(When are jet skis supposed to be off the water?)
Question: Why are “jet skis” not equipped with running (navigation) lights?
Answer: Jet Ski operators/owners are not entitled  or permitted to operate a jet ski in Virginia before sunrise or after sunset. It’s against the law. Let’s talk later about sunrise, YAWN!!

Question: When does the sun set in the Northern Neck?
Answer: The Department of Games and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) publishes sunset and sunrise times in its booklet, Virginia Boat Operators Manual.

In August: The sun sets (jet skis are required to be off the water):
    1st: 7:17 PM
    2nd: 7:16 PM
    3rd : 7:15 PM

You get the idea: about 1 minute less each day so by toward August end:
    29th:  6:43 PM
    30th:  6:41 PM 

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One of the things that bothers every Coast Guard Auxiliarist, whether on patrol or observing boaters from their shore-side homes, is seeing young people with feet and arms draped over the bow of a boat. Why? A sudden shift in the boat’s speed or course can cause one of these young folks to fall overboard and disappear under the boat and into the churning propeller. Bow riding is not only dangerous. It’s not legal.

On several recent safety patrols, Flotilla 3-10 Auxiliary crews have strongly urged other vessel captains to have their young charges, who have been hanging over the bow, get back into the interior of the boat. In every case, they have complied. Whew! And to think that most of the offenders were not wearing life jackets.  Double whew!! And they were under the age of 13. Triple Whew!!! No charge for saving a young life; we’re volunteers.

Bow riding has become an alarming practice and also an alarming, sometimes deadly statistic. According to the Dire tor of Auxiliary, 5th Southern region, “In 2008, there were 65 boating fatalities recorded in the 5th District, a 5 per cent increase from 2007. The primary contributing factors in 20% of these fatalities was the standing or sitting on the gunwhales (side), bow, or transom of boats, which represented a 500% increase from 2007.

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