HIGHLIGHTS OF NET OPERATION SINCE 1987
For over 25 years Herb has been a Guardian Angel to crews of thousands of Ocean going yachts and
commercial vessels, guiding up to 75vessels per day, 7 days a weeks, as they transit the Atlantic Ocean
and kept many sailors away from dangerous storms and severe weather systems, thereby
avoiding loss of life, property damage and mental anguish to many sailors.
He is known all over the world amongst seafarers and is a reliable source of information and assistance in
rescue situations coordinated by the United States, Canadian and United Kingdom Coast Guard/Rescue
Coordination Centers.
RECOGNITION and ACHIEVEMENTS
Prevented between 100 to 150 incidences per year where vessels would otherwise have been in distress with potential loss of life due to severe weather conditions and/or would have requested assistance from or rescue by U.S, CDN and UK Rescue Co-ordination Centers (RCC).
On request of U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard responded to up to 25 cases per year to determine status of vessel and crew upon activation of an EPIRP (Emergency position indicator radio beacon) and to provide feed back or communication support to RCC bringing such cases to a satisfactory resolution.
Responded to 60 to 100 requests per year from Coast Guard Centers, Local Authorities, concerned families members and from Canada Foreign Affairs to locate overdue or unreported vessels/crew, prior to commencing Search and Rescue operations.
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Excerpts from U.S. Coast Guard, RCC NORFOLK correspondence
Captain U.S.Coast Guard,
Fifth Coast Guard District
Portsmouth, Virginia
December 09, 2009,
--Your assistance in resolving the matter is greatly appreciated and exemplifies the spirit of the mariner, to help others in distress. Once again you have performed a tremendous service to the mariners plying the ocean and to my Command Center watch team. Whenever they have a S/V situation in the deep ocean one of the first things they always will tell me is either "Herb is talking to the vessel, or Herb is attempting to make contact". In either situation, it means a great deal to either continue to launch resources, or if communications are established to potentially save the resource launch.
On behalf of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Government, you are commended for your outstanding and unwavering commitment to safety of life at sea.
Thanks for All you do in helping to keep mariners Safe and Alive. Despite all of our capabilities, we still rely on "Herb" as a part of our systems and capabilities.
I cannot recall how many lives the Coast Guard saved this year, I am sure your assistance has ensured that and others that we may not have been involved with. I can tell you how many we have not saved though. Those are the unfortunates and the hardest. My motto is Search and Rescue is a team sport, we have to rely on each other to save a life. You sir, are an integral part of this team and I greatly appreciate your dedication and volunteerism.
May 20, 2008
Thanks from RCC Norfolk. I wanted to pass along to you our many thanks for being such an awesome
resource for us. I have been reviewing some of the cases from the last couple of weeks and noted that my watch has contacted you on several occasions and as always is your fashion, provided some excellent comms support for us. I hope my guys have been amicable enough with you during the interactions, b/c I think that some of them think you are on salary and this is your job, not a hobby (even though it relates to more like a career for you!).
Herb, as I have said before, you have been outstanding!Thank you for helping us out, and I want you to know that I personally appreciate everything you do for us.
With the most respect, and fond wishes for you and yours.
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RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
1993 SSCA Seven Seas Service Award
1994 Community Service Award for Service to Sailors, Government of Bermuda
1997 Cruising Club of America Plaque for Service to Newport Bermuda Yacht Races,
1998 U.K Ocean Cruising Club Award of Merit Medal,
1999 SSCA South Bound II Blue Water Sailing Service Award
2000 Canadian Coast Guard RCC Halifax, Plaque, Contribution to Search & Rescue
2004 The Royal Cruising Club "Medal for Service to Cruisers", United Kingdom
2012 SSCA Seven Seas Award
2013 U.S. Coast Guard 5th District RCC Norfolk Oar-plaque for faithful and dedicated Service
2013 2nd U.K Ocean Cruising Club Award of Merit
2013 United States Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award
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TV INTERVIEWS PRESENTATIONS
PBS Boat Works TV SeriesKWNCVancouver
TV5 Thalassa, France 3 CBC Radio 740AM
CBC Midday TV newsWeather Notebook (Mount Washington Observatory)
The Weather NetworkM.I.T Weather briefings for Marion Bermuda cruising Races
CBC UndercurrentWeather briefings Newport Bermuda Yacht Races
Global TV Evening News with Peter Kent Seven Seas CruisingAssociation Speaking Engagement
ABC World News with Peter Jennings U.S Naval Academy Speaking engagements.
CTV Evening News with Lloyd Robertson Invitation To Norfolk U.S. Naval Meteorology and
Oceanography Command Center and Nuclear
Aircraft Carrier George Washington
2010 RCYC Safety at Sea Seminar
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NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES (several issues over the years)
Bermuda Royal GazetteCanadian Yachting The Hamilton Spectator
Ocean NavigatorThe BermudianThe Burlington Post
SoundingsMonitoring TimesPractical Sailor
Yachting WorldCanadian GeographicUS Coast Guard Edition
Cruising WorldMacLean MagazineCurrents
Sail/Sailing Blue Water SailingAll at Sea
Irish Cruising ClubThe Toronto StarSaltscape
Latitude & LongitudeGuide Post Mad Mariner
Readers DigestUniversity of TorontoAmerican Airlines
The National PostU.S. Naval Academy
U.S Coastal LivingU.S. Navy NLMOC
WeatherWiseYachting