When I refused to tell the USCG how many were abaord

[David M]

Originally Posted by Rodz

Hmmm ... I thought that the Bahamas is an independent country associated with UK through Commonwealth of Nations. If this is true what The Coasties were doing there?? Are they allowed to do their job wherever they want? ...... just a thought.

Yes they are. International waters is fair game.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by David M

Yes they are. International waters is fair game.

I would think (but don't know) that this would only apply to US flagged (documented?) vessels unless there is an agreement between heads of state (at least at consular level). Any maritime legal buffs out there

[GordMay]

The U.S. Coast Guard carries out several interdiction operations* in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, in coordination with other countries' navies and coast guards.

* Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), a joint DEA, Coast Guard, Bahamian, and Turks and Caicos anti-drug and migrant smuggling operation in the Bahamas.

[Sunspot Baby]

By agreement with the Bahamas, USCG operates in their waters. I assume the same was true in the late 80's.

George

[over40pirate]

I think the coasties have an agreement with the Bahamas. You let us catch drug runneres, and we let tourests come to your country.

As far as sailing at nite without a GPS. I know people who had plans to go sailing, but just had to have every gizmo out there. Before they had everything, things happened, and they had to sell the boat.
I know people who, some people would say are crazy, but they are sailing, with what they got.

Sailing without a GPS at night isn't much different than sailing during the day without one. Ever hear of dead recconing? GPS's can fail. I carry a spare, but next time we go cruising, if one is dead, as it is now, and a second one isn't in the budget. Guess what? We go with only one.

I met a guy in Bimini who was on a 21' Venture and asked when I was leaving for the Berry Islands about 78 miles away. I told him at about midnite. He wanted to follow as he didn't have a Gps. He made it accross the Stream ok. I normally would have said no thanks. but it was the same boat as my first real sailboat, so I said OK.

When the sun came up, I was sailing with a reefed main and autopilot, and I could see him with full sail up, holding the tiller like a mad man!
But they were doing it. I think if he had reefed he would have picked up speed.

[JiffyLube]

If CG wants to board me, I'll tell them I just made fresh coffee...permission granted to come aboard.

[Hampus]

Originally Posted by Saildoggie

Sailing at night with no GPS does not sound like a very good idea.

The Coasties have a tough job and they do it very well!

People didn't sail at night before GPS?

[Chief Engineer]

They were too scared of "Kraken"

[fareweather]

We were boarded in the New Providence Channel last year. They were very friendly and it was international water. They snuck up on us in a go fast boat, I was at the helm looking forward and when I noticed them they were 50 yds off the stern. They asked to board and I said why not? A cutter from out of sight came over, lowered a tender and motored over, the go fast disappeared as stealthily as it appeared. I was nervous until I saw the kid who was doing the inspection, half my age and sweating bullets. It was a pleasant experience and somehow we were in 100% compliance with the safety inspection. They didn't look anywhere other than what was needed for the safety insp. There were about 5 of them and one guy stayed off to the side and looked like the terminator, couldn't get much conversation out of him, maybe the armed backup guy.

[Brent Swain]

Originally Posted by Rodz

Hmmm ... I thought that the Bahamas is an independent country associated with UK through Commonwealth of Nations. If this is true what The Coasties were doing there?? Are they allowed to do their job wherever they want? ...... just a thought.

Since they unilaterally eclared them selves "World Vigilantes".

[JiffyLube]

Originally Posted by Hampus

People didn't sail at night before GPS?

Sailing in close quarters could be a problem, but sailing offshore at night isn't...just watch for other ships.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by fareweather

We were boarded in the New Providence Channel last year. They were very friendly and it was international water...

As far as I know, there is no “New” Providence Channel.
The Northeast Providence Channel lies between New Providence Island and Eleuthera Island.
The Northwest Providence Channel lies between the Little Bahama Bank and the Great Bahama Bank, linking the Straits of Florida with Northeast Providence Channel.
Both are entirely within the territorial waters of the Bahamas.

[Chief Engineer]

Originally Posted by Louis Riel

Since they unilaterally eclared them selves "World Vigilantes".

I am wondering what happens when you eclair yourself....that MUST hurt.

I suppose you support the entrepreneurs who are tring to bring pleasure to the poor huddled masses here.

[dana-tenacity]

Originally Posted by Saildoggie

Sailing at night with no GPS does not sound like a very good idea.

You are joking right.

[dana-tenacity]

I was boarded off Cuba (1987). It was kinda funny. I didn't have any radio transmitter at the time. I sat having a cup of tea watching them messing about roughly 1 mile away for ages. Then they launched a helicopter which hung around behind me while a bunch of armed people in hob nailed boots came over in a rubber duck. The head guy asked permission to come aboard as he stepped over the lifelines (armed. OK I go on about it, but us Kiwis aren't used to seeing people carrying guns, not even the police).
They searched the boat (32 ft , didn't take long) I asked what they were looking for . I was told Haitians . I pointed out that I was heading in the general direction of Haiti, and to my knowledge not many Haitians were interested in being smuggled back into Haiti.
Then they left.
At the time it annoyed me that they would stop and search a NZ flagged vessel in international waters, but I was in no position to deny them.