- M23 -

SEARCH AND RESCUEin the SW North Atlantic andCaribbean Yachtsmen and pilots who venture into the Bahamas and on down theGreater and Lesser Antilles should be aware of the limitations offacilities to cometo their assistance should they have the misfortune to need help. If you are used to the comforting umbrella of the US Coast Guardbeing on the other end of your VHF radio you certainly need to beawakened to their limitations when you are far away from the UScoast. Whilst theygive themselves a responsibility for this whole region in practiceyourprimary source of assistance is any local search and rescue SARfacility of the country where you are cruising or flying. No foreign government in this region has a dedicated search andrescue organization some have coast guard operations of their own butnot devoted solely to SAR.