I’m writing to express my grateful thanks to Aquinnah police officer David Murphy, harbor master Brian Vanderhoop, Darren Laporte, and the other first responders whose names I didn’t learn who helped me after a boating mishap at Red Beach last Monday morning. I especially want to single out David Murphy, who unhesitatingly swam out to join me hanging on a mooring ball to keep my spirits up while we waited for the Wampanoag tribal inflatable to pull us out of the chilly, wind-whipped water. He was the best company I could have ever imagined. As Aquinnah police chief Randhi Belain pointed out, I made a foolish miscalculation — that a short trip from the beach to my mooring at low tide wouldn’t require a PFD — breaking a rule I impose on my children all the time. I should have known better after many years of boating; cold water and high winds can easily become treacherous no matter how close to shore. Use a PFD!

Eric Stange
Aquinnah