Alcohol leads the list of causes behind recreational boating deaths. It clouds judgment, slows reflexes, messes with balance, and blurs vision, all skills you need when you’re piloting a boat or just a passenger. Through Operation Dry Water, the Cape Haze Flotilla’s goal is simple: show boaters that mixing alcohol or drugs with water, even in familiar spots, only increases risk.

Boating safety relies on everyone making smart choices. Operation Dry Water drives home a key point: impairment anywhere, at the wheel or in the back, puts everyone at risk. Stay sober, protect yourself, and watch out for others. It’s that direct.

This year, Flotilla 99 is out in full force during the campaign weekend, sharing information about boating sober, the importance of life jackets, and the reality that conditions on the water can shift quickly. Their focus? Prevent risky mistakes before someone ends up hurt.

Don’t forget, it’s not just the captain who needs to stay sober. Passengers who drink put themselves and others in danger: falls, accidents, and distractions happen in the blink of an eye . Operation Dry Water calls on everyone to step up; boating safety isn’t one person’s responsibility, it’s everyone’s.

Heading into July 4th, Flotilla 99 urges boaters to remember that alcohol and drugs don’t belong on board: sober boating saves lives, plain and simple. You can find more details on Operation Dry Water and Flotilla 99’s Safe Boating classes by clicking here.

Operation Dry Water gets support nationwide from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, and law enforcement agencies across Florida. Together, they’re making sure everyone knows: safety on the water starts with being sober.

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What You Need to Know:

• BUI is illegal and deadly. Impaired operation of a vessel endangers everyone onboard and on the water. In 2024, Florida alone saw 685 boating accidents and 81 fatalities — a tragic increase from the year before.
  
• Life jackets save lives. Many fatalities could have been prevented with proper life jacket use.
  
• Training matters. A shocking 65% of fatal accident operators had no formal boater education.
  
• ODW is more than just a weekend. It’s a year-round campaign to educate, enforce, and promote safe, sober boating. During ODW weekend, expect increased patrols and zero tolerance for impaired operation.

Who’s Behind It:
This initiative is led by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in collaboration with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard. Together, they’re launching nationwide efforts to remind us: Boating under the influence is never worth the risk.

Free Resources:

• Vessel Safety Checks
• Boating Safety Classes
• Community Outreach & Events

For local resources and to learn more about how you can participate in safe boating efforts, visit the Cape Haze Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at: https://wow.uscg.info/content.php?unit=070-09-09

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