Many changes have been made to the waters this year.
As of this year, all boaters between the ages of 10 and 18 have to complete an 8-hour course and exam to be able to operate a boat without adult supervision. This course also must be completed to operate a personal watercraft.
Hurricane Sandy also caused widespread destruction to the waters around WHB, which changed all the sandbars, buoys, and beaches.
New York State has changed the boating regulation this year now it is strongly advised for everyone to complete the New York state safe boating course and pass a proctored exam afterwards. It isn’t all that surprising, considering the amount of boat crashes that occur on Long Island, most notably the boat that capsized last year killing 3 children. According to my father, an avid boater, “The new boating safety course will help but also people need to be more responsible on the water.
Superstorm Sandy caused the most widespread destruction along the East coast. “Congress approved that 60 million dollars in storm aid” be sent to areas affected by the super storm. It was the second costliest Hurricane in US history only beaten by Hurricane Katrina; Hurricane Sandy changed our waterways in a way we couldn’t imagine and having to relearn all the new buoys is going to be difficult, especially with summer approaching and many visitors coming out on their boat.
This season is going to be interesting. Hopefully the new boating course will bring safer waters.