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OUR WATERWAYSWarning: Marine Patrols Escalateon Gulf CoastBy Cyndi Perkins• Sun/Rain awning, self supported, no halyard.• Rigid, folding, flexible frame. “Stands on lifeline”.• Waterproof, marine grade construction throughout.• Easy up & down. Stows complete in 10"x36" bag.• Designed for use in true cruising conditions.• Stock models for up to 50ft LOA $300-$800.• Custom designs also available.www.shadetreefabricshelters.comemail: info@shadetreefabricshelters.com1-888-684-3743 1-251-987-1229“Water boarding” is taking on a whole new meaning alongthe Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from the Florida-Alabamaline to Mobile Bay, AL. Multijurisdictional boardings and vesselsearches were being conducted AT DOCKS IN PRIVATEMARINAS in the area extending from Ingram Bayou/Orange Beach, AL, to marinas situated on Mobile Bay.Multiple vessels in late March reported first contact byHomeland Security vessels, which came alongside boatsand questioned those onboard at the entrance/exit of BonSecour Bay in Alabama. The high-powered black-and-grayvessels with inflated hulls and center-console pilothouseswere manned by several armed officers and a drug dog. Thevessels approached and questioned boaters underwayabout where they have been, where they are going and theirultimate destination. Out-of-state vessels appear to be thechief target of the inquisition.A day or more after vessels have been tied up in slips atmarinas, U.S. Coast Guard, local police, drug dog, AlabamaMarine Police, and Border Patrol/Customs officers descendedon the docks seeking documentation and registration info,as well as ID for captains and crews. Inspection of fixed registrationnumbers was taking place, but the officers, a contingentranging in number from as few as six to as many as 17,did not express interest in safety or sanitation inspections.Boaters should be on guard and prepared, since it isquite startling to be “at home” in your slip when the jackbootshit your deck and armed officers appear in your cockpit.Boaters were being informed that the officers are “conductingmultijurisdictional task force training,” and even ifthe vessel owner does not give permission, they are going to“search your boat anyway.”Mariners should have proof of purchase/origin for anyliquor carried aboard, as well as documentation for any prescriptiondrugs on the vessel. The ship’s log and other evidenceof where you have been and where you are goingmay also come in handy. It was repeatedly asserted to onevessel owner that he had been to the Bahamas when in facthe had not, and the origin of a bottle of liqueur was closelyquestioned because it was named “Nassau Royale,“ eventhough in fact this product is widely available in the UnitedStates and is manufactured in Puerto Rico. Merely carryingBahamas charts on board also seemed to arouse suspicion.Remember that the officers are authorized to LIE inorder to gain information, and in severe cases of unreasonablesearch and seizure without permission, be prepared torequest an attorney before answering ANY questions. WhileHomeland Security Customs and Border Patrol agents mayassert that you do not have any Fourth Amendment rightsin this situation, that is not the case.Long-time area cruisers from Northern climes who havebeen visiting the Orange Beach to Mobile area for a decadehave noted this year’s marked increase in police surveillanceand scrutiny on and around Mobile Bay. They found therequest for documentation particularly curious, as the CoastGuard and Customs/Border Patrol can quickly and easilyaccess this information through their own records.Lastly, while it is wise to photograph any damage orvessel disabling that occurs during an involuntary or even avoluntary boarding, if you value your camera, do notattempt in plain sight to take any photos of the officers. Yourcamera may be confiscated, or at the very least, the photosdeleted and the memory card erased blank. Officers saidthat it is a violation of the law to photograph customsagents. Hence, there are no photos to accompany this verytroubling report.Update on the Sarasota SailingSquadron’s Mooring FieldApplicationBy Alan Pressman, Past Commodore—Sarasota SailingSquadron, Yacht broker—Grand Slam Yacht SalesAs past commodore, I want to update your readership onthe mooring field in Sarasota that was applied for by theSarasota Sailing Squadron. Last week the Sailing Squadronlearned that the application to the state of Florida wasdenied by the Governor’s Board of Trustees. The reasonreported for denial was that the state was not satisfied thatthe mooring field would be adequately open to the publicand that the mooring field did not include access to powerboatsor commercial craft.28 June 2012 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com