Paddleboarder learns lessons

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In this blog we don’t talk much about paddleboarding (if at all)…  even though the sport is becoming ever more popular, we don’t see many in our ‘View From The Harbour Entrance’, and those that we do see do not usually come that close to us.  [Though of course when we do see them we like to make sure they are not in difficulty and are not getting too close to large craft].

However, a recent news item caught our eye; it concerns a paddleboarder who was carried a long way out to sea by the wind and currents, and who was thrown off his board.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-66727915

The bottom line here is that the sea is capricious and will catch out the unwary.  In the words of the victim "I've learned the biggest lesson of my life.  "I want to tell every paddleboarder: check the weather, check the tides, and wear a buoyancy aid. This is so important.".   

But we would like to add these important points… this advice applies to every person who goes out on the water, whatever type of craft they go out in, and not just paddleboarders.  And also, always carry a means of communication in a waterproof pouch so that you can call for help.

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