MONTEREY, Calif. – Coast Guard Station Monterey has scheduled a free open house for Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Monterey Harbor Master’s Office to commemorate National Safe Boating Week.
Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station Monterey and other local agencies will conduct a live search and rescue demonstration; a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat will be available for tours; federal law enforcement officials will speak about regulations, and members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting free boating vessel safety inspections.
The search and rescue demonstration will be conducted near the Monterey breakwall starting at 1 p.m. All other booths and activities will be open to the public starting at 10 a.m.
Every year the National Safe Boating Council teams up with the Coast Guard, California Department of Boating and Waterways, National Maritime Sanctuary and the National Weather Service to promote safe recreational boating. Representatives of each agency will be available for questions.
National Safe Boating Week officially marks the start of the annual recreational boating season.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Wear It!” The message is simple: Wearing a life jacket can save your life. Boaters, anglers and water sports enthusiasts are being encouraged to “Wear It!” Ninety percent of drowning victims involved in recreational boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. Drowning is the number one cause of death of all boating fatalities.
