Air National Guard saving the world
PintoNag sends a link to the dramatic story from NBC News which tells us about the rescue of a family attempting to circumnavigate the globe in their sailboat. The California Air National Guard sent a team of rescuers 800 miles off the Coast of Mexico to save the family;
Members of the 129th Rescue Wing flew five hours Thursday from Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., near San Jose, to the sailboat about 900 miles off the coast of Mexico on what the California National Guard called a “complex overwater rescue mission.”
A parachute rescue team of four jumped into the ocean Thursday night, inflated a raft and boarded the 36-foot-long Rebel Heart, which is carrying Eric and Charlotte Kaufman of San Diego and their daughters, Cora, 3, and Lyra, 1, on the latest leg of what they’d planned to be a round-the-world voyage.
Well, I’m glad they rescued the family, but I hope they appreciate that the team of four also put their own lives in danger to effect the rescue. And that the American taxpayers paid for it.
They didn’t get very far before they needed to be rescued, apparently;
Category: National Guard
While I’m very proud of the members of the Air National Guard for affecting the rescue of this family, I have mixed emotions about the story itself. The ocean is not a city park, and to endanger two small children by putting them on a 30+ foot sailboat out there is a dangerous form of ignorance. If the children had been teenageers, capable of helping crew the boat and making decisions in the case of trouble, that would be different. But a three year old and a one year old? No. I hope the parents wait awhile, until the children are older, before they attempt such a voyage again.
Pinto Nag I think the same Bravo Zulu to the ANG 129th. But who…in their right mind takes a 36 foot boat on a round the world trip, WITH A ONE AND THREE YEAR OLD on board! Bet they get their coffee at Starbucks.
The 129th are GREAT! I work at Moffett Field and see their orange helecoptors flying all the time. At the Ellis Gate entrance is a sign saying “Xn Lives Saved” — I’ll have to remember the number next time I go to work.
I also see the C-130s flying “touch and go’s” and every once in a while I get to count about 10 parachutes floating to earth when they do their qualifications.
–ghp
What a pair of idiots those two parents are. The two children are far too young to participate in or appreciate Mom and Dad’s grand adventure.
During the years we lived in Pensacola we chartered sailboats in the Caribbean with friends who were far more experienced sailors than we were and yet we still got into bad weather situations that had my sphincter puckered. And we were in boats ranging from 41 feet to 54 feet being captained by former Pensacola Yacht Club commodores, men and their wives who had decades of sailing experience.
Even on a 240 foot schooner, on a Windjammer Cruise, when we ran into rough weather out in the open ocean, that big boat was pitching and rolling enough to significantly up the pucker factor. Open ocean sailing is neither for small boats, unless specially equipped, nor neophyte sailors.
Again, those two morons did endanger those children and unnecessarily put more lives at risk during their rescue. I hope California slaps them with the bill for the full cost of the rescue.
BZ 129th. Kids, sorry your parents are idiots; pray you overcome your genetic handicap. Parents, you need your asses kicked; please don’t have any more children to endanger.