[Paddlewise] Minor assistance in Monterey Bay

Yesterday I was out in Monterey Bay (on further
experimenting, that CD Extreme might need more than just a
skeg for running downwind in a good swell and following
wind*). About 200 yard away I see somebody hand-paddling a
sit-atop. Figure no good could come of it; wind's blowing
pretty hard and maybe a 5-foot swell, so I head over, though
nobody asked. Getting closer, I see another in the water,
and closer still I see both paddles about 30 meters up-wind
and getting farther fast. I pick up the paddles, and head
toward the boat when they call for help. "What do you think
I'm doing: stealing your paddles?" I say with a smile in my
voice. Two youngsters, wet, cold and sans clue. Underdressed
and underskilled, about 500 meters from shore. I asked them
how cold they were and could they make it back to shore and
guessed that they could; paddled off but hovered in the area
to make sure they did.

The lesson here? Don't be a teenager! Then again, there were
plenty of underdressed adults out yesterday. Monterey Bay
Kayaks seems to be pretty diligent about checking folk out,
but the hotels seem much less so.

*my Caribou doesn't seem nearly as prone to broach while
running downwind with the skeg up.

p.s. sure was a splendid day out there.

***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************