Safe at Sea: 2020: Year of the ‘Yak’
Just as the sale of recreational boats has skyrocketed during the pandemic, so has the sale of kayaks — thus, 2020 is the Year of the Yak! There is practically a laundry list of reasons why their popularity has boomed again:
– Excellent way to get exercise. (Check.)
– Experience close-up the beauty of nature. (Check.)
– Fresh air. (Check.)
– Social distancing. (Check.)
– Inexpensive on-the-water experience. (Check.)
– Safe solitary “boating.” (Check … maybe.)
In a recent conversation with a local outfitter and guide, I was reminded — once again — that every kayaker must put safety first. He relayed a story he had read a few months ago where the U.S. Coast Guard had rescued two stranded kayakers. A request-for-assistance call had come in at about 9:15 p.m. The call related that they had become exhausted after several hours of paddling. They had run out of daylight, had no lifejackets — much less clothing that protected them from lengthy exposure to the sun — and no food or water. That and their cell phone had low battery power.
Obviously, this pair made several all-too-common mistakes before even boarding their kayak. Kayakers often fail to take seriously the precautions all boaters must take. So here are some tips that apply, no matter whether you are kayaking in our Southwest Florida waters or in any location worldwide:
– Wear a comfortable, properly fitted life jacket The key here is comfortable, or you will be tempted to remove it, and once the kayak has rolled, it is too late.
– File a float plan, which is as easy as a text or a call to a trusted friend or family member with trip details and estimated time of return.
– Take more than one type of communication device and/or a portable phone charger.
– Consider buying a personal location beacon — last week’s column addressed the importance of this. At the very least have a 360 degree light and a whistle.
– Check the weather!
– Dress for the water temperature, as well as the air temperature.
The America’s Boating Club conducts free safety checks on kayaks, as well as boats. For kayaks, the club provides fluorescent tape stickers for your paddles as the Sanibel Emergency Response Assistance Team has learned in its drills that locating a kayaker lost in the mangroves is an extremely difficult rescue to locate.
By the way, my talk with the local outfitter ended with him asking me to remind those folks who are considering a kayak purchase to take the time to try out several different kayaks. “They will want to find the one that is most comfortable for them. Like shoes, they’ll want to find the one that fits best,” he stated.
Pat Schmidt is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more about the chapter and its boating education courses, visit www.sancapboating.club or contact education@sanibelcaptivasps.org or 612-987-2125. To schedule a free Vessel Safety Check with the club, email vsc@sanibelcaptivasps.org.