My 15 seconds of fame

[AT Grimaldi]

The below clip from YouTube was taken during a Safety training I attended hosted by Umass Dartmouth, USCG, City of New Bedford and local commercial fishing suppliers.

In the segment showing the USCG helo on the ground, I am the guy in Kahkis with a blue sweatshirt on playing with his phone. That blonde pilot was THE main attraction. She was georgeous and smart as a whip.

You can also see me taking a dousing of water in the face on the sinking ship simulator. My partner, a dragger captain and I were the only team to get the boat to stop taking on water in the time alloted.

I hope they offer this training again. It was free and VERY enlightening.

- ATG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGf1a1YeZCc

[backman]

I took that training last spring. Its exceptional and a real eye opener to hear from real watermen their views on safety/accidents and what if's as well go through the various training stations.

Doning a gumby, jumping in the water and just floating, then seeing what it takes to flip over and climb in a raft is an incredibly valuable experience that could save your life.

Firing off rocket and smoke flares in a controlled environment so you know what to expect and how to do it right if you need to - invaluable.

Sinking ship simulator - real eye opener on how to control water fast.

[AlloyToy]

Looks like a great program. I think we (SFC) were trying to put something like this together at one point

It's amazing that with the world being 2/3 water the Fed's don't have more programs like this available to the boating public

[backman]

no insult intended but its amazing given the amount of clueless boaters out there and the number of people trying to make a living around the marine industry that someone hasn't made a business out of the opportunity.

[Riptide Charters]

The guys at IMP fishing supply in New Bedford are trying to do severalof these a season at the SMAST campus. I've been twice and it fantastic. Should be mandatory training for ALL boat owners!!! Give IMP a call if your interested in attending the training, its FREE and they usually provide chow

[AT Grimaldi]

Terry is correct. IMP was one of the vendors at this one as well and it was held at SMAST.

They did the flare, smoke, rocket demonstration and tutorial as well as deploying a 10 person life raft. Very interesting to watch that thing come up and open and how to right it in the water.

- ATG

[AT Grimaldi]

I just got off the phone with Fran Abreu. They are having another training coming up on Thursday, November 19th from 7:30a to 2:30p. It is free and you can register by giving her a call.

Fran Abreu 508-979-1616 x 129.

Bring an immersion suit, if you have one. you will be donning it in the pool and climbing aboard a life raft as in the video.
They will feed you breakfast and lunch at no charge. The location is SMAST, 706 South Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA

She said they are constantly looking for more participants.

- ATG

[fin-chaser]

My son and I have been twice, and yes we are in most of the pics in the video................

Best class out there and I would like to take it every year.... never gets old.

I wish they could get this class out to more "boaters".

Dave

[AT Grimaldi]

Is there anyone funnier that wahoo?

how NOT to don an immersion suit.

My favorite line: "relax!"

http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/...ival-suit.html

[Fffiisshh0]

thats good stuff rite there ! I never knew sucha program existed! & free !! Great exchange of some reel useful, important , potentially life saving info. Thanx for sharing