The Duck Boat tragedy and a smaller one I witnessed yesterday, big wind, storms and what we can do to prepare

Taylor Slough is the name of the waterway I live on. The bank is actually a Levee on the California Delta, 1500 miles of waterway that empties into the San Francisco Bay 50 miles to the west. There are a lot of boats going by my window at all times of the day and night, it's a working river and used for recreational purposes as well. We have big winds starting in May and ending the first week of October. Unrestricted the wind originates on the Ocean, it is cool when it enters the Bay. The temperature differential between there and the Central Valley plays a big part in the velocity of the breeze, it's called the "Delta Breeze" in farm country. Today it is 105 Degrees in Fresno, 70 degrees in the Bay causing air to be sucked inland raising to the sky when it hits the hot environment many miles away. That draft is like a fireplace drawing air through a small channel at the Carquinez Straits, South of Vallejo. Whitecaps are not rare, such were the conditions since June 1st.

Taylor Slough on a nice day, no wind, no rain, no danger, maybe.

I watched an inflatable dingy making its' way upwind on the slough, in 15-20 mile an hour winds it is a tricky endeavor. Two adults were on board the seemingly well-constructed craft, I did not see life preservers on either of them. The waves were easily 2-3 feet high, this is big water, white caps, the tide incoming, and high winds are not a good boating condition. One person in the back was stretched out to the bow holding it down, the person on the bow was active with the same tasks. Lifting out of the water every time it hit a wave, the bow caught air on each one. Keeping the bow down appeared to take all of what they were worth, I was concerned. If that boat got cross-wise to the prevailing wind and if a wave lifted up the long side it would have gone over. They were 50 yards from shore, in those conditions survival would have been a big "maybe", it was a bad day to be on the water. The boat continued on, I watched it go around the bend and out of sight about 1/4 mile north, I assume they made it to where ever they were headed. I have not heard about anyone being in distress, or drowning, likewise I have only seen one Helicopter today. Some people's main method of transportation is by water so it is not odd to see people out in all kinds of weather. However an inflatable dinghy in a stiff wind creates problems unique to them, they can easily flip over.

It's easy after the fact to criticize what people have done, when an incident like the one I witnessed yesterday takes place, and also like the terrible incident in Missouri on the Duck Boat. The operators involved in both of these incidents were experienced, neither vessel was designed for the conditions they were faced with. Some blatant safety violations were present, the most notable is the lack of occupants wearing life preservers. On the dinghy in that wind, it was an irresponsible choice to make, and it was made by the two occupants on their own, it is all on them. Aboard the Duck Boat from what I have read the passengers were advised that the personal flotation devices were not needed. Indeed one of the NTSB spokespeople said it would have been a choice of how to drown if they had worn one or not.

It is still dangerous, but these boaters are prepared for it.

More dangerous due to how the top was constructed, when wearing a life preserver on one of the tourist craft, in the event it takes on water and it rises in the compartment people float to the overhead. Lifejackets, when worn, hold the victim against the ceiling keeping them from being able to escape, it's like trying to dive underwater holding onto a beach ball. A good game to play with kids is seeing if anyone of them can submerge the ball, they can't. Once up against the top, a person is held in place, unable to remove the device and unable to swim out, there were windows on the side impeding escape out the sides.

If the choice is made not to wear a PFD, in this case, the passengers were told there was no need for them, it would be possible to swim out of the boat. But it would be a tough task for an expert swimmer, or a boater expecting disaster, to swim into the main body of water without one is a death sentence. A death sentence in those conditions, 4-foot waves, 80 miles an hour winds, and inexperienced swimmers do not make a good combination. It makes me wonder how the determination to continue with a site seeing tour of this type, is it an operating company decision, or a governmental decision?

