Flotilla Commander Jim Conlon, of Flotilla 14 of Lindenhurst, N.Y., watches as Flotilla Staff Officer Dan Masterson plots position on a chart during a search and rescue exercise-planning event at the Auxiliary National Search and Rescue competition Oct. 3 at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. CG Photo by Chief Warrant Officer Veronica Bandrowsk

CAPE MAY — The Coast Guard Auxiliary National Search and Rescue Competition will be held here at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5 at 8 a.m.

Auxiliary members from across the country will compete in several events involving common search and rescue tasks to determine a national championship team. The tasks will include a SAR exercise, SAR planning, marlinspike, line heaving, and a mystery event.

Operational training officers, active duty Coast Guard members and auxiliary members, will judge each team and evaluate performances on a point system. The champions will be announced on Saturday at a banquet.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the active duty Coast Guard members to observe how well Coast Guard Auxiliary members perform in their environment," said Auxiliary Rear Commodore East Elect, Bruce Long, events manager.

Congress established the Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1939 and more than 28,000 members volunteer their time to help keep boaters and their families safe on the water.