The number of capsizing boats in the North Sound is becoming ridiculous.
And senseless.
Both boats involved in accidents this past weekend had entirely too many people on board.
That’s beyond senseless, that’s just plain stupid.
People who flagrantly ignore safety on the water have the potential of putting many people, including themselves, in harm’s way.
When a boat capsizes boaters that are in the area typically offer assistance.
Too, officers from the Marine Enforcement division and Department of Environment get called to the scene.
We were fortunate this past weekend that none of the people who offered assistance were themselves injured.
In total 25 people were on board the two capsized boats.
We hope those 25 people woke up today thanking God they are alive.
And we hope they learned a valuable lesson.
Even if the winds are calm and waters steady an overloaded boat is a hazard.
Overloading slows a boat down and reduces the amount of freeboard (area above the waterline). A low freeboard increases the possibility of swamping the boat or taking on water, which will slow the boat even more.
Overloading also leads to improper weight distribution, which can make the boat even more unstable.
Add waves to that mix and you’ve got a major factor in capsizing.
We wonder how many of those passengers were wearing proper personal flotation devices. We’d bet none.
Had this happened in deep seas where the chances of other boaters being around are slim and none, those who were capsized could have drowned if they weren’t wearing proper PFDs.
Even if you are a good swimmer, the urgency of going into the water unexpectedly along with fatigue caused by stressors could render you helpless.
Boating safety is basically about using common sense.
If you’re not sure of the capacity of your boat, call a boat dealer or the Marine Enforcement division.
But no one should have had to tell the captains of both the capsized boats that the number of people on those vessels was too high.
In addition to learning a valuable lesson maybe their close call with mortality gave them a healthy dose of common sense.
If not, we respectively request they stay out of Cayman’s waters.
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