G'day - A professional paddling guides view of solo paddling - Hmmm. I always cringe at the word never. For example - never go solo paddling. John Winters makes an excellent point on "personal perspective". What is safe? Well, from what "personal perspective" are we talking about here. While I would never suggest to beginner paddlers that they paddle alone - I also strongly suggest that they learn "why" they should or shouldn't in order to be able to make an intelligent and defendable decision to do it (or not to). I also attempt to raise a lot of other points of issue to them as well. So let me couch the following within my "personal perspective". Most of my year is spent open coastal paddling. I paddle in the order of 265+ days a year and have done so for the last three years and have paddled very regularly since I was seven years old (I am 38 now). This would include everything from sheltered water paddles, white water, inland lakes, coastal paddles right through to expedition paddles across areas such as the Bass Strait in Australia. In the Bass Strait, our group comfortably paddled up to 65 km crossings at times, sometimes in 4 meter+ seas. People like Laurie Ford from Tassie paddle that stuff regularly (he wouldn't leave home if he had to wait for perfect weather!!). I paddle with almost every single safety item one could think of - yet base all my trip plans on weather observation, personal assessment of my ability (or the individuals in the group) versus "likely" conditions, risk assessment practices and my own experience, skills and abilities. I very rarely base decisions on the"What if a meteorite hits me??" far out type scenarios. My question is - "Why is it by default, so safe to paddle with someone? The majority of people that I come across paddling have very little on water experience, very few practised rescue skills, very little personal risk assessment capabilities, only minor safety and communications equipment, very little knowledge of weather effects and very few real on water hard skills (other than being able to paddle straight ahead really well). They paddle the razors edge as far as being truly in control of their boats. What in the world can they do to contribute to my safety in more challenging conditions? I can paddle with some individuals and groups - and to be honest - have a higher safety index if I were paddling by myself. I do not have to always be concerned about what someone's is going to do (or not do) because of their overestimation of their abilities or fitness and underestimation of all the other relevant factors. Being on the water three times a year does not make you an experienced paddler yet some people call themselves just that. I could have that heart attack that everyone refers to. My father died in bed - maybe there should have been three people in there with him just in case it happened (OK, just a little cynical). Often if bad weather conditions occur it is not just the solo paddler who will be under stress or in trouble - it may now be the whole group. Best to practice risk avoidance. Go for a solo paddle - but maybe make the location somewhere with more options in you favour such as alternate bail out points (and making sure you have your Visa card with you!). My point - there are so many different circumstances and variables - it just can't ever be covered by a simple rule such as "Don't ever ........................". Nothing can be cast in cement. I truly believe the old maxim - "Education teaches us all the rules - experience teaches us all the exceptions". We have had an excellent story related to us in the incident report - this is the experience. We can form some very good PERSONAL rules from this excellent narrative. Wayne Langmaid Central Coast Kayak Tours - Australia http://www.kayaktours.com John Winters wrote: > George wrote; > > > I've been re-assessing my inclination to paddle solo. > > I have been reassesing my inclination to leave my house. > > Every day more and more drivers seem to be out get me. Drive by shootings > are now a away of life in some cities. The pollution idex is high and > rising. The India and and Pakistan have the bomb and want to use it. NO one > is doing aything about it. > > So what happens if I have a heart attack while driving? Suppose I have an > acident and there is no one in my car to pull me out? What if I get caught > by a sudden tornado while driving across southern Ontario? What about my > big fear that my next transfusion will be laced with Hepititus C? > > Hey, paddling solo is the only safe thing I do. > > OK, just joking a bit and not making fun of George at all. I understand his > feelings. I guess we all have to put these things in our personal > perspective. > > Cheers, > John Winters > Redwing Designs > Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft > http://home.ican.net/~735769/ > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jul 08 1998 - 15:39:26 PDT
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