wrote in message
ups.com...
The guy without the pfd probably used up too much body heat trying to
stay afloat.
Even with a full fledged response within 4 minutes of the report, our
cold PACNW waters claimed another life. Always a sad and tragic event.
Wonder if he said, "I'm willing to bet my life I won't need a pfd
today!"?

When sailing cold or rough waters and I'm the only one who can make a quick
COB recovery, I wear a tether. I always wear a pfd when there's any doubt
about someone recovering me. I will leave the pfd in the cockpit when
sailing warm weather, warm calm water and I've got good crew on board.

The USCG tells us over and over how many lives can be saved if pfd's were
worn and alcohol were saved for the end of the day. My fear of drowning
motivates me to wear safety gear; what motivates people to not wear safety
gear?

Cold water and bravado or machismo or fashion concerns don't mix.

A lowly pwc'er and kayaker, I always wear a full dry suit (and other
thick neoprene gear for head, feet, hands) and neoprene pfd when the
water is cold - and the only few times in my long jetskiing career when
I have fallen (been thrown) into the water, seem to have all been in
the off-season (in months like November-Dec. or Mar.-April) when the
water was good and cold, and in a dry suit and several layers of warm
clothes, was always able to easily swim back to my 'ski with no
problem. For all that we jetskiiers are supposed to be I guess the
dumbest of boaters, we're the only ones who ALWAYS have our pfd's on,
and are pretty much always geared up to maximize our chances against
hypothermia in conditions where it is likely to be an issue.

richforman