Another lost at sea
on Monday June 12, 2006 01:58PM
Today's Washinton Post reports the loss of Phillip Merrill, publisher of the Washingtonian magazine and long time sailor. Aged 72, he became an avid sailor at age 7, when he began swabbing boats in exchange for sailing lessons. Reports suggest he was out alone on his 41 sailboat, Merrilly, and was probably not wearing a life vest. No matter how experienced you are, wearing a life vest is required of all Juniors at all times, and by everyone under 8, or anyone who is a non-swimmer, on all club piers. And life vest to me means a well fitting life vest, not an oversized golden oldie your overweight grandfather dug out for you. And water wings, that I saw a visitor using on the middle dock late aftenoon, June 11, do not qualify.
The complete report on Philip Merrill can be seen by clicking on the following URL. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/12/AR2006061200429.html
Think about the old admonition, "don't be caught dead sitting on your seat belt" . This might be an appropriate reminder for sailors of all ages to wear a life vest, even if they consider themselves an experienced sailor.