Page 4 June 17, 1992. Into the Deep Blue, Victoria Weeklies Booze is common thread in salty horror stories By TONY KANT Victoria Weeklies Editor he tales told when marine search and rescue personnel get together to trade infor- mation would make Davy Jones blush. And a common thread winds its way through criminal charges laid by the RCMP in 1991 accounted for almost. 56 per cent of the total marine charges laid. Many people don’t realize the same laws apply to driving a boat as to driving a car as far as alcohol con- sumption is concerned. Each year, dozens of boaters find out the hard way that booze and boating are a lethal combination. Each year, dozens of people die in boating mishaps. have saved uncounted lives. in most cases where people have fallen over- board and drowned, they have been found to be not wearing a life jacket. A recent study of coroner’s reports involving boating fatalities showed that in more than 70 per cent of the deaths, the deceased was not wearing a life jacket or a PFD, or was not wearing the flotation device properly. Preparation is the key to safety afloat,says Marc Pakenham, training sonal flotation a yellow and ora colors approve Canada. While our “If a person is wearing a flotation device when they go overboard they are rescuable, If they're not wearing -one, their rescue is just a matter of luck,” says Pakenham. Unfortunately, \life jackets and per- evices in Canada have not kept pace with fashion. Red, e are the three by Transport erican cousins a large number of those salty officer for Coast Guard Canada in horror stories . . . alcohol. Booze and boating is a given on any sunny weekend on the water and for a distressing number of people, it’s a The Canadian Safe Boating Council are wearing bright, fashionable : neon-colored PFDs \in modern, com- "Es says the three biggest killers of boaters are: °Not having or not wearing a life Victoria. “The development of the search and rescue system in Canada during the past 10 years — with the formation fortable designs, steps removed fro West, kapok-stuffed ere only a few the old May life jackets of deadly combination. The following scenario, with names left out to protect the innocent, occurred a few years ago: jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) — especially in small boats. ¢Combining alcohol consumption and boating. eIgnorance of basic boating safety of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and other improvements — has given us the ability to rescue people far more effectively but the key to safety on the water is being well prepared. The yesteryear. While the regulations governing boating stipulate that éither PFDs or life jackets must be favailable for everyone on board, it dpes not state they must be worn at all\times while A powerful speedboat was headed back to home port after a day of par- tying on the American side of the bor- der. Two of the boaters were perched on the bow of the vessel as it skimmed along near Cadboro Bay. An unexpected swell caused the boat to bounce down hard. Two men were thrown overboard. It took a while for the skipper to realize his buddies were missing and when he circled around to pick them up, he could find only one of the men who had gone overboard. With darkness falling quickly he ran the boat in frantic circles looking for his lost friend. Finally, an ob- server on shore called the Coast Guard. A fast response auxiliary ves- sel was dispatched but the man was never recovered. Lost and presumed drowned, he wore no life jacket or personal flotation device. The combination of powerful en- gines and wide open water makes boating exhilarating for many but slowed reaction times and poor judg- ment brought on by booze can make for disaster on the water. A study of coroner’s reports from 1986 to 1990 revealed that more than one third of the drowning deaths in Canada involving boats listed alcohol as being a major contributing factor. A Red Cross study showed that nationwide, two thirds of all boaters in Canada consume alcohol while boating “always/sometimes’” with the figure increasing to 91 per cent for boaters engaged in recreational hunting or fishing. Alcohol-related practices. responsibility for that lies with the Approved life jackets and PFDs Rules of. the road | for boaters: | oaters unfamiliar with the “rules of the road” can cause con- fusion on the water and endanger lives. There are some simple rules that help al- _ leviate this situation. __ eWhen meeting a boat head on, go to starboard (right) to pass. _ ¢When you overtake from behind, you must keep clear of the boat you are overtaking, ¢When two boats are crossing, the - one on the right has the “right” of way. e At night, it’s even simpler because the lights on the boat are like traific lights. If you see a red light (another boat’s port light) you must let that boat go first and if you see a green (starboard) light, you may go first. If you see a white light only, you are overtaking and must stay clear. ¢In general, faster boats stay clear of slower boats, especially canoes and SS hatches boater. sailboats. Everyone should stay clear — _ of freighters, fishing boats, tugboats _and their tows. These vessels don’t stop or turn quickly. PROCEDURE _ _ ©Moor the vessel securely, _ Make sure all passengers are _ ashore. ee eExtinguish all smoking iaterialsandopenflames, eClose all windows and — °Take portable tanks ashore. °Don't use electrical switches. _ _ ©Ground nozzle against filler pipe. — - eDontoverhll Wipe up any spillage imme _ diately. _ _ of on blower for at least _ five minutes, eCheck for vapor odors. eEnsure the engine is dis. engaged (neutral) and steering set straight ahead before at- _ tempting to start. on board a vessel. Safety\experts are inclined to think the argtament that an unapproved PFD being worn is better than the best PFD or life jacket that’s left stuffed in a storage locker. Pakenham says the attitude of boaters towards their flotatidn gear should be analogous ta the automobile seat belts 25 years ‘ago. “People viewed seatbelts with great skepticism at first and were not in- clined to use them, The term ‘budkle up’ should refer to flotation device\as well as seat belts.” Pakenham also points out thte hypocrisy of boaters who “expectt their kids to wear flotation gear at al times while they ignore their own advice.” It’s commonly accepted that if a boater falls overboard in these waters without flotation, he has only about 10 or 15 minutes to survive. ~ The stress of the body having to struggle to stay afloat combined with the shock of entering near-frigid water contributes to the rapid demise of many man-overboard victims. In many cases, flotation would have made the difference. While flotation is a basic tool for _—‘ saving lives on the water, Pakenham ® § ‘ stresses that communication is also a major link in the equation. A boater in trouble needs a way to communi- cate to summon help. A-VHF radio is one of the most efficient ways to keep a lifeline open. The price of marine VHF radios have come down rapidly | Continued on Page 5 INN RESORT NAUTICAL TRAINING UPGRADING YOUR ONE STOP WATER RECREATION SPOT Just 5 minutes from Butchart Gardens BOAT RENTALS YACHT BROKERAGE °16Hourtsion45HP Used Boat Sales e ‘New’ Catacraft for up to 10 people Hourly, Daily rates * Fishing, Cruising Camosun College’s Nautical Training Department — is now located in ihe new Science and Technology Building at the Interurban Campus. The Fall program starts 8th September 1992 and includes: Watchkeeping Mate 8th September 1992 to 24th December 1992 Offshore Navigator | 8th September 1992 to 22nd January 1993 e Professional Guides e Cabin Cruisers Diving : ; * Bring the Family eee ae Coastal Navigator I z 652-3151 8th September 1992 to 20th November 1992 : ~ TERS Command Endorsement SEA J. AC Cl BL 8ih September 1992 to 23rd October 1992 ! : For full details of all Nautical Training courses, ; DINNER CRUISES GROUP CRUISES pick up a course schedule at any Campus, or contact: Ideal for weddings, Admissions/Registration Camosun College Interurban Campus 4461 Interurban Road | Victoria, B.C. V8X 3X1 3 Hour cruise plus | 4 course dinner anniversaries, just 4995 652-2413 birthdays and staff parties “WE DO IT BEST ON THE WATER” telephone: 370-3841 College __ LEARNING Jor LIFE