November 2001

Most of what has been written in this space for the past four years has been lighthearted and whimsical, but this time, at press time, we have more serious matters on our minds. Our nation and our freedoms have been viciously attacked; our sense of security has been badly shaken by the events of September 11.

Even recreational boating was caught up in the catastrophe in New York. Early reports indicate that a number of people, as their world was collapsing down around them near the base of the World Trade Center, saved themselves by taking emergency refuge on a number of yachts docked in the shadows of twin towers. Unfortunately many of these fine boats were damaged.

Boats and their crews also played an immediate role in moving people to safety and ferrying supplies to the heroic rescue crews. When about 150 people were trapped near a sea wall after the collapses, an impromptu fleet of fireboats, tugs, ferries and recreational boats joined in the rescues and moved the survivors north on the Hudson River to safety. One was the retired fireboat John J. Harvey and her crew, who raced down to help from their berth at Pier 63.

Shortly thereafter, when rescue workers needed respirators to comb through the wreckage, the crew of the survey vessel Hatton immediately responded. When the New York streets became clogged with stranded cars and emergency vehicles, the Hatton steamed to Pier 40, picked up the respirators and quickly delivered them to Ground Zero. Other boats, including seven vessels operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, helped move as many as 2,000 stranded citizens from Lower Manhattan to their home areas in Brooklyn, New Jersey and Staten Island.

As the dust clears, most of us can be truly grateful that our families are safe and that our liberties remain protected. In many ways, recreational boating is a particularly eloquent expression of freedom. Those nations around the globe that are prosperous enough to foster boating as a widespread recreational activity are the fortunate few. So, the opportunity to boat in the first place is born of freedom.

Then, there is the personal freedom required to find the time and money to put into our boats. This almost never comes easily, and is instead earned through disciplined attention to every other aspect of our complicated lives.

Each and every time we set out on the water we are flying the colors of freedom. In the United States alone there are more than 12 million owners of registered boats. As in wars past, we stand ready to offer our services should our country ever need us. If, for example, authorities could use help establishing lookouts on our waterways, we boaters will be there to serve. We know how to navigate our ports and harbors and we know how to communicate with each other. A few hundred thousand boats on the water would make quite a statement.

But, for now at least, we will do our best to return to normal - many of us putting our boats up for the winter hoping that next spring will bring a happier time. By then, perhaps, we will have vanquished the forces of hatred and evil and secured our borders against those who would bring terror against us. Let's hope that, by spring, we will be free to enjoy our time on the water without worry that more innocent Americans will be needlessly threatened.

We love our boats and the freedoms they represent. If time on your boat helped you through this national crisis, or you have an eyewitness story to tell about acts of heroism by fellow boaters, please log on to RTYC section of BoatUS.com and let us know.

Until next time, keep your eye on the compass and may all your tides be rising.

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