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Thursday was the perfect day to go sailing. We had just had a tremendous thunderstorm the day before that cooled things off and left us with a few clouds in the sky — just enough so being on a boat was very comfortable.  The wind was just right and it was the perfect time to take off from work early and head out to the lake. 

A group of us loaded up a friend’s boat with food, beverages and fun!

As we sailed out of the docks we lucked out with a strong gust of wind that pushed us right into the open water.  We spent the day tacking, drinking and telling each other stories, some of them true others embellished but all of them interesting.  At sunset we got another strong wind that pushed us back into the docks.  A perfect day.

 The day seemed perfect yet there are events in play that run parallel with your perfect day.  A fact that became evident this morning when a friend telephoned me at work to say that they had heard that someone had drowned yesterday in the same lake we had such a great day on.  An event that really threw things into perspective for me and punctuates the fact that having fun does not mean getting careless. 

The following safety tips are posted by the American Red Cross.  Following the rules of safety will ensure that you have a great time on the water and safely return everyone to shore.        Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes anyone participating in any boating activity. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To enroll in a swim course you may contact your local Red Cross chapter.

       Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes anyone participating in any boating activity. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To enroll in a swim course you may contact your local Red Cross chapter.

• Alcohol and boating don’t mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination — over 50 percent of drownings result from boating incidents involving alcohol. For the same reasons it is dangerous to operate an automobile while under the influence of alcohol, people should not operate a boat while drinking alcohol.
• Look for the label: Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets for yourself and your passengers when boating and fishing.
• Develop a float plan. Anytime you go out in a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. This is important because if the boat is delayed because of an emergency, becomes lost, or encounters other problems, you want help to be able to reach you.
• Find a boating course in your area (U.S. Power Squadron, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Sailing, etc) — these courses teach about navigation rules, emergency procedures and the effects of wind, water conditions, and weather.
• Watch the weather: Know local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Watch local news programs. Stop boating as soon as you see or hear a storm.