Northeast sees record boater deaths in 2010
Twenty-one recreational boaters and paddlers have died in the Northeast this year, the highest recorded number.
Motorized vessels accounted for 10 fatalities while six kayakers and five canoeists accounted for the remaining 11 fatalities, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety.
Nationwide, an average of 700 people die every year in boating and paddling accidents. Close to 70 percent drown and, of that 70 percent, almost 90 percent were not wearing a life jacket.
For details about the 2010 North American Safe Boating Campaign, log onto www.safeboatingcampaign.com.
Ocean sailing seminar dates announced
The Cruising Rally Association announced its latest ocean sailing seminars. For 20 years, CRA instructors with specialties in communications, sail handling, heavy weather sailing, mechanical/electrical systems and offshore safety have brought two-day seminars to future offshore sailors.
The 2010 Ocean Sailing Seminar schedule includes a program Sept. 18-19 in Hampton, Va.
The seminar is an interactive workshop in a classroom setting, according to the CRA. The speakers will outline passage planning and preparation, and become personal advisers to the students.
For information on future rallies and seminars, visit www.carib1500.com.
Massive volunteer crew to clean local waters
On Sept. 25, Ocean Conservancy will be activating the world's largest volunteer cleanup crew for ocean, lakes and rivers for the 25th annual International Coastal Cleanup. What started out as a local beach cleanup in Texas has rapidly grown into a global movement of ocean conservation. Last year, more than 500,000 volunteers from 100-plus countries gathered to remove more than 7 million pounds of marine debris.
Volunteers also record data on every piece of trash they find, helping Ocean Conservancy develop the world's only global snapshot of what is trashing our ocean and waterways.
Beginning in early August, search for a cleanup site near you at www. oceanconservancy.org.
Senators seek funds for Long Island Sound
Three senators have introduced legislation designed to bring federal dollars to the restoration of Long Island Sound.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act in March.
The Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act combines two water-quality and shore-restoration programs through 2015 at a cost of $325 million over the next five years. Long Island Sound's economic contribution from sport and commercial fishing, boating, recreation and tourism is estimated to be about $5.5 billion a year, according to the legislators.
The legislation includes a new provision that would provide additional information on how the EPA distributes the funds, requiring annual reports on how the money is allocated. To follow the legislation's progress, visit www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s3119/actions.
Coast Guard issues VHF safety alert
Certain models of Digital Selective Calling-equipped VHF radios will automatically switch from a working channel to channel 16 upon receipt of a DSC distress alert, distress alert acknowledgment and other DSC calls in which a channel number has been designated, according to a Coast Guard Safety Alert.
A navigation safety hazard may consequently occur if the radio is being used to maintain a listening watch or to communicate on the designated bridge-to-bridge radio-telephone or vessel traffic services monitoring channel, according to the safety alert.
Manufacturers of DSC-equipped VHF marine radios believed to be affected by this Safety Alert include, but are not limited to the following (rebranded radios are not included unless otherwise identified): BH T&A Company, Icom Incorporated, Lowrance, Midland, Northstar, Pony Electric Corporation, Raytheon Anschuetz GmbH High Seas Products, Raymarine, Sea Inc of Delaware, Samyung ENC Company, Simrad, Skanti G/S, SP Radio A/S, Standard Horizon, Tekcom Industries, Uniden America Corporation, Vertex Standard Company.
Updated information will be posted when available at www.navcen.uscg.gov/ marcomms/gmdss/dsc.htm.
Conn. facilities gain clean-marina status
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection recently recognized 12 marine facilities, including nine more of the Brewer family of marinas and yards in Connecticut, as recreational boating facilities to be certified as "Connecticut Clean Marinas."
At a ceremony at the Connecticut Marine Trades Association's Hartford Boat Show, the Clean Marina certification was presented to nine Brewer group recreational boating facilities in Connecticut and to Spicer's Marina in Noank, Reynolds Garage and Marine in Lyme, and Mystic Shipyard East in Mystic.
The Clean Marina designation acknowledges the efforts of marinas and other boating facilities to go beyond regulatory compliance and participate in voluntary measures to keep Connecticut waters clean. There are now 27 Clean Marinas in Connecticut.
This article originally appeared in the September 2010 issue.
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