Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling in fog

Derek Hairon wrote:
> 
> Dave Krugers' request for experiences of paddling in fog certainly got me
> recalling a few trips.

Great post, Derek -- exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to get.  Got
a couple questions, though.

> I'm not sure just when you decide you have paddled in fog but I certainly
> know when my navigation has to be 100%. Here in Jersey, British Channel
> Isles we have a few offshore reefs with huts on them at 6 miles, 12 miles
> plus, other islands and the coast of France. I have paddled to all at some
> stage over 4-5 knot cross currents in poor or very poor visability.
[snip] 
> The most important thing for us on this was that we had taken the time to
> sort out our navigation before we left. Around here we tend to constantly
> stress the need for paddlers to do some chart work and not just relie on
> the leader to have done it. One very experienced paddler I know did not do
> this and ended up missing the 100 metre long islet of Les Ecrehous (7 miles
> offshore) at night- and in poor vis- and spent a total of 7 hours on the
> water. [snip]

Whoaa!  That 100 metres is only 0.5 degrees "wide" at a distance of 7
miles.  Dead reckoning isn't that good, I don't think.  (For example,
your "5 degree" goal for dead reckoning (below) would amount to possibly
"missing" Les ecrehous by about 1000 metres.)  At night, with no other
visibility problems, how "close" to the island do you have to be to see
it?  I am puzzled how you folks can expect to hit a target that small
using dead reckoning.   Can you enlighten us?
 
> I often find I navigate much better in poor visibility and at night. I work
> on getting to within 5 degrees or less with the compass on average. In poor
> vis I tend to trust my navigation far more and not start going off course
> just because I seem to be getting near my destination.
[snip]
> One Irish coach -Mike McClure- does some great exercises where he drapes a
> sheet over you  so you then paddle blind, but are still able to read your
> compass and chart. Its a bit like having a poncho on but without your head
> sticking through.
[snip]

I can imagine this would really test one's resistance to motion
sickness, also, yes?

> Another time armed with a Gps we headed for the Ecrehous in thick fog to
> test how good these gadgets were. Yes they do mean we do things we might
> have been less inclined to try in the past. We only hit the islet because
> of it.
>  But I do not relie on GPS. Last time we travelled at night to Les Ecrehous
> ( 4-5knot cross currents, 37 foot tide) the batteries died due to my
> forgetfulness! But I had still done all the chart work so it was not a
> major problem and it simply served to validate what we already thought.
[snip]
> Yes I could tell of a few  more foggy stories.

Thanks for the great posting.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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