Thank you for your article and editorial warning of the dangers of paddleboarding, but one very important safety practice was not mentioned, which is to always wear a leash — a 6-foot elastic cord that connects the board to a strap around your ankle.

The reason is that in the act of losing one’s balance, invariably, as you fall in the water the board shoots away from you— often as far as 20 or 30 feet. If you can’t swim— and are not wearing a life jacket— you are in big trouble. But with a leash, one simply gives the cord a tug and the board comes right back to you.

A quick look on Amazon shows paddleboard leashes available for around $12-16 dollars— and life vests in the range of $20 to $60 — ones that don’t impede your paddling stroke and that are comfortable to wear.

These two items are essential for safe paddleboarding — don’t jump on your board or let anyone else jump on your board without them!

Carl Davis

Eastsound