RE: [Paddlewise] experience kayaker clinging

Chill out, Tom!  I believe, after more than a year of monitoring this list,
the majority of people here don't base their paddling skills on
certification that hangs from the wall.  [Though I suspect many have a few
hanging proudly!]  And to blatantly claim that anyone who criticizes this
young man is merely hiding behind their computer screen while others [like
you, perhaps] are out paddling in the real world is insulting.  Just maybe
the criticism on this list, read by hundreds across the world, could result
in someone else not spending an entire night clinging to a bell buoy, or
worse, perishing at sea.  Seems possible to me! How about you?

Personally, I commend this guy for taking on that kind of water.  I'll bet
it was one hell of a great experience, at least for that first hour.
Personally, I would love to paddle the same type of water conditions one
day.  My experience in water similar to this was on the outer edges of
Hurricane Danny.  One of the most exhilarating moments for me was paddling
in 10- to 15-foot swell out in the Gulf of Mexico.  To be able to drop down
into a 15-foot trough, surrounded by a wall of water, and to surf a 15-foot
swell in a following sea -- an absolutely incredible feeling!!!  But I
digress!

The fact is, when you take on water as large and potentially dangerous as
this guy did, you have to make sure you're TOTALLY prepared.  And like so
many other times I have heard or read about, sometimes it's the smallest of
things that might have made the difference.  In my humble opinion, one of
the critical missing items here was a WHISTLE!!!  Something I was taught
from the beginning -- to ALWAYS take along a whistle -- and I do.  Had this
guy been paddling with a whistle -- though he may not have been able to
prevent getting tossed out of and separated from his boat, and ultimately
having to seek safety by swimming to and climbing up on a buoy --  he might
have prevented his having to spend all night on the damned thing with the
aid of a whistle.  In the second story, he was quoted as saying he heard
boats passing him by, but was unable to get their attention by yelling.
Just maybe a whistle [or a light?] would have made the difference.

The second lesson learned as a result of this situation is I entend to NEVER
paddle without a light source again.  Especially when I take on challenging
water conditions.  Quite honestly, unless I was planning on paddling or
camping in nighttime conditions, I never took any kind of a light source
along.  Hence forth, I shall -- thanks to the lessons learned by this guy
and shared on this list.

I give this "kid" a lot of credit, and I truly understand his decision to
kayak the rough stuff.  As my brother, Bill, wrote this morning:  "Sometimes
it's better to have tried and failed, than to have failed to try."  But we
all need to make sure we don't die failing!!!

Just my .03 cents!

Jim Tynan
PikeRoad AL

>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
>[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of
>Tomckayak_at_aol.com
>Sent: Saturday, November 06, 1999 9:49 AM
>To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
>Subject: [Paddlewise] experience kayaker clinging
>
>
>                    Shit happens!
>If you paddle the hard edge of Sea kayaking you slip off once and a while.
>                    Dam it!
>Don't sit on your #_at_# and pass judgment on people operating in the real
>world, as you hide behind the computer screen with your paid for
>Certification framed on the wall from a three days paddle about.
>                    Hall of Flame!
>This guy should be in the great survivors wing.
>                    He will become the next Expert!
> A list will appear with equipment needed for buoy clinging.
>Gloves and shoes
>for climbing clammy metal will be required safety gear. How to muffle the
>clapper on that #_at_$_at_ bell. Don't think it can't happen to you.
>
>As I speck out from behind my computer you should be afraid, very
>afraid : )(
>:)(:)(:)(safety
>
>Tom Cromwell
>Edmonds, Wa.
>USA
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