A Harsh Mistress

It was a beautiful afternoon for sailing, but soon the sky turned black, the wind picked up to 60 knots, and the waves grew to 10-12 feet as a severe thunderstorm began. One boater stated that in 30 years of sailing he had never been so frightened!

In minutes a half-dozen boats were on the rocks with one capsized. Fortunately, the two adults and six children were rescued; but the captain of a sailboat was knocked overboard trying frantically to get the sails down. The other one left on board did not know how to use the radio, and when he figured it out, he couldn’t tell the Coast Guard – less than a mile away – where they were located. People drowned because the only person on board did not know what to do.

The moral, as the old sailor’s saying goes: “The Sea is a Harsh Mistress”;  regardless if you do your boating on the ocean, a lake or river.  No matter how many times you’re on an airplane, you get the same safely instructions. The same should be true for your boat: everyone on board needs to know what do in an emergency!  Your first responsibility is making sure your boat is seaworthy.

Investing in quality Canvas Coverings from CMC Canvas LLC, will insure you boat can handle whatever that “Harsh Mistress” decides to give you.