Read the post on KFS and it reminded me how lucky we all are that we have friends who look out for us, take the time to point out our mistakes, and help us to learn to participate in this sport safely. Tina and I have been accused of going overboard on safety, but Vic's lecture on safety was one of our first, and we took it to heart.
Standing in the heat in the parking lot in midlothian, we watched him lay out the gear, item by item and explain why. At one point he said, it may seem like a lot, but one you leave the launch, what you have with you is all you have... or something to that effect. You guys paddle the ocean fishing areas and or offshore, we paddle 750 acre and 850 acre lakes and are offshore too and we have been much better prepared thanks to the seminars and the information we received. Not just from the classes, but as I am sure you have all done, we have learned from each one of you, just watching your boats as you rig them and asking questions... wandering among the boats and displays at demo days.. trying to learn something new as often as possible.
Tina and I try to volunteer as much as we can, and help the new folks in our area. We paddle with the newbies and show them the proper strokes and reentry, and teach them what little we know about the sport, and tell them to pay it forward. In that way... maybe we can avoid the number of times we read about the incidents like the one in Jersey. The young man was not wearing a PFD or Cold weather gear.
It is a sad day for his family and it will always be a shadow over the Christmas Season for them.
Jim
Here's the link
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262007/news/regionalnews/...aker_dead_281935.htm