I don't know how it works at your house,
but when the phone rings at 5:40 in the morning at my house, it can't be good news.
When I looked at the 'Caller ID' and saw it was
the federal government calling, I figured this REALLY can't be good.

Caller on the other end, "Is this Mr. Royall?"
I choked out a, "Yes it is".
He continued, "Are you aware of the whereabouts of the Sailing Vessel Shibumi?"
Without responding I bolted to the window and swiped back the blinds.
He said again, "Mr. Royall, are you aware of the location of the vessel Shibumi?"
I was now more emboldened, "Yes. Yes, I am".
Him, "Are you or the vessel in distress?".
I looked again through the still swaying blinds.
Shibumi sat quietly at the dock.
"Sir can you tell me the reason for this call?", was my only reply.

He went on to explain that the Coast Guard received a distress signal from a VHF radio in our area.
That radio had a discrete code that was one number different from Shibumi's discrete code.
Since Shibumi was registered nearby they wanted to check that I had not entered my code incorrectly.
At that point I started to feel good about the call.
Had I had a problem and boogered-up the distress signal,
these guys would have been on the case, anyway.
Sleep well tonight. Your Coast Guard is awake.

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