CYC Bulletin Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Photo Available at: http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom/previewImg/hiRes/541.jpg
Photo Caption: There's plenty of good fishing in the Gulf, as BoatUS' Chris Edmonston reels in another one for the cameras while shooting footage for the Cabela's Fisherman's Handbook TV show.

Oil Spill's Impact on Boating and Fishing Chronicled in
Cabela's Fisherman's Handbook TV Show

Series Airs 10 a.m. Sundays on Fox Sports Net; Presented by BoatUS Angler

VENICE, La., July 27, 2010 - A new 13-week television show series aims to show an up close view of the devastating impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Gulf of Mexico boating and fishing communities.

Airing Sundays at 10 a.m. (EDT) on Fox Sports Net and presented by BoatUS Angler , Cabela's Fisherman's Handbook portrays a realistic picture of conditions out in the field. Visits to bird recovery facilities, documenting the oil spill's damage to sensitive marshes and bays, and most importantly, fishing trips on the large swaths of unaffected areas are all included.

Traveling to the region with show host and TV fishing personality Wade Middleton is Chris Edmonston of BoatUS, who presents segments on how to avoid and take care of oil spill damage to your boat, hurricane preparedness, and boating safety topics. "'I have spent my entire life on the water, but you just can't understand how important the water is to Gulf residents until you go down there," said Edmonston. "The water is life to them."

"This show doesn't go into the politics," said Middleton. "It tells the compelling stories of the anglers, guides, captains, boaters and many others whose lives have been irrevocably affected by the spill. We've traveled to four states and fished many spots, seeing first-hand how this region is coping."

BoatUS Angler is a membership program for anglers from the nation's largest recreational boat owners group, Boat Owners Association of The United States. The organization has also set up a website, www.BoatUS.com/oilspill , which can help boaters and anglers stay informed, safeguard their boats, and assist with recovery efforts.

The show repeats Fridays at 4:00 p.m., but check your local listings to be sure. The show is produced by Careco Multimedia . For more information on BoatUS Angler, go to www.BoatUSAngler.com .

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NEWS From BoatU.S.
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatU.S. Press Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Video Available at: http://www.BoatUS.com/videos/default.asp?catID=25

Rented at the Last Minute, Emergency Beacon From BoatU.S. Foundation
Saves Three Lives Off California Coast

Crew Sends Mayday Just Before Capsizing

ALAMEDA, Calif. July 8, 2010 -- The day before departing Crescent City, California, on July 1 for an offshore passage bound for Alameda, California, the shore-bound father of one of three crewmembers aboard the 32-foot catamaran sailboat Catalyst wanted to ensure his daughter was safe. So he went to www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/epirb to rent an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

Normally costing about $800, the BoatU.S Foundation rents the life-saving units for just $65 per week. The rental program is intended to fill the short-term safety need for occasional offshore cruisers. When activated by immersion in water or manually by pressing a button, the units broadcast an emergency mayday signal via satellite along with precise location information of the vessel in distress, allowing for a speedy rescue. A dedicated global satellite system relays 406-MHz EPIRB distress signals to rescue stations around the world.

The last-minute rental saved all three this past weekend when stormy seas led the crew to activate the beacon just minutes before massive waves capsized the vessel, plunging all three into the frigid Pacific waters 20 miles off Fort Bragg on the Northern California coast.

On Saturday July 4 with winds gusting past 50 mph and seas treacherous, the three crew -- two men in their 40s and a woman of unknown age -- activated the EPIRB at about 12:44 p.m. Soon after, 15-to-20-foot waves knocked the boat completely upside down, pinning all three underneath. Once they freed themselves from the overturned boat, the three lashed themselves to the overturned vessel, but without survival suits to protect them from the cold water, hypothermia quickly set in.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was able to home in on the signal given by the EPIRB, and after commencing a search pattern, quickly found the floating wreck awash in the sea. With the help of a rescue swimmer, Catalyst's three crew were quickly loaded into the helicopter for a life-saving flight to the hospital. The female crew member's body temperature was only 79ºF and pulse barely 30 beats per minute. All are expected to fully recover.

The signal from the EPIRB was the only distress signal received by the Coast Guard from Catalyst. The Coast Guard also credits the crew for staying with the boat after it capsized and filing a float plan, which allowed the rescuers to expedite the search.

"That EPIRB saved their lives," said USCG Lt. George Suchanek, an MH-65C Dolphin helicopter pilot that responded to the call.

The BoatU.S. Foundation EPIRB Rental Program is funded by the voluntary contributions of BoatU.S. members, and 65 lives have been saved since 1996. For more information, call 888-663-7472 or visit www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/epirb .

