ISAR 2007
Mike Spencer, Competitor

Mike and his Can-Am Team 14

ISAR 2007 held in Toronto Canada on 27 SEP - 30 SEP was a BIG deal..the Americans finally won the overall. I was proud to be a part of it...

Having never been to Canada I did not know what to expect of the people or the City of Toronto. I was pleasantly surprised on both counts. The City of Toronto is a very modern European style city, at least in the eyes of the writer...glass and steel and renewal going on everywhere. I had hoped to be in more of a historical provincial city but found that Toronto was absolutely busting at the seams with millions of inhabitants all scurrying about and very reminiscent of newer parts of London. Even on the weekend when cities such as Birmingham Alabama are quite devoid of life Toronto is vibrant and alive.

Upon arrival those of us from the south...and south to Canadians is all of the United States..are confronted with a totally bi-lingual culture. You better like the sound of the French language spoken Canadian style or you will be out of step. Television, intercom announcements, radio..everything is bi-lingual. Of course the majority language in Toronto is English but it seems like everyone is comfortable in both languages. The dialects differ amongst the provinces but its definitely English-French pervasive.

An interesting note for us wildlife lovers from the states...the squirrels are BLACK in Canada....that's right...they look like skunks..but they are squirrels..I was in disbelief and had to look for a long time to believe my eyes...shiny black squirrels...

Mike at work on the SAR Planning Exercise.

On to the event itself...all the standard stuff: towing, dewatering, line throwing, fire rescue....and the mystery event was BLIND driving. Yes they cover your eyes and you pilot a coast guard rigid hull inflatable by the directions of your team chosen Coxswain. I can tell you that is a very odd sensation piloting a dual engine craft by oral instruction sans' the eyes.

I started out on the District 8 team but got randomly selected to go to one of the Can-Am teams. I could not have been more pleased with the outcome...why..?..because I got to meet and work with people from far off distant places that I never would have even met otherwise. My team was from Nova-Scotia, California and Alabama (me). We had so much fun trying to put together a team strategy and execution because we were from such different backgrounds. Basically, working on a team with such diverse areas and language/dialects made the whole experience much more meaningful than those folks who simply stayed on their original team the whole time. They simply don't know what they missed and I think all the teams should have been mixed Can-Am. Anyway with all said, my Can-Am team won the towing event...and took home the plaque for that...we were ecstatic over what we accomplished.

The brass was all there also...the Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner (the head guy), Admiral Thad Allen's Vice Commandant, a host of other active Coast Guard Captains and senior officers and of course all the Auxiliary brass. We had all the pomp of official Military proceedings with color guard and band and yes...security choppers hovering and secret service protection for the brass. There were 2 bands. The day band was from HMCS York a Canadian Navy ship on duty in the area and the night band was from the oldest Canadian regiment existing...it was a great honor to have them there. Like I said earlier this event was a big deal. There were cutters there from both countries and crews to man them and show them off. All participants were welcome and encouraged to tour the vessels, ask questions and linger all you wanted on them. Joe Putman from Fl88 was invited to join a mission on a USCG 47 foot out in the bay during a demonstration exercise.

The ISAR was ended at the Saturday night banquet, which was attended by all including the flag officers, mentioned earlier. The meal was awesome as you would expect, a five-course meal with no holds barred. Commissioner DuPont' (Canadian Coast Guard head guy) gave the keynote address and was very inspiring and insightful. All the awards were given out and the event was concluded....but not before many new friends and teammates gave their heartfelt farewells to each other..I know this was the case on my Can-Am team and District 8 team.

One final and important note..a ceremony was performed to honor the Seamen who have paid the final price in the search and rescue service while on duty. It was a full military style service with Commissioner Dupont presiding which, was respectful and beautiful. A piper and bugler played the appropriate strains on Taps and Amazing Grace while a lone wreath was laid on the bay. All in attendance gave the proper respect and remembrance of those that gave the final all to Mother Ocean. And with that I close