Amarone II boarded en route to NOTL
(Beware of new operating procedures)
- from Bruce Hannah, Amarone II
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On Saturday June 21st, Amarone II left ABYC for a 3 day stay at Niagara-on-the-Lake. About mid lake, we noticed the large red and white police catamaran (the one that we saw in our harbour a couple of weeks ago) that was heading directly for our boat. Once it was about 100 metres behind us, it launched the police tender and 2 RCMP officers boarded our vessel while we were under sail. The mother vessel was staffed with 4 Coast Guard officers, 2 Police officers and 2 RCMP officers.
They began their questioning by asking if we were heading to the US and we said no, but they continued asking and I told them we had a reservation at NOTL Sailing Club. They then proceeded to ask for the boat registration, of which I had a photocopy, and they wrote the details down.
They then requested the following:
- Driver's permit for both Claude and I (wrote all the details down)
- Boat operator's card
- VHF license
- Requested to see my flares (most were expired); I was informed that they must be renewed every 4 years
- My life jackets, which were in the lazarette underneath my spinnaker, and the officer indicated that this was another infraction because they were not easily accessible. I informed them that I have my 2 inflatable vests but he again indicated that this was an infraction because we did not have them on (the latter must be worn at all times, if those are the only jackets you have on board)
- Then he asked for my dinghy registration and the safety bucket that holds the Operator's card, the flashlight, etc
Once he was satisfied that I was in good shape, he indicated that each infraction warrants a $300 fine which he waived because the flares though expired, I did have a parachute flare, and a smoke bomb. I told them that I had new flares on board but I was a little too unnerved to find them.
They then indicated that they would verify with Ottawa the status of our driver's permits and boat registration and that they will easily "Catch Us" if there were irregularities. They followed us for an hour while doing their verification. The whole experience was quite intimidating to say the least. (You should see the big black boot prints they left on my cockpit cushions).
I finally asked the officer why this was happening and he indicated that this is a new standard operating procedure to stop vessels at their leisure to inspect; especially in the corridor Toronto to NOTL.
To top it all, I was also informed that I would get a $50 invoice for having been boarded - go figure. I am not sure if this is true but I will inform you if I do get said invoice.
The question in my mind is: Should I have asked if they had a search warrant? They could have stayed rafted off Amarone II but to actually board a vessel seems quite invasive in my mind.
Boaters, make sure your vessels are compliant.