MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Coast Guard to kick off National Safe Boating Week with Water Safety Fair in Sausalito

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest
Contact: 11th District Public Affairs
Office: (510) 437-3325
After Hours: (510) 772-8865
11th District online newsroom

Coast Guard to kick off National Safe Boating Week with Water Safety Fair in Sausalito 

WHO: Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel

WHAT: Scheduled to hold their annual Water Safety Fair to kick off National Safe Boating Week

WHEN: 10 a.m., May 19, 2018

WHERE: Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, 435 Murray Circle, Sausalito, California 94965 (Fort Baker)

RSVP: Coast Guard personnel will be available for interviews to discuss paddling and boating safety. Media interested in attending should RSVP to Petty Officer 3rd Class Sarah Wilson at 510-772-8865.

SAN FRANCISCO — Coast Guard Station Golden Gate and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are scheduled to hold a free, public Water Safety Fair at Station Golden Gate at 10 a.m., Saturday. 

The event, which kicks off National Safe Boating Week, will give the public and the media the opportunity to meet local first responders and learn about boating safety through demonstrations and discussions. The event will include a rescue helicopter demonstration at noon, rescue boat tours, a K-9 explosive-ordnance detection demonstration and information about boating safety, radio communications and paddle safety. 

"We're excited to meet with the community to promote safe and responsible boating heading into the summer," said Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Whitlow, a boatswain's mate assigned to Station Golden Gate who has helped plan the event for the last four years. "The Bay Area is a beautiful place to enjoy getting out on the water and we want people to get out there and have fun, we just also want them to make it back to shore safely." 

Coast Guard personnel will also give away free “If Found” stickers for owners to label their paddle boards or kayaks. If a paddle craft is found, the sticker provides contact information so rescuers can determine if there is an actual emergency, or if the craft is simply adrift. 
 
The event is free and open to the public. Parking is free. Media interested in attending should contact Coast Guard Public Affairs at (510) 772-8865. 
 A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, from Air Station San Francisco, performs a search and rescue demonstration near Crissy Field. A group of visitors takes a tour of a Coast Guard Auxiliary small boat at Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, Sausalito, California

Editor's note: Click on stock images to download high-resolution versions. 

-USCG-