Pine Island Weather Blog

Yesterday, two people lost their lives while boating in Matlacha Pass. While there is speculation in the media on whether or not this was caused by the weather, I personally have no doubts that this is the case.

How can I be so sure? Because I saw what the Pass looked like at ~3:20 as the line of thunderstorms rolled in. In fact, my wife and I were explaining to our seven year old what “white caps” are as we crossed the Bascule bridge. But white caps were not the only story and white caps alone wouldn’t explain the loss of the 15′ vessel. No, there were also 3-4′ swells in the pass to go along with the white caps. I remarked to the wife about the size of the swells while watching the two sailboats anchored behind the Bridgewater Inn lurching up and down. Those aren’t huge swells by any means, but they are unusual in the Pass and a 15′ boat plowing into them unexpectedly can certainly mean trouble and in this case did.

My sympathies go out to the surviving members of the family, and I hope that this accident serves as a wake up call for other boaters. At this time of the year, the weather in SWFL can change in minutes. And I mean that literally. It is vital that we all know what the forecast is before we head out. But forecasts don’t tell us what will happen when we go out. They are only a guide to what might happen. It is up to us to make sure we keep an eye on the skies and check the weather radio often to keep up with might be coming our way.

We must also make sure our boats are ready and we have the proper safety equipment onboard and accessible!

There is no shame in donning a life jacket in foul weather, or seeking the shelter of the back bays and coves. These things don’t make you less of a man/woman. They make you smart.