Today is Anguilla Monday, when hundreds of persons head for that island’s Sandy Ground area on just about anything that floats for the popular beach party that is part of the annual Summer Festival. The weather outlook was decent, calling for a light to moderate sea with waves peaking near five feet.
That hasn’t always been the case. In 2011 three vessels coming back to St. Maarten/St. Martin had to be rescued due to rough seas caused by then-Tropical Storm Emily passing far to the South. While a small craft advisory wasn’t issued until 11:00am that day, earlier forecasts had already mentioned Easterly swells and the likelihood of such.
No similar problems are expected on this occasion, but the necessary caution should always be exercised especially with so many out at once. In addition to seasoned sailors, the event also attracts less-knowledgeable ones, some of whom may even have rented a boat for the first time without much experience.
Moreover, the festivities usually involve quite a bit of drinking, so extra care must be taken to prevent accidents. People who may normally be able to swim could easily run the risk of drowning while intoxicated.
Particularly captains must keep in mind that they are responsible for their passengers while on the water and in any case refrain from consuming alcohol or anything else that can impair one’s judgement and ability to react. It’s a great tradition and a lot of fun, but the intention is to have a happy rather than tragic ending.
