The Put It On! campaign was started by the
Callen family after the tragic loss of Jamie Boeckel on the 2002
Block Island Race.
The first night out Jamie and Brock Callen, Jr., two professional
sailors on board the /s/v Blue Yankee/, were performing a routine
spinnaker peal as a front came through.
A catastrophic gear failure threw Jamie overboard. Jamie was face
down and unconscious. Brock went overboard in an attempt to support
his shipmate. Blue Yankee's professional crew executed a perfect
quick stop manoeuvre and returned to retrieve both sailors within
ten minutes. Neither Brock nor Jamie was wearing a PFD, and the
weight of Jamie's lifeless body was more than Brock could support
over that period of time in the 50 degree water. Jamie was lost.
Shortly thereafter the Put It On! campaign was born to promote
the importance of always wearing a PFD when recreating or working
on the water. Sail Martha's Vineyard has since the beginning been
a staunch supporter of this program and the MVRHS Team has expanded
its reach through the sale of its orange Put It On! bracelets.
If you have any questions about where to get the most appropriate
PFD for yourself, your child or a friend, please call the Sail
MV office at 508-696-7644, and we'll be happy to steer you in
the right direction.
Don't put it off… PUT IT ON!
New PFD Purchasing
Program to be announced in April!!
