: 1 Check the watertighness of your boat. fill the compartments with water and
: see where it leaks out.

This ought to be done every season, or whenever you think you may have given the boat a massive whack--off the roof rack, into rocks, a surf endo, etc.

: 2 Having a slippery boat with no deck rigging doesn't endear you with your
: rescuers.

'Nuff said!
Often times, your deck rigging isn't for yourself, it's for someone rescuing you, or someone you're rescuing. (A lesson I've just recently learned for myself).

: 3 Paddle with as many experienced and physically strong people as you can on
: rough days. Turning into the wind to paddle to a capsized paddler takes a
: lot of strengh after you have paddled for a couple hours.

Good advice. If you have friends whom you're introducing to rough water, take only one at a time, and don't take another until the first is able to rescue you, themselves, and the new person. Everybody needs to learn sometime--everybody just doesn't need to learn all at the same time!

Or, practice rough water near a lee shore. If everyone dumps, you just get blown to shore. You can get into some truly rough water without being terminally exposed to the sea's fury.

: 4 Thank god for the drysuit. It was the first time I really needed it.

Spread the word, Tom, spread the word!!

Safe paddling,

Shawn