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Hernando Today

Coast Guard Auxiliary A Welcome Presence

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: May 12, 2008

HERNANDO BEACH - It was a good thing to host a regular Bingo night 30 years ago.

The local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 15-08 has a two-story building, 19-boat fleet and robust membership comprised of more than 130 volunteers.

It became what it is today largely because of those past fundraising efforts.

"Back in the 1970s, there was a group in the auxiliary who really wanted to do it right," said Commander Ray Pullen. "And they really liked Bingo."

Today they have boats, supplies and most of all - a robust membership.

The group still occupies the large, white building at the corner of Shoal Line Boulevard and Calienta Street. The building includes a radio room, banquet hall, classroom and several storage areas.

That sense of community involvement has not been lost on the current leadership. Pullen and Vice Commander Paul P. Pelletier are organizing a two-day event next weekend to celebrate the start of National Safe Boating Week, which runs May 17-23.

Local shrimp boaters are especially grateful for the auxiliary - which provides first response and support services for the actual Coast Guard.

"Boats go down all the time here," Pelletier said. "We've had three in the past month."

Shrimp boaters know what to do in that situation. In fact, they often find a way to pull the boat back to the surface, patch it up and take it out again, Pelletier said.

Nonetheless, the auxiliary is available for those rare instances of more serious accidents.

The water along Hernando County is a popular destination for boaters - experienced and inexperienced.

"A lot of people here don't know the rules of the road," Pelletier said. "There are blind curves here like on a highway."

The ongoing dredging project should improve matters, but it can still be treacherous along the channels, he said. Some boaters still refuse to use caution.

"There could be a shrimper in a channel and someone could come flying around the corner and hit him, or hit the rocks, or come upon a sandbar," Pelletier said. "It's dangerous."

Pullen, who retired from the Coast Guard in 1977 after serving 23 years, told a story of a two-boat collision along the channel near Hernando Beach. One was going south while the other was heading north.

When two boats are traveling toward each other, the skipper should turn to the right. One of them turned left and T-boned the other boat, Pullen said.

It was raining and as many as 11 people were in one of the vessels, he continued. Some people were tossed out into the water. In spite of the potential for disaster, there were no injuries.

Often times, volunteers with the auxiliary are among the first to respond to such an accident, particularly during the weekends.

The Coast Guard is in contact with the auxiliary every 20 minutes whenever one of its boats is out in the water, Pelletier said.

Last year, auxiliary members logged more than 11,600 hours of volunteer work. Pullen himself logged more than 230 hours just last month, he said.

Next weekend's auxiliary-hosted event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be boats and equipment on display and membership information available.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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