Re: [Paddlewise] Yum Yum Yellow

From: Nick Gill <nicholas.gill_at_adfa.edu.au>
Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 12:34:55 +1000
Jackie wrote
> Nope, that's an urban legend.  I thought most California sea kayakers
> knew that.  
> 

Bob Myers Wrote
Ridiculous, of course.

Nobody's done a study of what color kayaks a shark prefers.

And besides, shark attacks on kayaks are so rare that the data is
statistically invalid.

i write;

I'm not sure about these comments. A few years ago I had heard of this. Sounded dubious. then one day while lunching in the tea room I happened to pick up one of the scientific mags that lie around my work place. Don't ask me which one - I didn't  keep it. There it was - a story about a study by some shark researchers who had  studied on which colours are most likely to attract a shark attack. they had tried all sorts of colours and patterns - using surfboards, or something similar, if I remember correctly..

the results - yum yum yellow was number one
also don't get a zebra pattern black and white kayak- that was number two.

If I remember correctly though the associations were not that strong. 
Unless the story or research was a hoax or my memory is so awful - there you are.
Nick


Nicholas Gill
School of Geography and Oceanography
University of NSW
Australian Defence Force Academy
Canberra ACT 2600

Ph. 02 6268 8317
Mob. 041 7659440
Fax 02 6268 8313

Email: nicholas.gill_at_adfa.edu.au

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Received on Mon Sep 20 1999 - 20:14:33 PDT

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