United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze - USCGAUX ...

Auxiliary Assists in Annual “Paddle Florida” Event
Arcle and photos by Patricia Gross
UPPER KEYS, Fla.— “The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
is our steadfast volunteer corps. Our Auxiliary
Shipmates assist the Coast Guard with performing our
many challenging maritime missions, with boating
safety remaining as their core function.”
These words are taken from the U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary Policy Statement. However, we often overlook
paddle craft (kayaks) as part of that safeguarding.
Back in September, I was contacted by Bill Richards, of
Paddle Florida, regarding their yearly “Paddle Florida:
The Keys Challenge,” scheduled for January 12-22,
2012. Being a kayaker myself, I jumped at the chance
to show off the dedication and skills of my new Coast
Guard Auxiliary family. Without hesitation (which in
retrospect might have been putting the horse before
the cart), I volunteered the Coast Guard Auxiliary
services to provide a safety patrol boat to accompany
them throughout the 120-mile journey. Being a new
Vessel Examiner, however, I also offered to conduct
Vessel Examinations, as well a safety briefing by Joe
Penar, Flotilla Staff Officer-Vessel Examination.
Bill Richard explained that, with all of the festivities
celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Flagler
Train, the goal of Paddle Florida was to have
100 paddlers, paddling 100 miles in 10 days,
arriving in Key West on the 100th anniversary of
the arrival of Mr. Flagler and his infamous train.
For more information, their website, paddleflorida.org,
has a great detailed description of each leg of the trip.
I never dreamt of the complexities involved in
coordinating such an event. Thank goodness for
Flotilla 13-8 member Conrad Sankpill! He rose to this
challenge with ease, grace and professionalism at
every turn. He never questioned my offer of support
to this group; he just took control of the reins. Sankpill
contacted the two other flotillas in the Keys needed to
provide the safety patrol for the entire length of the
Keys and coordinated their assistance.
Paddle Florida provided us with the GPS coordinates
for every stop, including their lunch stops. One day,
we even delivered their lunch to a remote location and
then returned to base with the coordinator and their
trash.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the route
had to be modified, but I worked with Richard until
we had a workable schedule and made all necessary
modifications, prior to their departure. The Group
Coordinator advised that the Paddlers would only
have cellphones. The Auxiliary knew it was much safer
to use radios, and the Paddlers soon purchased marine
radios to communicate with our safety patrol boats,
and designated three key boats — the lead boat, the
roaming “safety/medical” boat, and the chase boat —
and provided the new radios to these three.
Prior to Day One, Sankpill issued instructions to all of
the participating flotilla members: Bob Hoffman, David
Gross, Patti Gross, Ed Miller and Conrad Sankpill.
Again, at the end of each day, he issued a report, and
included the other flotillas, giving everyone an idea
of any issues that arose that day. I also learned that
nothing like this had been performed in the Keys, and,
secretly, I was thrilled to be a part of this truly historic
event.
Day One, was the most amazingly picture-perfect
day for paddling. Fifty-seven paddlers launched their
ocean kayaks, loaded with safety equipment and gear
(oh, I forgot to mention, they camped all along the
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