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Flotilla 20-02 first received its charter in 1964 and is located in Morehead City, Carteret County, NC. Its location is ideally suited to fulfill its primary mission of support of the US Coast Guard, in promoting recreational boating safety.

Its area of responsibility covers a 45-mile long stretch of the Southern Outer Banks called the Crystal Coast, running from West to East, with a split leg in the middle, at Cape Lookout that continues to the Northeast. On the northern boundary, it includes portions of both Bogue and Core Sounds, the towns of Morehead City and Beaufort, and the Intracoastal Waterway, with the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic Beach on the southern edge.

Over the past twenty years the area has seen a dramatic increase in both tourism and as a destination for retirees.  For a community that has its roots in commercial fishing, the population change has also seen a corresponding growth in the marine industry including boat builders, maintenance facilities, marinas, and marine related business. This growth together with a growing population of recreational vessels, has made this area a gold-mine for promoting boating safety through public education classes, vessel exams, marine dealer visits, surface and air patrols and presence at festivals, boat shows and other events. The flotilla has received division and district recognition for its activity in Marine Dealer Visits for the past ten years.

Operations.  Because of the close affiliation promoted by Coast Guard Station Fort Macon, the flotilla has enjoyed a convenient training partner for two boat towing drills, search and rescue operations, as well as Helo medical evacuation exercises. Auxiliary vessels participate as the “distressed” vessel providing real-life opportunities for Station crews to perfect their towing skills.

Following the attacks on the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard turned to the Auxiliary for increased participation in safety and security patrols.  Auxiliary facilities and crews assisted the Coast Guard with security patrols especially when military vessels were at the Port.  In addition, members of Flotilla 20-02 together with auxiliarists from surrounding flotillas underwent training to qualify as Watchstanders for Station Ft. Macon. During the heightened alert period auxiliary members provided round the clock support to free station members to attend to security and SAR missions.  In addition, Flotilla 20-02 facilities participated in the security training exercises conducted by Coast Guard assets.

The presence of volunteer Auxiliarists, working without pay, has proved to have a positive effect upon the morale of all Coast Guard personnel.

Air patrols continues to be a vital, if under-recognized, activity of the flotilla. Over the years the flotilla has had at least one aircraft that is frequently called to assist in transport and SAR operations. 

Public Education:  Over the past ten years the variety of public education courses has expanded as well as significant changes in presentation techniques used.  As attendance in BS&S classes diminished the flotilla had to change from the more comprehensive BS&S course to a more competitive one-day course. Fewer people, the flotilla learned, were willing to spend weeks to complete a class when shorter classes were an option.  As the flotilla made the shift to the shorter classes, improvements in the quality of presentations was enabled by the use of new technology such as power-point presentations.  Once the popularity of one-day classes became evident, the flotilla expanded its offerings with separate classes on knowledge of local waters, rules of the road, along with GPS for Mariners, and Suddenly In Command, designed for the first mate emergency event. Boating classes continue to be a major source for new members because of the close interaction with students.

Over the last several years, the flotilla has been invited to present safety classes, featuring life jackets, knot tying, and general boating rules to some of the local high school physical education and sailing classes. NOAA research personnel on Pivers Island, have taken the BS&S 12th edition course because of new requirements by the agency for all those in their boating operations

Public Affairs:  The water activities of the area lend themselves frequently to presenting the Flotilla and the Auxiliary to the general public.  Flotilla members staff booths, for the Local Seafood Festival, The North Carolina Maritime Museum’s Wooden Boat Show, In the Water Boat show, and many fishing expositions.

It has always been a problem to coordinate the many activities, among a limited number of members.  There always seems to be more to do, than what is physically possible.

The above researched and provided by the late Heinz Rister.  The History of Flotilla 20-02 was compiled, written and submitted by Bob Leibert.