A few years ago, returning from a few fun days at Santa Catalina Island (a 20 mile voyage from my then home port of San Pedro, California), in mid-channel I noted a blip on my radar screen a few miles ahead off my starboard bow. The "blip's" observed course was northwest. I scanned the horizon with binoculars and observed what appeared to be a navy ship approximately positioned where the blip was evident. After a few more minutes cruising time the ship was in the exact same position relative to me . . . but much closer. Without the aid of the binoculars I could now easily see the large white numbers on the warship's port bow. I tuned in to common sea radio Channel 16 to listen for "chatter". Almost immediately I heard the following message, obviously intended for my attention.
