[Paddlewise] White shark encounter

G'Day

Before starting to kayak I remember being concerned about sharks, they are
quite common in Australia. So did a bit of reading to evaluate the risk.
There were numerous descriptions of encounters with fishing boats, dogs,
drunks and swimmers. I couldn't find any accounts of sharks attacking
sailing dinghies although there was a recent report of a sailboard rider who
seems to have been taken by a shark after he had been separated from the
sail board. I could only find stories of three attacks on small, muscle
powered, boats: - two kayaks and a rowing skiff. In all three cases the
shark attacked the boat and continued to attack the boat rather than the
paddler - It dawned on me that I had better insure the Klepper and I
somewhat sheepishly asked the local agent if the clause regarding vermin and
boats applied to sharks. "Oh no sir not at all a silly question why only the
other day we had a claim .........." and so on. (I often think my questions
may be stupid but it hardly ever stops me asking!). He went on to explain
that great whites and grey nurse were protected species and I was under no
circumstance to hurt them - so I'm not quite so worried now? 

Bruce Cherry's description was fascinating, I don't really know, but it
sounded as though he did all the right things, and what an example of acute
observation under stress! The story reminded me again of the risks of
fishing from a kayak or being careless with faeces and urine! 

All the best, PeterO

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