Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan
Great Article on last weekend's Safety Rally, sponsored by SBONH.
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Here's the above mentioned article (minus picture) from:
THE MEREDITH NEWS JULY 22, 2010 page A3.
Rally around Lake Winnipesaukee teaches boating safety
BY ERIN PLUMMER
EPLUMMER@SALMONPRESS.COM
LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE
Safety and fun were the purposes of the first annual boating rally around Lake Winnipesaukee.
Safe Boaters of New Hampshire in conjunction with the Lakes Region Sail and Power Squadron held the first annual Lake Winnipesaukee Tour and Rally on Saturday, offering safety inspections to boats and spending a day on the lake.
The event was meant to raise awareness of boater safety and measures that can be done to keep boats safe that go beyond legal requirements.
“We’ve been trying to promote safety through the Lakes Region, trying to partner with different groups,” said Scott Verdonk, president of Safe Boaters of New Hampshire.
Verdonk said many boaters only focus on the safety measures required by law, such as having a life jacket, and are not aware of other measures to ensure safety or of how to handle themselves in a dangerous situation.
Verdonk said the Lakes Region Sail and Power Squadron already offers regular safety checks for boats.
“They’re able to work with your entire boat and look at it (in a way) that goes above and beyond just being legal, seeing things that might be potential problems,” Verdonk said. “A lot of the times good experience comes from bad experience. It would be better (with) somebody who was trained, a second pair of eyes.”
The rally started in Center Harbor where Lakes Region Sail and Power Squadron did safety inspections with professionals. Over a dozen boats came to Center Harbor and received professional safety inspections.
The flotilla then did a tour around the lake, starting in Center Harbor and going around Long and Bow Islands as well as a run past the camps at Bear Island.
The rally stopped in Laconia for lunch hosted by the Naswa Beach Resort. The group was joined by Senate candidates Andy Sanborn and Jim Forsythe, House of Representatives candidate Laurie Sanborn, and radio show host Brian "Bulldog" Tilton of 107.7 The Pulse.
“Some just wanted to go for the inspection, others met us there for the lunch we had people coming in and out for a couple different hours,” Verdonk said.
Verdonk said the presence of candidates was welcome as Safe Boaters is supporting legislation, including switchable exhaust and allowing boaters on docks at night during bad weather.
Verdonk said there are hopes this will be an annual event.
“I think its just going to get bigger and bigger from here on in,” Verdonk said. “I just hope we can continue this in the future, just get the word out that the inspections are available to everybody and there’s things you can do beyond the legal requirements.”
Such measures include having lifejackets in reach and inspecting fire extinguishers.
“The more people you get together the less likely someone’s going to feel uncomfortable about asking a question,” Verdonk said.
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Nice!
