Lorain Coast Guard Auxiliary members train for kayak certification

LORAIN — Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the non-military volunteer branch of the waterfront service, spent much of Friday in the Black River to receive paddle craft certification before the summer season gets in full swing. Five auxiliary members — Aaron Katz, William Ferry, Francesca Lendrum and Erik Mowery from Ohio and James Semerad from Michigan — came in for the training, which lasts all weekend. Katz, of Lyndhurst, is requalifying, a requirement every three years. Instructors Holly Dillard and Michelle Stoddard came from New York, and Pat Groves from Ohio. Once the five auxiliary members complete the requisite training, they will double the number of Auxiliary Paddle Craft Program-certified members for the district, Dillard said. Ferry is the vice flotilla commander for the Lorain Flotilla and helped bring the training to the Lorain Station, where the volunteer crew responds to search and rescue calls and patrols the area. The auxiliary crew does not have the legal authority of the U.S. Coast Guard, but it promotes boater safety and assists with events, public education and calls for assistance. Dillard and Stoddard gave examples from an event from central New York where Coast Guard Auxiliary kayakers have helped with large swimming events or paddleboard or kayak events — as a kayaker can get closer to a swimmer than a personal watercraft or small boat can. For the swimming events, the kayaks can offer respite to tired swimmers, allowing them to hold onto the craft to catch their breath, or shuttle them to a nearby boat if they need to leave the water, the instructors explained. "We work a lot of times with sheriff's departments, fire departments, anyone that has marine units," Dillard said. "Sometimes they'll request our boats, so some of our auxiliary will go out on powerboats, personal watercraft. … As AuxPad with a kayak, we can get right in with the other kayaks." Ferry said once the Lorain Flotilla is qualified, it could be asked to assist with the annual Dragon Boat Festival, which rotates through Northeast Ohio rivers each year. "It just adds an extra level of safety and we can get a lot closer in and help out a lot better with those types of large events," Ferry said. Otherwise, Lorain's Auxiliary members plan to get out and kayak during other large events or during popular kayaking times in the summer like the July 4 fireworks. "This has been about two years in the planning," Stoddard said of the weekend's training. "... We cannot thank Station Lorain enough for inviting us out here to put this class on for them." Ultimately, a well-fitting life jacket and other safety devices are crucial for anyone in the water, be it boaters, kayakers or paddleboarders, Stoddard said. She reminded those enjoying the lake and river to take the proper precautions before heading out on the water. Those interested in joining the Lorain auxiliary, or receiving its help for events, can contact Ferry at bill.ferry@cgaux-lorain.us or (440) 570-2112. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.