[Paddlewise] Visibility At Sea

	Sluf et al, 

	Thanks for passing on your SAR experience with spotting small craft at
sea.  This sort of safety discussion makes P/W worthwhile.
	A coupla points;

	Has anyone used, or seen in action a new gadget [to me] called a
SEE/RESCUE signal streamer.  This is well reviewed in a seemingly balanced
compendium of web pages found under  'equipped.com'.
	In fact when I read about the streamer, it all seemed so bleeding obvious
I wondered why it had not been dreamed up years ago.  Basically the
streamer is a bright orange floating plastic strip of various lengths which
can be deployed from a life raft, kayak, yacht etc.
	According to the blurb they have been tested and approved by the US
military as substitutes for dye markers in their [pilots] survival kits.
Again, according to 'equipped.com', the military have demonstrated that a
medium length streamer can be spotted at one and a half miles at a search
altitude of 1500ft.  [In daylight of course!]
	The advantages to seagoing kayakers seem to be considerable. The streamer
does not rely on batteries, does not go out of date,  does not have to be
kept in a waterproof environment, weighs little and packs down to the size
of a SOLAS parachute flare,  does not degrade or disperse in heavy seas, is
relatively unaffected by the size of the seas or wind strength.
	The only rider I would attach to the above is that this predicates an
aerial search.  But then I have noticed that these days most official
searches off our coastline here in Australia  begin with an aerial search,
either by helicopter or fixed wing,
	Anyone seen these streamers or have one in their safety kit?

	On the kayak visibility issue,  my experience is that at around half a
mile and further, in a whitecapping sea, it makes little difference if your
boat is black, white or brindle. But I have read somewhere that bright blue
is a safe colo[u]r at sea. And light fluoro green, strangely enough.   
PJ, Wollongong, Australia

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