As most TKAA members know safety on the water is something I feel very strongly about. To get things rolling here's something to consider from somebody who thought he had everything under control and thought he'd never have a problem at sea...

"When anyone asks how I can best describe my experience in nearly forty plus years at sea I merely say, uneventful. Of course there have been winter gales and storms and fog and the like. But in all my experience, I have never been in an accident...of any sort worth speaking about. I have seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea. I never saw a wreck and never have been wrecked nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort."

Edward J. Smith, 1907
Captain, RMS Titanic
(Struck Iceberg and went to the bottom of the sea five years later)

I know it's extreme for our consideration, but ACCIDENTS happen to everyone (I know there's some nice gear on the bottom of the bay, in the rivers, in the inlet...!!). How we get past the accidents depends on how well we're prepared before, during, and after the accident happens!

Anyway, I'll post safety info here and hopefully generate some fun, safety oriented, discussion...

Cheers,
Vic