On April 3, the Coast Guard Auxiliary was on patrol in the Everglades when they were flagged down by a pair of kayakers a mile or two from Everglades City. One of them was sunburned, dehydrated, and clearly struggling. They asked for help getting back to the Ranger Station—and thankfully, help was already there.
Our own Bob Gagnon happened to be part of that patrol. While this wasn’t a dramatic, life-or-death rescue, it’s a perfect reminder of something we all know but don’t always say out loud: when we’re out on the water, we look out for each other. A dehydrated paddler trying to make it back on his own could have turned into a much more serious situation. A simple assist made all the difference.
Bob is also a certified Instructor for the Auxiliary.
Stories like this—moments of human connection, small wins, lessons learned—are exactly what brings our club closer together. If you have a personal story or a moment worth sharing, I encourage you to send it in to Baylines.
It doesn’t have to be about boating. In fact, the more we share about our lives and experiences, the more we discover new ways to connect with members we may not know well yet. That’s how a club becomes a community.
I hope you’ll join me in that spirit.
