Re: [Paddlewise] panicky paddlers was: baidarka Back Support and Sp*ns*ns

> Doug Lloyd wrote:
> 
> It _does not_ have to be extreme-like conditions for a paddler to have
> problems. Over the last couple of decades, I've seen it all - paddlers
> desperately ill, due to not changing the water in their water bottle since
> their last trip; new paddlers totally in panic mode, unable to deal with
> their lack of perceived stability, then placing undue requirements on a
> partner or group (to the point where they physically will not let go of
> you, even after attempts to calm them down).

Are you saying someone grabbed either your boat or someone elses boat 
in your party and would not let it go because of panic and could not 
be calmed down?

I've seen people panic to the point of not being able to move but never
experienced someone grabbing my kayak and not letting it go.  

What do you do when that happens?  I know it's risky business to rescue
a drowning swimmer or someone panicking in the water (they sometimes
try to climb on top of their rescuer...)  I was swimming down a river
holding on to my boat (which we often did in calm stretches to cool off
during hot weather) when a panicky lab in the water tried to do this to me
and I kept ducking under my boat to the opposite side.  He kept swimming
around my boat after me until I reached shore... not sure what I would 
have been able to do if I'd not had my boat to place between us... he
sure could maneuver around in the water fast, though. 

Cheers,

Jackie
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