This sport is not safe

People participating in sports that involve water over their heads face a risk of drowning. Swimming matches have medics and lifeguards standing by. Surfing competitions usually have safety officials on jetskis. Even the Great Outdoor Games require safety equipment on the log-running competitions. In rowing, there are safety launches at regattas and usually at practices.

Recreational boaters have little safety equipment and less support in case of mishap on a lake or river. Most lakes don't have a rescue boat standing by in case of collision, fire or drowning. Rivers are better patrolled because most are also commercial waterways, transporting goods throughout the country. Sometimes made up of the local police department or the Coast Guard Reserve, this water patrol conducts safety inspections of power boaters and polices the waterway. They must also stand by for any rescue services that might be needed.

My disrespect for the water patrol was passed to me by my high school coach. After decades spent in small launches following crews, he had little time for Coast Guard washouts hassling him during practices. His launches carried the safety gear needed and he knew what to do if a boat went over. The water patrol should mind the powerboaters who got too close to the team, not the coach.

This has usually been my opinion. I understand the need for such a service, but don't need any hassle from them. I'm polite and don't usually give them any mind or any reason to hassle me. Then came yesterday's incident.

As they passed the water patrol boathouse going downstream on a time trial, the varsity heavyweight boat was swamped by the water patrol. Emerging from the boathouse and flooring the twin 150hp engines on their rescue boat, the water patrol didn't even look to their port quarter. Less than twenty yards away was a small craft with less than 3 inches of freeboard. The wake produced by their deep hulled, 25 foot boat crashed over the gunnels, slowing the shell's momentum and holding the hull in that position, allowing more water in. By this time, I was shouting at the water patrol, who didn't hear me. The varsity stopped and I approached the rescue boat after assuring myself the boys weren't going to sink immediately.

The conversation that followed was notable for the stupidity coming from supposed safety-oriented officers. I was told by the helmsman that they were out on training exercises. I acidly queried that if a shell sank and nine boys went into the water, would that constitute a training accident? Then I was told that we were supposed to come downstream on the left side of the river, counter to prevailing traffic patterns. I asked if he was telling me I was supposed to go head to head with power boats and barges in a commercial waterway. The answer to that was simple bureaucratic butt-covering. "We sent you all a memo!"

A memo, if it ever existed (which it didn't), wouldn't change what these idiots did: endangering the lives of nine kids out for a row. These are the people tasked with ensuring the safe navigation of our rivers in Pittsburgh.

Power boaters in general always give us a wide berth. They can see how small the shells are and know what their wake can do. They have to deal with everyone else's wake on a daily basis. Many boaters are curious enough to follow a practice for awhile to see how fast the shells go. A majority will drop to idle, stopping all wake until we pass. I respect all of these boaters, thank everyone I can, answer any questions and put on a show if they want to pace the shells. Even the cigarette boats give us a wide path.

Not River Rescue. I suppose their training is too important to bother with safe or even courteous boating practices. We row on a crowded waterway and usually don't have many issues. However, everyone must remember that this sport isn't perfectly safe, especially when River Rescue is around.

Categories: Rowing, Safety