let the fuckers drown.

This really pisses me off, people who go to sea unprepared and then expect someone who is volunteering their time to come and rescue them and then not pay the coastguards costs. I once was an active Coastguard Volunteer and did a few rescues in some pretty shady conditions, 9/10 times it was rescuing morons who have no boat handling ability or the wrong equipment. I fish very regularly, from trailer boats, moored boats and my jetski. Even if only going a short distance I will lodge a Trip Report with the Coastguard so someone other than my wife knows where I am in case of emergency.

What pisses me off slightly more is the fact that the Government doesn't recognize the Coastguard as a required Emergency Service and there is only 15 employed members for the entire country. There are 1000's of Volunteers but only 15 paid for their work... I say Again 15!

From the Herald there are some interesting figures :

COASTGUARD CALLOUTS

Northern region: Christmas Eve to yesterday

Adrift - 9
Aground - 15
Capsize - 6
Anchor - 8
Diver - 2
Electrical - 30
Fire - 4
Flare - 8
Fuel - 8
Mechanical - 126
Medical - 15
Overdue13
Person in water - 7
Taking water - 6
Other - 13

TOTAL - 270

I can't see how an organization with a critical function like the Coastguard can be made up of mainly volunteers with such a high demand.

Bad form....very bad form