| Issue #3- April 13, 2007 |
Keeping Young Boaters Safe
A Ten Year Old Boater and Others Learn Safety Tips
By Phyllis Lombardi
Here on the North Fork we’re all in the same boat. Not worried, really, but concerned. And not about our health, our bank accounts, or even our love life.
It’s what happens every spring and summer as those powerboat engines rev up. It’s the season of silliness and speed on the Sound and the bays.
Now silliness is just fine, I think, and speed is exhilarating, no question. But put them together in a motorboat along with an untrained operator and a bunch of his slap-happy pals and you’ve got trouble, my friends.
One thing about the North Fork, we try to handle our problems. So if you checked out the Southold Recreation Center on Peconic Lane in Peconic, you’d know what we’ve done to help prevent boating accidents. Every Thursday afternoon for five weeks, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., serious boating lessons were taught. They were all ages 10 – 17, so they were enthusiastic, curious – and had come straight to the boating classes from a full day at school. Now that’s spirit.
I guess North Forkers feel pretty confident about boating. We all know, for example, not to go in a boat for at least one hour after eating lunch. Isn’t that what our mothers told us? But there’s some other stuff we should hear about before shoving off in a boat. And members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 18-08 are determined to see that young North Fork boaters get off to a good start. (There are classes for adults, too – it’s never too late for safety.)
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the volunteer civilian arm of the U.S. Coast Guard. Members inspect vessels, help out in emergencies and, obviously, instruct would-be boaters. Mike Sueiro of Greenport headed up the group of half dozen auxiliary members at the center on the afternoon I stopped by.
Mike’s confident that the course, which New York State will require of all boaters after January 1, 2009, will not only make boating more fun but will save lives. Working with Mike were auxiliary members Barbara and Dan Christianson from Mattituck. Barbara added that the auxiliary will train local fire department personnel on the North Fork in the efficient use of fire department rescue boats. We’ve all read dramatic accounts of their use in saving boaters in trouble.
Another auxiliary member on the job was Merlon Wiggin. Merlon has high praise for the auxiliary and its members. “We’re known as America’s volunteer lifesavers,” he said. An eight-year member of the group, Merlon is also president of East End Lighthouses, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
No question. Our youngsters had expert instruction. Now meet some of those young people.
Kyle Freudenberg was one of the youngest. At age ten, he attends Cutchogue East School and I imagine each spring he begins to daydream in class about being out on Long Island Sound with his dad and his sister Katie. They fish for fluke, Kyle said.
Also from Cutchogue East was ten-year-old Chris Mauceri. While he and Kyle share the halls in school, they don’t see each other out on the water. Chris and his dad are partial to Peconic Bay.
An older guy in the group, Scott Gonzalez, 15, had quite a bit of boating experience. His father, Scott Sr., owns Townsend Manor Marina in Greenport and Scott Jr. has worked several seasons there. He pumps gas, ties up boats, goes on ice-runs for thirsty folks, and just learns and enjoys. He’s met boaters from all over the eastern coast.
Finally, a girl. Kate Moore, 15, a Southold High School student, attended for a very specific reason. She hopes to land a job as a sailing instructor at Southold Yacht Club this summer. She’s had lots of experience with her Sunfish on Peconic Bay. I met Kate just once – bet she gets that job.
The young people learned terminology, hull shapes, types of watercraft and engines, safety – in short, what safe boating requires. Passing a 50-question test at the end of the course gives them a New York State Boating Safety Certificate. More important, it gives them the security that comes with skill. North Forkers can thank these young people for their efforts. As for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary? We sing their praise in the words of their own song. Semper Paratus. Always ready, indeed.
Here on the North Fork we’re all in the same boat. Not worried, really, but concerned. And not about our health, our bank accounts, or even our love life.
It’s what happens every spring and summer as those powerboat engines rev up. It’s the season of silliness and speed on the Sound and the bays.
Now silliness is just fine, I think, and speed is exhilarating, no question. But put them together in a motorboat along with an untrained operator and a bunch of his slap-happy pals and you’ve got trouble, my friends.
One thing about the North Fork, we try to handle our problems. So if you checked out the Southold Recreation Center on Peconic Lane in Peconic, you’d know what we’ve done to help prevent boating accidents. Every Thursday afternoon for five weeks, from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., serious boating lessons were taught. They were all ages 10 – 17, so they were enthusiastic, curious – and had come straight to the boating classes from a full day at school. Now that’s spirit.
I guess North Forkers feel pretty confident about boating. We all know, for example, not to go in a boat for at least one hour after eating lunch. Isn’t that what our mothers told us? But there’s some other stuff we should hear about before shoving off in a boat. And members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 18-08 are determined to see that young North Fork boaters get off to a good start. (There are classes for adults, too – it’s never too late for safety.)
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the volunteer civilian arm of the U.S. Coast Guard. Members inspect vessels, help out in emergencies and, obviously, instruct would-be boaters. Mike Sueiro of Greenport headed up the group of half dozen auxiliary members at the center on the afternoon I stopped by.
Mike’s confident that the course, which New York State will require of all boaters after January 1, 2009, will not only make boating more fun but will save lives. Working with Mike were auxiliary members Barbara and Dan Christianson from Mattituck. Barbara added that the auxiliary will train local fire department personnel on the North Fork in the efficient use of fire department rescue boats. We’ve all read dramatic accounts of their use in saving boaters in trouble.
Another auxiliary member on the job was Merlon Wiggin. Merlon has high praise for the auxiliary and its members. “We’re known as America’s volunteer lifesavers,” he said. An eight-year member of the group, Merlon is also president of East End Lighthouses, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
No question. Our youngsters had expert instruction. Now meet some of those young people.
Kyle Freudenberg was one of the youngest. At age ten, he attends Cutchogue East School and I imagine each spring he begins to daydream in class about being out on Long Island Sound with his dad and his sister Katie. They fish for fluke, Kyle said.
Also from Cutchogue East was ten-year-old Chris Mauceri. While he and Kyle share the halls in school, they don’t see each other out on the water. Chris and his dad are partial to Peconic Bay.
An older guy in the group, Scott Gonzalez, 15, had quite a bit of boating experience. His father, Scott Sr., owns Townsend Manor Marina in Greenport and Scott Jr. has worked several seasons there. He pumps gas, ties up boats, goes on ice-runs for thirsty folks, and just learns and enjoys. He’s met boaters from all over the eastern coast.
Finally, a girl. Kate Moore, 15, a Southold High School student, attended for a very specific reason. She hopes to land a job as a sailing instructor at Southold Yacht Club this summer. She’s had lots of experience with her Sunfish on Peconic Bay. I met Kate just once – bet she gets that job.
The young people learned terminology, hull shapes, types of watercraft and engines, safety – in short, what safe boating requires. Passing a 50-question test at the end of the course gives them a New York State Boating Safety Certificate. More important, it gives them the security that comes with skill. North Forkers can thank these young people for their efforts. As for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary? We sing their praise in the words of their own song. Semper Paratus. Always ready, indeed.
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