Practice this at home:
✔ Kneel down next to a table about chin height.
✔ Place the life jacket on top of the table.
✔ Follow steps 1 – 5 above.
✔ Practice until you can complete all steps within 30 seconds.
✔ Train your sailing crew.
What to Wear by Whom?
USCG regulations require a life jacket aboard for very boater aboard unless they are under 13 years old. Then they must be on. But didn’t I make the point above that if you do fall overboard and you don’t have one on, it is pretty unlikely you’ll be able to get into one? Isn’t it too late then? Yes, yes, yes! So why only have the kids wear it? And all those kids, seeing dad not wearing one, are saying to themselves, “I can’t wait until I’m old enough not to wear one…” What a lesson you’re teaching, skipper. I’ll tell you a story that ought to bring the point home. One fine day while patrolling Moriches Bay, we came upon a family fishing in an open boat. It looked like there were children aboard and further we couldn’t see any with life jackets on. As we approached, I heard the grandfather say to one of the kids, “Get down, the Coast Guard is coming!” Unfortunately for grandpa, sound travels well over the water and I heard it at the helm. As we came alongside, I gave the wheel to one of my crew and walked up to where our boats were closest together. All I said to grandpa was, “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.” We watched, without another word, as all the children got their life jackets on.
And don’t forget one for the old sea dog – and his pet.
Commodore Vincent Pica
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To see a larger version of this illustration, click on the image.