Bermuda prepares its search and rescue system for departure of the US Navy.

Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Commodore Mr. Brian Billings said talks between the club and Government were continuing "with regard to rescue facilities and abilities'' once the Navy leaves on September 1.

The RBYC is a sponsor of the biennial Newport-Bermuda Yacht Race, which he estimated pumped more than $4 million into the local economy when last held in 1994.

"Anything that might deter people from taking part in that race, that's a concern,'' Mr. Billings said. "That's why we're having ongoing discussions.'' The race's American co-sponsors -- the Cruising Club of America and the Newport Yacht Club -- were also interested, he said.

Because talks were continuing, Mr. Billings did not want to say what search and rescue improvements the RBYC wanted. But the club wanted to assure the safety of yachtsmen and "quick recovery if there happens to be a problem''.

The Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, a sponsor of the biennial Marion race to be held in June, would also be looking into the search and rescue issue, Commodore Mr. Buddy Rego said.

"It's a very important issue,'' he said, adding that the Marion race may benefit Bermuda financially more than Newport did, since it was more of a family event and the crews had more money to spend.

American co-sponsors of the Marion race are the Beverly Yacht Club and the Blue Water Sailing Club.

Departing with the US Navy are three rescue helicopters, and Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess has said helicopters are not part of Bermuda's post-Navy search and rescue plan.

Mr. Richard Parkes, chief radio operator at Harbour Radio, said that while many think Bermuda is largely dependent on the US Navy for search and rescue, the Navy forms only one part of the Island's ability.

Harbour Radio is an internationally-recognised commumications and rescue coordination centre, and "the search and rescue system works very well in Bermuda,'' he said.

With Marine Police boats for inshore use and Government pilot-rescue boats like the St. David , "we have the craft to maintain our area responsibility,'' Mr. Parkes said.

"All we're doing is just making the search and rescue system in Bermuda better.'' Recently-announced measures are aimed more at local pleasure boaters than at ocean-going racers.

A new direction-finding system is to be installed to help find boats in distress. Two radio stations are to be installed as part of the system, estimated to cost about $300,000. One would be in St. George's, and the other near Gibb's Hill.

Mr. Burgess is also planning changes to the Marine Safety Regulations which would require many local boats to carry emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBS) and 25-watt radios, up from five watts currently.

"The intention is to put the onus for safety at sea squarely where it belongs, and that is with the owners of the vessels,'' Mr. Burgess said.

It was still not determined which boats would have to carry EPIRBS, which can cost anywhere from a little over $100 to well over $1,000. The requirement is expected to be based on how far a boat might venture from shore. Government wanted to be sure "it reaches far enough down the ladder'' to assure that casual boaters who might only occasionally venture far from shore would be covered, Mr. Burgess said.

Still, it was expected less than half of the 7,671 local boats would have to carry a 406 MHz EPIRB, one source said.

EPIRBS give off radio signals which are picked up by satellites. More advanced than the 121.5 MHz EPIRB, the 406 EPIRB which Bermuda plans to require gives a coded signal indentifying the boat and its owner. It also gives a position accurate to within three miles and has a homing device.

While accidental activation is a problem with all EPIRBS, the 406 allows rescue coordinators to recognise false alarms quickly by contacting the boat's owner.

In the US, 406 EPIRBS sell for about $1,000. It is expected Government would waive Customs duty on the devices.

Mr. Danny Farias, president of the 30-member fishermen's division of the Bermuda Industrial Union, said "it's the casual fishermen'' who gets into trouble on the seas.

Boats that regularly go offshore, "you don't find them floating around on the ocean, screaming for help'', he said.

Nevertheless, "I don't have any quarrel'' with a requirement for EPIRBs, Mr.

Farias said. "I sanction it. Government has to take a broad look at it and make sure they get the right boats on the compulsory side of it.'' But he had no problem with all fishermen being required to carry one.

Particulary with the US Navy departing, EPIRBS were "a necessity,'' and Bermuda definitely needed a helicopter also, he said.

"What price do you put on your life?'' Mr. Farias asked. "You have to look at the cost of EPIRBS in that sense.'' Mr. Brian Billings