The decision to continue is ultimately the determination of the operating company, however, the Government does issue warnings. Pleasure boaters must know the meaning of the  issued weather warnings, there are three:

* Small Craft Warning is if the winds are going to sustain 20-30 knots (24-37 mph or 39-54 Km/hr)

* Gale Warning sustainable winds ranging 34-47 knots (39-54 mph or 63-87 km/hr)

* Storm Warning range is 48-63 knots (55-73 mph or 89-117 km/hr)

(The National Weather Service Link issues Marine Forecasts)

If you are boating and are caught in a storm there are some safety issues to pay attention to, it is the responsibility of the operator (commonly referred to as the "Captain").

1) Make sure all passengers are wearing a Personal floatation device, that they know how to use, how to put it on and it is of the proper size.

2) When in a storm reduce your speed, look out for oncoming boats from all directions, keep aware of whats in the water ahead of you. During storms, there is a lot of debris that ends up in the main channels.

3) Secure the boat, close all ports and hatches to avoid taking on water, you do not want to swamp.

4) Passengers should all be on the center-line of the vessel, keeping down to lower the center of gravity.

5) Having a heavy object strike you is not fun in a stressful situation, secure all loose items.

6) Get the water out of the bilges, it will raise the boat in the water.

7) Seek a protection near a safe place, a tree-lined inlet, or an island opposite of the wind.

8) Check your maps continually for sunken hazards, marinas', and anything else that may be a threat or a help.

Paying close attention to the weather is the responsibility of the Pleasure Craft operators, they are the group most likely to be impacted by the sudden emergence of storms, and other weather phenomena. Starting the day before an outing check the weather, and keep checking it before you leave the dock, do not hesitate to cancel. Listen to the forecasts while out on the water, especially if the wind is up and warnings had been off and on the prior week. There are weather courses available for owners of pleasure craft, we don't have to be weather experts, a general understanding will reap a lot of knowledge. It's amazing how during an emergency we fall back on education and training, an online course will pay dividends. Learning how to read a Barometer is important to learn the skill as well. Keeping an eye on the sky is important to use these tips to help you observe the weather:

If a sky such as this is overhead, seek shelter immediately.

1) Track the storm put your back to the wind and point left, that is the direction of the center of the storm.

2) Clouds to the West or North places you in a danger zone the chances are you are in its path.

3) Thunder travels one mile in five seconds, or one kilometer every three seconds, count the seconds from the lightning flash until the boom is heard if it is 5 seconds the storm is 5 miles distant.

4) When the wind changes in a clockwise direction, it may be an indication of fair weather being on its way. Counter Clockwise may be the sign of an incoming storm. There are exceptions, ask at the marina about wind patterns, which way is the prevailing wind being the most prominent to ask.

5) If the wind picks up doubling its speed it also quadruples in strength causing waves and turbulence.

6) While positioning your back to the wind look up for high moving clouds, if they are moving left to right the weather will get worse, the opposite means an improvement, moving away from you indicates no change.

We will never be able to predict every weather situation as it pertains to boating, but we can certainly take some precautions, pre-planning and a bit of education won't hurt a bit. Boating is a double-edged sword, it is fun, as well as dangerous when faced with unexpected circumstances. Personal awareness of your abilities and knowledge of every part of your boat, and what every button, switch, and light means and does is of the utmost of importance. Always wear a PFD that fits properly and you know how to put on, head for a safe harbor, and if you have to abandon the vessel get it as close to shore as possible, even as far as running aground if it means remaining safe. If you are a passenger, question the boat operator if you notice anything that does not appear to be proper, they won't mind explaining it to you. If the answer does not satisfy you, do not go on the excursion.

Living on the river we hear stories every year about boating tragedies, it happens to well-worn experts as well as amateurs. Never underestimate the power of the wind, river, or water. Several years ago a rescue boat was summoned in the middle of the night, the vessel was dispatched with one person aboard. I knew this man, he was a professional, spending almost every day on the rivers. He struck a rock outcropping that he had passed by hundreds of times, killing him instantly. It can and does happen to the best of us, let's not take it lightly.

Thank you for reading and sharing, the Duck Boat tragedy was a terrible occurrence, on a large scale. The inflatable dinghy had the potential of being just as disastrous, we mustn't let either happen to us. Thanks again.

jacqueandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com