[Paddlewise] another approach at sea kayaking

After a close call that our grup had three weeks ago, and now volunteering
to lead trips for my club, I am taking another aproach at sea kayaking.

In our last outting, even though the leader said very specifically and
strongly that the trip was for people who had solid rescue and bracing
skills, and previous open coast experience, a few people showed up with
none of the above. The group was big, and the sea and wind were challenging
even for the advanced paddlers.

To make the story short, I ended up towing a kayaker out of the rocks
against the current while someone else towed his boat away. That person
had a farmer John wetsuit, but only a capilene T shirt under it.
I was towing him and trying to make him talk at the same time. His laps
of silence were getting longer and longer -hypothermia. I was loosing him.

Not too far away I saw another member of the group go in the water. Fortunately
that person was put back in his boat without any problem; they were in
a sheltered area.

I have been paddling solo or with a small group of strong kayakers all
these years. I have been depending on solid self rescue skills, skill 
building practices, and some degree of prevention. Now that I am participating
in large group paddles and am going to start leading trips myself, things
are quite different. Now I am going to start using gadgets.

I recently acquired a radio, an inflatable sea-seat, flares, a tow rope,
and a first aid kit. With such a collection of gadgets I hope to make
almost sure that everyone gets back alive when paddling in large groups.

Before I concentrated in self reliance and not being a liability, but
an asset, to the group of strong paddlers I paddled with. Now, paddling
with large groups I learned that no one can substimate the degree of
stupidity of the general public, and that in a group of 10 or more
there is 100% probability of having a complete idiot in the group.

Yes, prevention is the key; that guy got away safely but he should not
have been in that paddle. But when a group gets big things get out
of hand quickly.

On a side subject:
There have been threads in this group on how to assess the level of
a paddler that shows up for the first time in a group. That problem
is one that guides, outfitters, and group leaders have to put up with
very frequently, but no one had been able to solve effectively.

I have been thinking of arranging a rescue clinic prior to every paddle
I lead, then only admit to the paddle those who performed at an acceptable
level at the clinic. Doing that would make anyone very unpopular, so 
maybe you folks can offer better suggestions.

Making people sign a waiver in which they have to write their next
of kin name is a good idea to scare away people who should not be
in a trip. In the US, however, I found out that too many people do not
care for their next of kin, so back to the drawing board. :-)

Are you folks ready to talk about safety issues and group liability
again, or should we wait for the water to freeze again? :-))

- Julio
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