Our team has always been filled with exceptional men and women, willing to give the extra effort required to ensure that each Hatteras is a showpiece. Our craftsmen, technicians, engineers, and carpenters work very hard at building these fantastic boats. But their work and efforts do not stop when they leave at the end of the day. Team members are also very active in building our community. Many donate toys for children at Christmas, work with the Red Cross after storms, collectively give to United Way, and participate in fundraising events ranging from cancer research to autism awareness throughout the year.
This past week, a team testing a new boat had an opportunity to do even more. Capt. Allen Booth along with Ray Whitford, Randy Winfrey, Damon Ipock and Chris Rice were conducting a sea trial aboard a GT54 with Jim Stebbins and Mike Kirkman from Gregory Poole Marine Power. They were out most of the day in the cool winter air as they conducted speed runs, strain gauge testing and performance checks. Late that afternoon as they chased the sunset up the Neuse River, most were thinking of warm clothes and a hot meal. Passing by a local marina, they noticed a man on the dock yelling and waving his hands. At first, they thought he was warning them of an obstruction in the water and slowed to hear him better. As they drew closer and throttled the engines back, they were finally able to hear his call, "There's a man drowning in the river!"
Captain and crew began frantically searching the water for the endangered man. The water temperature was cold, and they were concerned he would soon succumb to the current. Quickly a mate spotted him and they headed in his direction. Easing along side the man they saw that his kayak was capsized and that he had shirked most of his clothing to try to swim better. Pulling him aboard, the crew wrapped him in a blanket, placed hearing protection on his ears and took him into the engine room to warm up. As he recuperated below, they next worked to recover his kayak. After a lot of pulling and tugging, they were able to haul it into the cockpit and drain the water. By the time they returned to the marina, a crowd had gathered, along with a news crew from the local television station. The kayaker thanked them for his rescue -- and the crew was praised for reacting so quickly.
While this was a first-time occurrence for most, it was not new for Capt. Booth. Several years ago, he helped save three survivors of a helicopter crash in the Atlantic. When asked his reaction to his latest rescue he replied, "I did it again!"
The man in the kayak was fortunate to have such capable help close at hand, but many others each year are not as fortunate. As you make plans to enjoy the water over the holidays, make safety a priority so that you, your guests and crew all have a wonderful New Year. For more information on boating safety, visit the Coast Guard's online Safety Resource Center.
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