Posted by Captain Tim on January 08, 2001 at 15:23:51:
In Reply to: How long would it take to get to chamber from wreck alley? posted by ChrisM on January 08, 2001 at 11:09:45:
Very good question. I have had to call the Coast Guard a few times
to have a person air lifted off the Great Escape. The Coast Guard has
never made it to the boat in under 45 minutes regardless of where we are.
One time I was only 25 minutes from the Catalina Chamber, and both the
Coast Guard and Bay Watch from Catalina told me to wait for the helicopter
even though they would not give me an eta (I did not wait). I know of another
boat that waited for the Coast Guard (over 2 hours) and the person passed
away (from a heart attack).
This is a long way around the bush to say, there is no way of teller how long
it will take. It takes time for the Coast Guard to respond and sometimes they
have other rescues, with limited resorces.