WATER WISDOM FOR SKIERS
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from March 1966.
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Wear an approved life-jacket if you are not a strong swimmer, and also when jumping.
Always check equipment, wing nuts, loose binding, splinters and sharp metal.
Avoid wrapping rope round any part of body (fingers, hand or foot), nor place any part of the body through the bridle. Understand and use approved signals between skier and driver. Do not ski directly ahead of, or to the side of another boat. Never jump from boat whilst it is moving.
Wait until rope is tautening and your tips are up before shouting 'Hit it' to the driver. Watch water ahead of you at all times and keep clear of solid obstacles - jetties, boats, mooring buoys, rocks, banks, etc.
Avoid falling forward - sit down, or if falling sideways, curl yourself into a ball.
Always throw away handle on falling; recover skis quickly, they will assist you to keep afloat.
To signal all is well after falling, hold up your hand or ski. Learn new tricks and stunts progressively, come in slowly to land and run parallel to shore. (Sit down if coming in too fast.)
WHEN DRIVING Have an extra person in the boat to watch skier.
Operate boat sitting in the seat, never sit on the side.
Steer clear of other boats and floating obstacles and do not drive boat through swim. ming area Never turn sharply, this may put the skier in the water, gradual wide arc turns are the rule.
Wait for skier's signal and his tips above the water before starting, give him a smooth, steady pull on take-off. Return immediately to pick up the skier.
Shut off your motor before taking aboard a skier. SPECIAL POINTS for WATER
SKIERS
It is dangerous to ski in shallow water; also unknown water at night.
No motorboat shall tow a skier from the period of one hour after sunset to one hour prior to sunrise.
All power boats towing water skiers should be occupied by two competent persons, thus enabling the driver to concentrate on navigation and the water ahead, whilst the second person is responsible for watching the skier and relaying his signals to the driver. No person operating a motorboat towing a skier should allow any person to ride or sit on the gunwales or decking of the vessel while under way.
When operating on the sea or other large expanse of water, the skier should wear a life jacket, and the towing boat must carry a life buoy or other approved life preserver. It is also recommended that all boats carry fire extinguishers and that the engine cover be lifted for a few seconds after refuelling.
When skiing takes place from a public beach or other area where swimmers and other water users are present, one experienced person shall be in charge of skiing operations and assume responsibility to ensure that all necessary precautions are rigidly observed. served. Apart from take-off and landing operations, all normal ski-ing should be carried out away from the shore at a safe distance beyond areas used by swimmers etc.