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NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Photo Available at: http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom/previewImg/hiRes/519.jpg
Photo Caption: Photo Caption: (L to R) Keith Christopher, National Sea Scouts Director; Spencer Rawlins Jr., Skipper, Ship 1659; Sam Sexton, Boatswain, Ship 1659; Connor Rieve, National Boatswain 2009-2010; and Charles Wurster, National Sea Scouts Commodore, at the BoatUS Flagship Award ceremony.

Sea Scout "Ship" Minnow Earns BoatUS Flagship Award

Texas Teens Could Teach Gilligan a Few Things

Dallas, TX, June 3, 2010 -- A Sea Scout unit with the diminutive name Minnow, is the winner of Sea Scouting's biggest recognition, the BoatUS Flagship Award for 2010. The unit, Ship 1659 , Minnow, serves youth in the Houston area and maintains a fleet of no less than six cruising sailboats at South Shore Harbor Marina on Clear Lake in Kemah, Texas. Sea Scouting is a part of Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Like all Sea Scout units (called "ships") Ship 1659 uses boats, seamanship and nautical skills to develop character and leadership qualities in young people, both male and female.

BoatUS recognized Ship 1659 for excellence in program quality, youth achievement and adult commitment. The Ship and its crew of 14 youth conducted 32 days of on-the-water activities last year and also carried out half-a-dozen community service projects, including a waterway cleanup that dealt with some remnants of 2008's Hurricane Ike.

Charles Wurster, a retired US Coast Guard vice admiral who chairs the National Sea Scout Committee, presented the award on behalf of BoatUS May 28 at the BSA annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. The meeting marked BSA's 100th anniversary.

BoatUS originated the Flagship Award in 2002 to mark the 90th anniversary of Sea Scouting, a co-ed program for young adults age 14-20. Approximately 6,000 youth participate in Sea Scouting in 557 Ships nationwide. A perpetual trophy bearing the names of the annual BoatUS Flagship winners resides at the BSA National Scouting Museum in Irving, TX. For more information, visit: www.SeaScout.org .

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NEWS From BoatUS
Boat Owners Association of The United States
880 S Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304
BoatUS Press Room at http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: D. Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com
Photo Available at: http://www.BoatUS.com/pressroom/previewImg/hiRes/515.jpg
Photo Caption: Using a simple tie-down system, Sebastian River Marina & Boatyard in Sebastian, FL has been successful in preventing hurricane damage to customers' boats (credit: Jack Hornor)

Have Boaters Forgotten About Hurricanes?

Hurricane Season Begins June 1; BoatUS Urges Preparations Start Now

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 25, 2010 - Last year's Atlantic hurricane season saw the formation of just nine tropical storms -- the fewest since 1997. And with news headlines focused on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, marina operators in the Gulf and Atlantic seaboard are questioning whether boaters are distracted or have simply forgotten about making annual storm preparations for the upcoming hurricane season, which begins June 1. Adding to the operators' worries are forecasts warning that 2010 could be a much more active hurricane season with as many as 18 named storms.

On Florida's east coast, Sebastian River Marina & Boatyard owner Doug Hillman is concerned. "Unfortunately, some of us have short memories," said Hillman, who recalls the last significant storm that struck his region five years ago. "There doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency this season."

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising recreational boaters in hurricane states to start making plans now to protect their boat from damage. "If you wait until a storm watch is posted, it may be too late," said BoatUS Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance.

To make storm preparation easier, BoatUS has free resources online for boaters, boat clubs, marinas and private dock owners that can help them survive hurricane season:

BoatUS Hurricane Resource Center at http://www.BoatUS.com/hurricanes : The website offers easily downloadable storm planning materials including a hurricane preparation worksheet, an in-depth Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes, and checklists for what to do before and after a hurricane strikes. Sample hurricane plans for boat and yacht clubs as well as up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images are also offered.

BoatUS Captains Locator at http://www.BoatUS.com/procaptains : While the safest location for a boat during a storm is on land, boaters may also want to ask their insurer now if their policy covers any of the costs of a storm-related haul-out. With help from the Locator, boat owners can seek the services of a professional delivery captain to move a vessel to a safe "hurricane hole" or to a haul out facility. If moving the boat is not possible, BoatUS suggests owners contact their marina now to enroll in hurricane "clubs".

Help for Boat Clubs, Yards and Marinas: Written for marina and yacht club managers, the free 24-page What Works, A Guide to Preparing Marinas, Yacht Clubs, and Boats for Hurricanes shares success stories as well as failures of dozens of facilities that have experienced a hurricane over last two decades. The guide covers floating docks with tall pilings, strapping down boats ashore, developing hurricane clubs for customers, dealing with boats at fixed docks, moving boats to hurricane holes, and how to install better moorings. Also included is a sample Marina Hurricane Preparation Plan that can be customized for any boating facility, as well as a Hurricane Preparation Worksheet that can be copied and given to individual boat owners. To download a copy of the guide, go to www.BoatUS.com/hurricanes . To get a paper copy, call 703-823-9550 ext. 3525.

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