I LEARNED ABOUT BOATING FROM THIS...
The tragic story of an experienced boater who died on the water.
+ What we can learn from a tragic story
Boating was my daughter Hannah’s passion. She grew up on the water and obtained her boating license at age 14. Hannah was an excellent boater and an accomplished docker. Most of her experience was in fresh water in the Thousand Islands, New York, region. After moving to Kent Island, (Chesapeake Bay, Maryland), Hannah and her boyfriend purchased a bowrider of their own. We had many conversations about the differences between Chesapeake Bay’s currents and tidal changes versus freshwater excursions. We accompanied them on a few ventures to help them gain a better understanding of the tidal water. Hannah was so proud of their little boat.
She and her boyfriend were returning in calm waters from a beach where boaters anchor; the boyfriend was at the helm and Hannah stood between the split windshields. They hit a sandbar, and Hannah flew over the front of the boat.
It happened so quickly, there was no time for any maneuver to prevent the boat from hitting her. She sustained head trauma and numerous internal injuries. She was medevaced by helicopter to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore and passed away later that night.
A full moon led to a more dramatic tidal swing that aligned with their travel itinerary. Your recent article hit home with us because it described the importance of having all crew relocate to the stern of the boat and remain seated at all times. The young woman in your video was lucky; unfortunately, Hannah wasn’t.
Boaters must proactively prepare, ticking off a pre-trip checklist that includes weather, tidal charts and navigation charts, and they must be completely focused on the many immediate changes to their surroundings while piloting a vessel.
Hannah was a vibrant young woman with an incredible zest for life. She encompassed a strong work ethic and was loved by many. We are absolutely devastated by her loss. We implore your readers to take all necessary safety measures before and during their trip because theirs and others lives depend on it. We are committed to sharing boat-safety tips to help all boaters navigate waterways so that each excursion ends with wonderful memories.
We implore your readers to take all necessary safety measures before and during their trip because theirs and others lives depend on it.