DaveH6
USCG Academy boat
Spartan by today's standards, this interior features safety items such as a large diameter steel rail in the galley to protect crew members from being thrown in a seaway. An abundance of storage lockers in lieu of features such as wine cabinets shows much common sense in the design of a vessel slated for heavy use rather than being a slip queen.
Engine access is outstanding, and all systems can be maintained without tearing the boat apart. In a pinch, the bow area can be used as a brig in case of crew member muntiny over lack of a wide screen TV.
I enjoyed talking to the two cadets who were on hand to answer questions about the vessel. Lots of enthusiasm from them in regards to expected future voyages. During an offshore race when they get caught in an intense storm, they will learn much about themselves and leadership.
Their sailing experience may prove beneficial when serving on board a USCG cutter. A USCG Academy graduate was on a cutter in the Carribean which came upon a fifty some foot center cockpit under sail. He instinctly knew something was amiss as the boat seemed to be wallowing instead of near hull speed in the stiff breeze. Athough the waterline was visible, the freeboard was not indicative of a boat this size. The cutter sent over a boarding party who found thousands of pounds of drugs. The bad guys had repainted the water line higher up trying to disguise the vessels abnormal displacement.
Another USCG officer I knew with sailing experience who, when a young LT, commanded a prize crew sailing to Florida a large Hinckley seized in the Mona Passage for drug running. Besides the fun of sailing a Hinckley, he said the freezer was loaded with high end food which added to their good fortune. Later this officer owned a small Potter sailboat which probably bothered him not as he had his day in the sun sailing a Hinckley.
USCG Academy boat
Spartan by today's standards, this interior features safety items such as a large diameter steel rail in the galley to protect crew members from being thrown in a seaway. An abundance of storage lockers in lieu of features such as wine cabinets shows much common sense in the design of a vessel slated for heavy use rather than being a slip queen.
Engine access is outstanding, and all systems can be maintained without tearing the boat apart. In a pinch, the bow area can be used as a brig in case of crew member muntiny over lack of a wide screen TV.
I enjoyed talking to the two cadets who were on hand to answer questions about the vessel. Lots of enthusiasm from them in regards to expected future voyages. During an offshore race when they get caught in an intense storm, they will learn much about themselves and leadership.
Their sailing experience may prove beneficial when serving on board a USCG cutter. A USCG Academy graduate was on a cutter in the Carribean which came upon a fifty some foot center cockpit under sail. He instinctly knew something was amiss as the boat seemed to be wallowing instead of near hull speed in the stiff breeze. Athough the waterline was visible, the freeboard was not indicative of a boat this size. The cutter sent over a boarding party who found thousands of pounds of drugs. The bad guys had repainted the water line higher up trying to disguise the vessels abnormal displacement.
Another USCG officer I knew with sailing experience who, when a young LT, commanded a prize crew sailing to Florida a large Hinckley seized in the Mona Passage for drug running. Besides the fun of sailing a Hinckley, he said the freezer was loaded with high end food which added to their good fortune. Later this officer owned a small Potter sailboat which probably bothered him not as he had his day in the sun sailing a Hinckley.