Safe at Sea: Boating education equals safe boating
Each year, the U.S. Coast Guard publishes the Recreational Boating Statistics, which tracks not only the number of recreational boats and such, but also the number of boating accidents on the water. The most recent compilation (2016) recorded 4,463 incidents for that year. The incidents involved 701 deaths and over 2,900 injuries, not to mention approximately $49 million in damage to property.
While these are national statistics, it is important to remember that Florida is the top-ranking state with 70 fatalities and 684 accidents. According to Fire Chief Jeff Pawul, of the Captiva Island Fire Control District, “Florida has been and always is – as of late – the number one state for boating accidents and drownings in relation to boating incidents.”
Digging deeper into the statistics, we learn that 77 percent of the deaths occurred on boats where the operator had no boating safety instruction. America’s Boating Club’s mission is boating education. In fact, the club’s tag line should be: “We Save Lives through Boating Education.”
This year’s series of boating courses on the islands will begin next month with the entry-level course, America’s Boating Course. Whether you are an experienced boater or a novice, the course is laden with information about boating the local Gulf and bay waters, which require very different boating knowledge and skill than boating in northern lakes and rivers.
The first offering of the America’s Boating Course will be Dec. 4 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Dec. 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Due to library renovation, the session will be taught at the St. Charles Yacht Club, at 15900 St Charles Harbour Blvd., Fort Myers. The following sessions will be held Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, then March 19 and March 30.
The second course in the educational series, Boat Handling, is a more advanced course and is open to the public. The course will begin in February.
For more information or to register for one of the courses offered by America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva, contact Education Officer Bob Orr at 239-985-9472 or Commander@SanibelCaptivaSPS.org.
Pat Schmidt is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more information, contact 239-985-9472 or Commander@SanibelCaptivaSPS.org or visit online at sancapboating.club.