We set out that Wednesday morning with high hopes and a sense of adventure. The sea was calm, the sun was shining, and the sky was a clear, endless blue. My buddies Chris and Bill, son Connor, and I were heading far out into the canyons, about 100 miles off the coast of Fire Island, NY just beyond the continental shelf. If we’d gone a little further north, we’d have been off Nantucket, MA. It was one of those perfect days—ideal for fishing. The kind of day where you feel alive, energized by the open ocean and the freedom of being miles away from anything.
The fish were biting, and we were having a blast. We laughed, swapped stories, and enjoyed each other’s company, relishing the peace and tranquility of being out on the water. But as we turned the boat back towards shore, feeling good about the day’s haul, the mood shifted. Out of nowhere, a mayday call came over the radio.
“This is a mayday, a medical emergency,” a woman’s voice crackled over the airwaves. She was calm but clearly frightened, describing how someone on her boat was badly injured, bleeding heavily, and starting to lose consciousness. Out there, that far from shore, a radio signal that strong could only mean they were close. Really close. We quickly checked their coordinates and realized they were just five and a half miles away.
The Coast Guard came on next, urgently asking, “Any vessel, any vessel in the area, please proceed to these coordinates for a medical emergency.” My heart skipped a beat. I glanced at Chris, Bill, and Connor. We didn’t need to say anything. We knew what we had to do. Chris, an Environmental Conservation Police Officer, Bill, a former Coast Guard now with Suffolk County police, and with Connor and me having first aid training, we were as prepared as we could be. We had two tourniquets, a solid first aid kit, and a strong determination to help.
As we approached the distressed vessel, I remember feeling a knot in my stomach. You could see the panic on their faces, the blood smeared across the deck, the makeshift tourniquets that weren’t quite doing the job. A man was lying there, unconscious and losing blood fast. Bill jumped right into action. He’s got a cool head in a crisis, and his experience was invaluable.
We got the man secured on his boat, and Bill immediately went to work. He got our tourniquets secured around the man’s legs, raised them to slow the bleeding, applied ice, and we wrapped him in blankets to keep him warm. It was a mess—blood everywhere, adrenaline pumping, but we kept our focus. We radioed the Coast Guard, requesting an urgent medevac helicopter, but there was none available nearby. Out there, it’s like being on another planet—help can be hours away.
That’s when we made the call. The fastest way to get him to safety was to have their boat speed to the nearest port, Shinnecock Inlet in Hampton Bays. We stayed with them for a little while, then pointed them in the direction of Shinnecock. They floored it, racing against time. About 20 miles from Shinnecock, a Coast Guard helicopter finally arrived. A rescue swimmer dove into the water, got the man onto the basket, and lifted him to safety. He got to Stony Brook Hospital in minutes and, thank God, he survived.
Looking back, I can’t help but feel grateful that we were prepared. That we had the right equipment, the right skills, and the right mindset to help. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of preparation. As a financial advisor, I see it all the time—how crucial it is to have a plan, whether you’re on the water or planning your financial future. Just like on the boat that day, you never know when a crisis might hit, but being prepared can make all the difference.
I often tell my clients that you wouldn’t go on a trip without planning where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and what you’ll do if things go wrong. Financial planning is no different. It’s about being ready for the unexpected, having a plan for the “what ifs” in life. The cost of a good first aid kit was nothing compared to the value of saving a life. And the peace of mind that comes from having a solid financial plan is priceless.
That day on the ocean taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. Since then, I’ve made sure my boat is even better equipped—I’ve added whistles to every life jacket, upgraded the reflectors, and stocked up on more medical supplies. It feels good to know we were prepared and could make a difference. And that’s what I want for my clients too—for them to feel prepared, to know they have a plan in place, no matter what comes their way.
Life is unpredictable. You never know when you’ll face your own “mayday” moment. But with the right preparation, you can face it with confidence, knowing you’re ready for whatever life throws at you. And that’s a lesson worth sharing.
