Babylon Yacht Club holds annual Coast Guard Day

by Paul D. Steinberg

The Babylon Yacht Club, founded in 1903, recently hosted a "Coast Guard Day recently and the men and women of the Fire Island Coast Guard came out to enjoy a relaxing and fun-filled day. With the personnel working twelve hour shifts around the clock, the attendance shifted during the day and evening as crews had some "down time" and could break away for a few hours.

Some arrived via vehicle, others came via the high-speed inflatable, with both on- and off-duty crew standing by. The folks from the station were greeted by members of all ages, and made a real hit with everyone, especially the youngsters.

Kids often dive (sort of) off the board and try to catch something tossed in the air by their friends. That started it! It was BYC youngsters (ages 6-13 or so) vs the "Coasties"

Yep, the kids "won" and their 9 or 10-year old representative "negotiated with a six-foot tall officer as to what should take place.

"Well, I think you should do whatever we say because you guys lost," said the mighty mite.

What took place next had the entire place in an uproar—good sports, the men and women from the station performed pushups on the deck, and hosted a bunch of youngsters on the rescue/chase boat. This was obvious from the sounds of the siren blasting, and the sights of the lights flashing and kids jumping up and down, waiting their turn.

Never say die, the little negotiator then "demanded" a private tour of the station in the near future. This was gladly given and the entire gang sat down for heros and sodas.

Bottom line, let’s hear it for our Coast Guard now celebrating their 100th anniversary serving our country."

The writer is a Past Commodore

of the BYC and Flotilla Commander to the National Branch Chief.