RE: [Paddlewise] Navy Seal Paddlers in Eco-Challenge

> From: Mark Zen <canoeist_at_netbox.com>

> On Thu, 23 Apr 1998, Morris, Giles wrote:
> 
> >>
> >>It wasn't just the SEALs (although I was horrified at what I saw of
> >>them). As we were watching it, I said to my wife "If I'd organized the
> >>race, there's no way that I would have allowed this tape out". What were
> >>they thinking of when they encouraged novice kayakers out in those
> >>conditions? And with, effectively, no safety back-up. And, was it just
> >>that I didn't see them, or were there teams out there not wearing PFDs,
> >>and without even a PFD on deck?

What I remember from the Discovery documentary, 18 participants were rescued 
from the sea.  It appeared that the SEALs were not aware of rescue techniques 
(I can't help but think if they had at least known how to double up and 
cross-over boats to empty the flooded boat, they might have finished, but 
then again... maybe not :-).  It was evident that skills were grossly lacking 
in the sea kayaking for a good many.  But I have to remind myself that these 
folks had traveled seven and more days with little sleep before they reached 
the sea kayaking leg of the challenge (59 miles of sea kayaking).  There were 
quite a few finishers.  I hope the numerous rescues and lack of skill on
part of the participants doesn't discourage the promoters from including
sea kayaking on open water in the future.

As far as backup, there seemed to be pretty good coverage including the
boat that was dispatched to follow alongside the Japanese team that
appeared to have rarely (if ever) put a paddle in the water and were
finally pulled from the water (I was really rooting for those guys to 
finish, but sadly, they did not).  For those who didn't see the documentary, 
one of the Japanese team members injured her ankle and rather than withdraw 
from the event, her teammates ended up taking turns carrying her over a 
mountain.  

btw, many of the pfd's were worn under T-shirts.  I'm not sure why, but
it seemd to be pretty common so it may have appeared they didn't have
on pfd's where they were not visible because of being worn under the
shirts... most of which seemed to sport something that looked like the 
Eco-Challenge logo. 

> >>I hate to seem as if I'm carping about what should have been a great
> >>event, but it did seem as if the kayak leg had plenty of potential for
> >>disaster.
> >>
> >>Giles Morris
> 
> there's been great conversation on this on the paddlewise list, including
> comments from the winner of '95 & '96
> 
> maybe he can enlighten us on this as well.
> 

Robert Nagle submitted to PaddleWise some very interesting insight into 
the team dynamics and organization of the event.  Eco-Challenge is fairly 
new and I think that as it grows and receives more publicity, the level of 
skill will most likely increase (not to overlook the fact that many of the 
participants were *very* prepared and skilled for this event).  Maybe 
many participants didn't anticipate any sea kayaking as there was no
sea kayaking in the previous Eco-Challenge in BC (however, there was
"sea" kayaking in the '95 event held in Utah with part of the course 
on Lake Powell).  I had mentioned earlier on PaddleWise that I wondered 
how many participants heard sea kayaking and thought "flatwater kayaking."  
A common perception among many.  Robert Nagle did say that participants 
were made aware well in advance what might take place and what participants
could expect, however.  

I enjoyed the documentary (which will be shown in its entirety on Sunday
on Discovery channel).  

Related websites for anyone interested...

http://www.moutainzone.com/features/eco97/index.html
http://www.ecochallenge.com
http://www.discovery.com/indep/ecochallenge/schedule.html
http://yuri.harvard.edu/~nagle/  (website of captain of Team 
       Eco-Internet, winners of Eco-Challenge's 96 and 97)

Cheers,

Jackie
http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/


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