Re: [Paddlewise] briefing guide

At 10:49 AM 12/28/99 EST, you wrote:
>Doug, do we have your permission to share your checklist wither other 
>paddlers?

Sure, no problem. Realize that you will need to contextualize it for your
area. In Canadian waters, the Coast Guard cuts us a bit of slack for group
travel in that you are allowed to "share" some items like spare paddles. We
always tell new members to our club that it is still best to be fully
independent; however, the amount of gear required and the cost of all this
stuff is difficult to acquire all at once for some paddlers just getting
into the sport - and that is recognized.

We had a lot of problems on day trips for a couple of years with our local
club. The check list was what came about from a very real need. One hates
to have to hand-hold people and treat them like kids, but human nature
being what it is, people do get lazy with respect to gear and safety. What
we finally had to do was tell people the requirements for a given trip when
they initially phoned or the trip was announced at a club meeting, etc;
then at the launch site, the check list was gone over again. The check list
was also a good tool for the trip facilitator. Laminated and available,
little could be forgotten (the list was done up officially check-box
style). We had a lot of newer paddlers leading trips who not always knew
all the items to go over and consider, so it was a useful prompt for anyone
we could "sucker" into organizing a trip (these were low-risk trips, with
the newer leaders)!

One regular trip leader/facilitator didn't like to turn people away, so
carried spares of everything in his van - like pogies, PFD's (!), etc. HE
has a lot more patience than ME. The other issue we are dealing with is
certification, now that we finally have a national sea kayak program (CRCA)
in Canada. It is a thorny issue indeed. I do know of a case last year where
a group was out in windy conditions in freezing weather. One lady had BS'ed
her way into the trip. My friend had let her come along at the launch site,
despite her lack of immersion gear when she arrived, based on her
self-assessment that she was a highly experienced paddler. She went over in
the freezing water almost right away. (Our winter humidity is so high, 32
degrees (F.) seems like 0, and permeates every pour right into one's
bones). She didn't have a good brace. She was too cold to even paddle once
back in the kayak. Fortunately, a cabin nearby was occupied and the owners
provided a hot bath. The club finally said participants MUST have required
gear or NO GO. Remember, on club trips there are liability concerns.

In another incident, a lady paddler launched early on an inside lagoon
drainage passage that was in flood stage. We were all preparing to launch
on the ocean side of the sand neck.  I assumed everyone knew that, as the
passage was river-like and one would have to paddle against the stream. We
noticed the lady missing. Her husband ran to the top of the neck, then
bolted for the water. His wife had launched, got taken up-stream by the
inward flow, had capsized under a bridge where logs were piling up against
the supports. She was trapped partially under her kayak and the log. It was
a scary moment, and our club's sea kayak program convener (also
affectionately known as the "safety-bitch") had a mouthful for me later, as
I was leading the trip. I had done the check list at the parking lot at the
club where we all met, as the trip was weather dependent and the central
location of the club house gave us an advantage with respect to various
options. I didn't make the same mistake again. No one launches, until we
are at the put-in, and the talk has been done - unless it is a small group
of known quantity, then we are pretty slack.

We have another "club" in town, called a "network" with no rules per se, so
those looking for some action with other paddlers, but are put off by
rules, etc, do have another venue. Self-responsibility is always the
preferred attitude, but the 10% necessitates some kind of censure.
Obviously, there is a balance in all this somewhere.

I have to add, that for me, all the items on the list (and you can add
more) are simply common sense. I take a lot of chances solo paddling (a
risk vs reward thing) and expect a lot out of my friends on planned
expeditions, but when it comes to club paddles, I've gotten totally anal
about safety and ensuring people's first experiences are fun and enjoyable
and safe.

With warm regards and season's greetings,

Doug Lloyd 

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************