Coast Guard Station Bellingham crew carry out water rescue training in cold Northwest waters. Photo by USCG Station Bellingham.

BELLINGHAM, WA–Water Rescue Training by Coast Guard and Auxiliary Becomes Reality in Ski To Sea Kayak Competition.

U. S. Coast Guard Station Bellingham boat crews undergo extensive training in water rescue operations, as well as helicopter rescue operations, law enforcement, port safety and security, marine environmental protection, and fisheries conservation enforcement. The 34 active duty members based at Station Bellingham have the daunting task of covering 80 miles of international border, and 300 islands including the San Juan Islands in over 1500 square miles.

Much of the Coast Guard training involves year round work on the water in all types of weather conditions. Often this training is performed with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The Bellingham Flotilla 11, with nearly 100 members, carries out safety patrols, search and rescue missions, and assist in maintaining the all important aids to navigation. They are involved in all phases of recreational boating safety education.

With the assistance of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, a wet and tired competitor pumps out his kayak after it overturned during “Ski to Sea” races. Photo by Barbara Burchfield.

The extensive training by both the Coast Guard and Auxiliary has resulted in successful water rescues and water assistance to the public. During events such as the annual “Ski to Sea,” training becomes essential when more than 400 kayakers compete 5.2 miles across Bellingham Bay.

In these cold Puget Sound waters, training in hypothermia situations becomes a survival necessity. The well rehearsed “man overboard” drills are put into action when a kayaker overturns a vessel, leaving the kayaker exposed to the cold water elements and possible hypothermia.

During this year’s “Ski to Sea,” the Auxiliary provided four facility boats and crews to monitor the kayaker’s personal safety in the water as well as provide a safe racing route, keeping other boaters out of the race area.