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The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, working in concert with Coast Guard Sector Baltimore will be hosting the 2011 Safe Boating Season Kickoff at City Dock on May 21 from Noon to 4:00pm. May 21st through May 28 marks National Safe Boating Week, a reminder to all boaters to properly prepare for a safe boating season.
This event is important for Maryland because boating deaths in the state have edged above the national average. Compared to road traffic, where there are 0.16 deaths per 100,000 registered vehicles, there are 5.8 deaths per 100,000 registered boats. Unfortunately, not all of us are having as much fun as we could and should.
The USCG Auxiliary, the US Coast Guard, the US Power Squadron and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are pooling their efforts to ing the safety message to the public, along with plenty of learning opportunities and free, no penalty, courtesy examinations of recreational boats to ensure boaters understand the state and federal safety requirements, and that boats' equipment meet those standards. Vessel Safety Checks are being performed in marinas around Annapolis as well as all over the Baltimore/Washington area.
There will be exciting activities, including tours of the Coast Guard Cutter Shearwater which patrols the waters of the Fifth Coast Guard District, from northern New Jersey to the South Carolina Border, including both the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays. Also available for tour is a new, locally stationed 45' Safe Boat - a Coast Guard patrol vessel that is virtually unsinkable. In addition, the 2011 Safe Boating Season Kickoff at City Dock will host the U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Team, a model of precision and discipline. This team of men and women take pride in their reputation as one of the finest on-going drill teams in the nation.
Boaters will get the opportunity to review modern marine radio equipment features and the benefits they ing to boating safety. There will be life jacket demonstrations, and instructions on “inflatables” and the maintenance of them. Life jackets worn save lives. Finding the best fit for every boater and encouraging the wearing of a life jacket is a goal at this Kickoff.
This gala event is for the whole family with instruction and demonstrations for all ages. Retired Coast Guardsman Wesley Sullivan will teach simple knot tying and display his elaborate knot work. There will be face painting, coloring books and games for children, as well as "Coastie" and "SeaVester", fun-loving robots from the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron that help boaters of all ages learn about safety.
“We want boaters to start this season with safety as a ‘tude',” says John Sill, Coast Guard Auxiliary District Captain for Sector Baltimore. “They must realize that one third of all deaths are caused by alcohol. The three best things boaters can do for themselves, their friends, and their families is to get their vessel checked, to take a boating safety course as a team, and to develop a safety first attitude,”
At this event, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Annapolis Sail and Power Squadron, and Maryland DNR Boating Education will be available to help all members of the boating public understand how to improve their personal safety on the water while enjoying a pleasant afternoon on the Annapolis waterfront. A trailered boat and trailered Personal Water Craft will also be available for discussions on how to be safe while moving your boat on land and on the water.
For more information check out: http://www.cgauxd5srblog.org/ where details are being added daily.
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