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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 8/21/99 11:07:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Walt342_at_aol.com writes: << Sweet dreams Bruce.... sweet dreams for the rest of your life. (Walt Levins) >> Boy, that really sounds ominous. I'm sure Bruce is having enough trouble sleeping!!!! Perhaps he could turn the lemon into a lemonade and sell the story/idea to a movie production company??? On the other hand, if it's a success he'll get the opportunity to live it over and over again! Sandy Kramer Miami *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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