ralph diaz wrote: >3. Save the insistence of getting the group tightly together for >crossing situations in either traffic or heavier conditions. That is >where it counts. > >4. Make certain someone with some experience is with weaker paddlers. >The weaker ones make themselves known not by admission necessarily, but >rather behavior on the water. I know a couple of ACA instructors who have a useful technique for keeping a group of paddlers with mixed skills together: towing. At the beginning of any trips which may involve a long paddle or a crossing, tow ropes are issued to all the stronger paddlers (in some cases, this may be all the paddlers except one or two). When poor conditions (wind, currents/tides) or a major crossing occurs, the paddlers are split up into tow groups. Each tow group is made up of paddlers with different strength and skill levels. The end of each tow rope (attached to the paddler's waist) is connected to the bow of the boat behind the paddler. The stronger, faster, and more experienced are placed at or near the front (these paddlers are often known as the "engines"), while slower paddlers are placed towards the rear of the tow line. The leaders or guides are usually placed at the beginning of each tow group, just in front of their "engines". With this technique, the entire group harnesses and benefits from the energy of the stronger faster paddlers. At the same time, the tow lines keep the group together This is especially useful with windy crossings. I've participated in several tow lines over the last 2 years, moving from last-in-line to the "engine" position. Some of the problems I see with this technique are: 1. Hurt feelings - especially the slowest paddlers when they are placed at the end of the tow line. Some of the faster paddlers with the big egos tend to make these people feel worse. Leaders need to be sensitive to this. 2. The faster and more experienced paddlers don't want to be "tied down". They need to be encouraged to give up some of their speed for the good of the group. One way to deal with this is to create at least 2 tow groups and turn a crossing into a race. 3. Being an "engine" is a real pain. I'm always glad to find stronger paddlers! Ted Whitney Campbell, CA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I'd have some safety concerns, too, beside your comments. A rope attached to a paddler's waist could become a dangerous thing. It's imperative that such a restraint be instantly sheddable if a problem develops. At the very least I would much rather tie the rope onto a biner or ring in front of the paddler with a "hasty hitch" which can be released with a single pull on the end. From: Ted Whitney >I know a couple of ACA instructors who have a useful technique for keeping a >group of paddlers with mixed skills together: towing. At the beginning of >any trips which may involve a long paddle or a crossing, tow ropes are >issued to all the stronger paddlers (in some cases, this may be all the >paddlers except one or two). >When poor conditions (wind, currents/tides) or a major crossing occurs, the >paddlers are split up into tow groups. Each tow group is made up of >paddlers with different strength and skill levels. The end of each tow >rope (attached to the paddler's waist) is connected to the bow of the boat >behind the paddler. The stronger, faster, and more experienced are placed >at or near the front (these paddlers are often known as the "engines"), >while slower paddlers are placed towards the rear of the tow line. The >leaders or guides are usually placed at the beginning of each tow group, >just in front of their "engines". *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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