May 8, 2004 – The chase scenes off the St. Thomas Waterfront next Saturday might be better than what you see in the movies.
The good-guy, bad-guy chases around the harbor will feature the Immigration and Customs Enforcement four-engine chase boats and their boat handlers. Circling overhead will be aerial demonstrations by Blackhawk helicopters, also from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are hosting this event to kick off National Safe Boating Week. What began five years ago, as a small demonstration of boating safety gear has become the largest event of its kind held in the Virgin Islands.
Last year, according to a press release from the Coast Guard, over 700 visitors attended the event. The release adds, "It's a day for the entire family to learn about boating safety and to see several spectacular air and sea demonstrations from our military and law enforcement agencies."
The tentative schedule will provide tours of a 110-foot Coast Guard Cutter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 4-engine pursuit boats, a V.I. National Parks Service chase boat, a 47-foot Coast Guard rescue/pursuit boat, and a lifeboat from the Carnival Cruise Lines.
Also highlighting the event are the helicopter rescue demonstrations performed by the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Team. At the dock will be over 20 displays of marine safety equipment, environmental displays from Coral World and UVI, CPR demonstrations by the American Red Cross, and specialized equipment from the V.I. Army National Guard, St. Thomas Rescue, and demonstrations from the V.I. Fire Department.
The daylong raffle will provide nearly a hundred prizes from local merchants, hotels, restaurants, and local and national airlines and cruise lines. This years raffle will benefit the Coast Guard Auxiliary for marine search and rescue equipment, and educational materials for the boating safety classes. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian arm of the U.S. Coast Guard, assisting the Coast Guard in the areas of public education, search and rescue, port security patrols, marine environmental awareness, courtesy vessel examinations, and all areas of boating safety.
Free burgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks will be provided for everyone in attendance. The V.I. National Guard Band will provide entertainment throughout the day.
Although the theme of the event will be boating safety, sponsors say the event has become much more than that. This year, May 15 is also Armed Forces Day. Residents will have the opportunity to say "thank you" to all men and women in uniform.
Gates open at 9 a.m. The first helicopter demonstration is at 10 a.m. and the event runs until 1:30 p.m.
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