Suddenly In CommandIt may be a cliché that marriage is a give and take relationship, but one phrase you don't often hear from husbands is, "Here honey, take the helm." For whatever reason, some husbands have been reluctant to give their wives much responsibility on boats If you are not often the primary operator of your boat, are you prepared to take control in an emergency? Any skipper can be incapacitated by sudden illness ranging from food poisoning to heart attack. Unconsciousness could result from illness or accident, and even a relatively minor incident could render the primary skipper unable to continue operating the boat. If that happens, someone else on the boat needs to know enough to deal with the emergency. Anything could leave the skipper unable to operate the boat. In such an emergency, someone else would have to take the helm and get the boat back to port. That could be you. Are you ready to be Suddenly in Command? The Suddenly in Command program outlines some things that a regular crew member or guest should know about getting help if the skipper is suddenly disabled. This is for you if you have ever thought of the prospect of having to take over in an emergency. This program is intended expressly for women who leave the maintenance to the men, but who are concerned for the safety of all aboard in the event of a mishap. There is no short course to learn all the points of proper boat operation. But in an emergency, keeping calm and knowing a few basics could save the day - and maybe a life. The Suddenly in Command program is being offered by the Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary on January 19th. It is being taught by women and is geared toward women. The program starts at 0800 and is held at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center at 1001 Gulf Blvd, Sand Key, on the second floor. The cost is $25 each.
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