commandant announce Wednesday that the Coast Guard will name a cutter in honor of Senior Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne III who lost his life in the line of duty off the coast of California.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Terrel Horne III was killed when the boast he was commanding was intentionally rammed by a boat being used to smuggle drugs. There is still plenty of boats in our waters smuggling drugs. Just yesterday two pangas where stopped by the Coast Guard off the coast of San Diego.

The Coast Guard is trying to get the word out that drowning deaths are on the rise. Life jackets are very, very important. Please help get the word out.

August Flotilla Meeting
Our next meeting is scheduled for August 4th. Please join us. It will be located at:

 Location: Valley Presbyterian Hospital/ Health Education CenterClassroom #15

15107 Vanowen Street, Van Nuys Ca 91405
Phone:(818) 902-5709

Please use the Guest Parking area in the parking structure on Noble Street

Please feel free to leave comments for this blog. We are always interested in your feedback.

How Safe Is Your Boat?

As we we move into the warmer months and we start thinking about being back on the water that question that should be on every skipper's mind. We all know boats require  maintenance to keep running. They also take maintenance to keep them safe for you and your passengers. 

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is here to help by offering free Vessel Safety Checks. There are members who have gone through specialized training to help you stay compliant with state and federal boating regulations and insure you have a safe and fun boating season. Additionally, many insurance carriers offer insurance premium discounts for owners who have passed. If you don't pass no problem. You'll be given tips on how to get your vessel in good order. 

Also, the Vessel Safety Check it available to all kinds of boaters. If you have an engine or sails or it's human powered (canoe, kayak, paddle boat) or a PWC (JetSki, Wave Runner) we'll help you stay safe. Just think, 15 minutes at the start of the season could save a life. 

It's easy to schedule a Vessel Safety Check. We are here to help.

If you are not in a location where you can schedule one or you'd like to know where you stand before your scheduled check you can do a virtual Vessel Safety check with the U. S. Coast Guard Virtual Vessel Examiner.

Have a fun and safe boating season!

Stay Found!

As the boating season rapidly approaches people are starting to imagine the wonderful time they will have with their family and friends on the water. This time of year people start to check for any maintenance that may be needed after a boat has been sitting through the cold (or cool) winter months. Preparation is always a good thing.  

If you plan on heading offshore one of the most important pieces of equipment you should consider having is an EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon). Quite simply, if you have one on your vessel, and you have an emergency requiring assistance, rescuers will be able to find you! These devices have saved many lives since they were first introduced in the 1970s. 

How do they work? First the unit needs to be registered so when activated the Coast Guard will know who owns it. Each EPIRB unit has a unique serial number and now most incorporate GPS technology that will transmit the exact location of the unit. Once activated the unit will transmit a radio wave approximately 24,000 miles into space to a satellite which in turn notifies the Coast Guard and then Coast Guard resources are deployed. When time is of the essence, and lives are in the balance, this is a huge time saver!

It seems like a no brainer but it's amazing the number of vessels that go offshore without them and the number of boat owners that don't even know they exist. Check with your local marine supply. They will be able to help you find the unit that best fits your boating activities. 

You can find more detailed information at the U. S. Coast Guard Navigation Center.

Safe Boating!

YOU can be a Dockwalker!

You can help! Anyone can train to be a Dockwalker and help to keep California's water environment clean.

Dockwalkers are trained to engage the public and the boating community to adopt clean boating practices. Dockwalkers share clean boating information with boaters and distribute educational materials like boater kits while visiting marinas, launch ramps, marine supply stores, boat shows, and special events. "Dockwalker” is a generic term; you do not necessarily have to “walk the docks” in order to talk to boaters about safety and clean boating practices. Remember: safety and the environment go hand in hand.

Learn more:

Dockwalker Program