Erik Baard's comments are right on as far as I am concerned. I am struck about several things Erik said: 1. His observation about JFK Jr. not wearing something prudent for possible cold water exposure and then JFK Jr. politely shrugging off Erik's words of caution. Most of us who saw JFK Jr.'s imprudent approach to cold water conditions never said a word to him about any of it. So kudos to Erik for speaking up. 2. Erik's observations (that back up my own) about lack of a bilge pump, paddle float, etc. and no evidence of a PFD even strapped to the deck (if there were one, it would have been buried deep inside the kayak). I don't think anyone said anything about that either to JFK Jr.. But it had nothing to do with his celebrity status. I for one have given up in most cases saying anything to people going out on the water apparently ill prepared in terms of such gear and lacking a PFD on them (except for those people using the public kayaks at the Downtown Boathouse where we have somewhat more authority and obligation to enforce such a policy). 3. And, then, the irony of JFK Jr. having been pulled over one day by the Coast Guard for careless paddling in a high traffic area; it's the same organization that searched this weekend for his lost plane and passengers. Before anyone gets overworked about the Coast Guard pulling JFK Jr. over for not wearing a PFD, yes--it exceeded their authority to do so. All that is legally required is to have one accessible. (Sometimes overzealous CG crews in the harbor will do that. On one occasion the CG Command hearing about it wanted to know when/where/etc/. to chastise the crew. I feigned a bad memory. I rather see the CG crews scaring people into putting PFDs on even though it's not the law.) I don't know if there is anything more to be said here except that this is all a reminder about prudence and judgment in situations that may involve risk. Some of us will derive lessons from it, others will not. Take your pick. Maybe we should all be a bit more like Erik and speak up when we see people behaving imprudently even at the risk of sounding like cranks. Maybe if more such is done, then it may transform a person's inprudent behavior in an activity and the change just might spill over into other endeavors as well. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Jul 20 1999 - 05:54:18 PDT
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