Flotilla 12 meeting in Bainbridge, Ga.

This past weekend, Flotilla 12 held their monthly meeting at the Boat Basin in Bainbridge, Ga. Due to our increased area of operation and the diverse locations of our membership, we are beginning to rotate our meeting location.

When our flotilla first began, we had a much smaller area of operation than we do now. We are part of Division 1, 8th Coastal Region , which covers the entire Florida Panhandle, Southeast Georgia, and Southwest Alabama, with flotillas in Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, and Apalachee Bay (south of Tallahassee. The AOR includes nearly 400 miles of shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico, the intercoastal waterway, and many bays and inlets along the way, each with a large boating community.

Until recently or Flotilla’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) was the coastal waters from just southeast of the Econfina River to half way between St. Marks and Shell Point FL. Today, our Flotilla’s AOR spans further west to Apalachicola and include Shell Point, Ochlockonee Bay, Alligator Point, Carrabelle, Dog and St. George Islands and the Apalachicola River.

As always, it is best to be prepared for the unexpected. Be mindful to make sure you have all of your safety equipment, check that your radio is in working condition and your lights are functional in the event you find yourself out after dusk. A vessel safety check will help you ensure that you are prepared. If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.

Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident.

Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com