safety first!

Marty and I are extremely safety conscious, at least we think we are. We have all kinds of live saving equipment on board and perform safety checks every year. Even so, every step you take can make a difference, hence a broken toe and multiple bruises from walking into immovable boat objects like deck cleats.

Anyway, two interesting things happened yesterday that made us feel good about our vigilance.

Upon our entrance to Burlington Harbor Marina, a small Coast Guard patrol boat came storming out of the Burlington Coast Guard Station headed directly at us. The craft slowed, the blue lights flashed, and they approached us from the stern. Nice (cute) young gentlemen. “Have you ever been boarded by the Coast Guard?” “No!” “Routine safety check.” “OK!” It didn’t take long. The nice young man asked for our documentation and Marty’s drivers license (?). He was from Connecticut too! They did not board the vessel, but reviewed the documentation and the safety gear that was visually accessible, and gave us a new Coast Guard safety signoff certificate. Funny thing is that last year when we were in Burlington at the same marina, the CG approached us from the dock, came aboard and did their safety check. All good! These are training exercises and we are happy to participate.

Later in the afternoon, long after we were settled, a 34′ Searay boat was docking on an adjacent finger dock. Seemed as if they were under control. I noticed that the gentleman from the boat behind them came out to assist the lady with the lines so we did not rush over. Next time I turn around, she is in the water, having reached too far for the bow line. I ran to get her out of the water (electrical shock in marinas), Marty grabbed the life ring to keep her buoyant; I released the stern line of the boat that had been tied to let the boat free so that it would not crush her; the man from the boat behind ran for a ladder and we assisted her out of the water. Meanwhile, the bow and stern lines were dangling in the water in proximity of tangling in the props (bad thing). Crisis averted! Quick thinking of multiple heads. No one hurt.

Lesson learned again. Take every step carefully.