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Boating Safety
Helpful Boating Safety Links:
Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF)
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Boating
Safety
There is really not much you can do to help
yourself and your fellow boater more than to operate your boat, no
matter
what type, safely and responsibly. Here are some "rules of the
road" that you should familiarize yourself with often. Good Lake
Anna boaters ALWAYS observe
these rules on the water.
Safe
Boating Rules
We believe that Lake Anna is a recreational lake for boaters and
recreational activities of many varieties and we don't want responsible
boating activities unfairly limited or whittled away over time.
Therefore, we intend to:
- Stay to the right in all
lake traffic. Never cut
across traffic channels in narrow areas into oncoming traffic.
- Slower
boats stay to the right, let faster traffic pass to the left,
particularly in narrow channels with heavy traffic.
- The boat approaching
from your right always has the
right of way, even when entering the main channel from a cove.
- Sailboats have the right
away when under sail.
Consider your wake.
- Boats
being overtaken have the right of way, pass giving the slower boat as
much space as safely possible, consider the impact of your wake and
speed.
- All boats
operated half
way on plane create unreasonable wakes. In traffic proceed at no wake
speed or fully on plane to give others proper consideration for your
wake.
- When entering the main
channel
from a cove, time your entry and speed as to not interrupt the flow of
traffic and create a hazardous condition, even if you have the right of
way.
- Always have your
passengers sit
safely while underway. Do not let your passengers ride on sunpads or
the extreme front of the boat at anytime the boat is in motion.
- Never pull skiers or
water toys in main traffic
channels when any traffic
is present. This represents a very serious hazard to your passengers
and other boaters.
- PWC operators - do not
jump wakes without the permission of the boat operator and never in
traffic channels. You cannot see oncoming or overtaking traffic and
they can’t see you, or cannot safely assess your path of travel.
Consider for your sake, and that of your passenger, that a power boat
at speed may not be able to stop or avoid you should you fall.
- Power
boaters, do not let PWC’s jump your wake in traffic areas. Stop if
necessary to prevent this hazardous condition.
- Always
adjust vehicle speed and distance when overtaking a slower boat to be
able to avoid a collision should the slower boat stop or turn suddenly.
Slower boats should always be aware of passing boats and hold their
course until passing traffic has cleared their area.
- Do not operate a boat or
PWC anywhere close
to swimmers or downed skiers. Operate your vehicle as if it were you in
the water.
- Never follow a skier to
closely. Stay back and slow down enough so as to be able to stop
or divert your boat should the skier drop off or fall.
- PWC
operators should give other boaters and property owners proper
consideration, do not operate your watercraft close to, or consistently
near any on boat or property.
- When
operating anywhere near boats that are tied up, consider the hazard
your wake creates. A no wake zone means idle speed, even in a PWC.
- Never
spin your PWC, or operate it in any manner when you or your passenger
could fall off where there is any degree of boat traffic.
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