Re: [Paddlewise] How far off shore?

Scott,

Where do you paddle?  

Rev. Bob Carter was referring particularly to SE Alaska.

I've never paddled there or indeed anywhere on the Pacific Coast
north of San Francisco, but I've heard enough stories about 
boomers quite a ways off shore to be very wary and not so
dismissive as you.

You're right, we do need to stress safety - but the point 
Rev. Bob was making was that sometimes that means paddling
quite a ways out beyond the surf zone.  

I don't think one should ignore local knowledge and experience
while trying to be safe.  Sometimes what's safest in one area
can be very dangerous in another.


On Jun 26,  2:51, "ssives_at_erols.com" wrote:
} Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] How far off shore?
> No offense to the good reverend,  but as a former ocean lifeguard, I
> would not advise a person to kayak two miles offshore alone.  
> 
>   I love kayaking in the ocean, and of course I have alot of experience
> swimming out there as well.  It is real easy to be blown further out in
> the ocean in windy conditions - or if a stiff current kicks up.  I agree
> with another poster who said "you don't paddle farther than you are
> prepared to swim."
> 
>   I wish I had a dollar for every clueless tourist I had to wake up out
> in the ocean.  These clowns would fall asleep on a raft in the ocean
> like they were in a pool!  I always wonder what their expression would
> be like if I actually let them wake up five miles out at sea!
> 
>   The point is that you must have GREAT RESPECT for the ocean - it can
> easily kill you.  If something goes wrong two miles out at sea, you have
> a real problem on your hands if you are not an excellent long distance
> swimmer.  I've swam a mile straight out in the ocean (with two other
> lifguards - one carrying a buoy "just in case").  Let me tell you , it
> is an unnerving feeling.  You really feel isolated, and you start to
> wonder about the "things" living in the ocean beneath you!  If you add
> in poor weather conditions or stiff winds/currents, you can easily get
> into trouble.
> 
>   Pardon my "preaching", but I really think we need to stress safety on
> this site.  
> 
>   - Scott Ives
> 
>      
>   Rev. Bob Carter wrote:
> > 
> > In response to how far off shore to paddle. The key is to not only stay outside the surf but also outside of the boomers. Boomers are big breaking waves caused by extra big swells hitting a submerged rock. They can suddenly occur well beyond the surf line and can catch a paddler by surprise. Here in Southeast Alaska this means sometimes paddling as much as two miles off shore....
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>-- End of excerpt from "ssives_at_erols.com"



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