Re: [Paddlewise] Dictatorship of the Timid (was something else)

I agree with just about everything that others have said regarding this
thread since I renamed it. The response is always situational. Going from a
position of safety to one of greater danger is probably a better way of
putting it but that is what I was trying to say when using the example of
still being on land where there is an obvious safer choice that can be made.
The point I wanted to make was that staying put isn't always the best choice
but depends on the situation.
Splitting the group is also risky so I hope it was clear that care must be
taken to not create a group that is at greater risk because of the split
unless that greater risk has been voluntarily entered into by all in that
group.
I rarely paddle with a group that has an assigned leader. A small group of
strong paddlers can usually operate as a democracy with anybody with real
strong feelings having veto power. My examples of a situation when a leader
is essential were to point out the dangers of letting the weakest always
decide. I was not saying it was always best to have a leader. The bigger the
group and the less control one has as to who is in the group and the more
likely it is that a leader needs to be agreed upon in advance.
I can recall leading a club trip years ago where I insisted that the paddler
in an old solo Pouch folder stay with the group and do a relatively short
crossing in moderate seas rather than leave the group and circle the bay
solo as he told me he was going to do to avoid the waves. The waves were
only a foot to 1.5 feet high and we would be through them in ten or fifteen
minutes. I pointed out to him that there were several strong paddlers who
knew how to do rescues in the group and that if for some reason he couldn't
be gotten back in his kayak to paddle if he capsized I was also carrying a
military CO2 inflatable rubber survival raft as a back up. Since he started
with the group I told him I felt responsible for him and wasn't going to
just let him go out on his own half way through the day trip. I also
explained that his route was not going to be as wave free as it had been
when we came around that way because the wind had picked up during our lunch
and his way back would also take a lot longer than crossing the bay. Once he
made the short crossing in the waves he was elated he had done it and he
felt he had learned a lot about handling his kayak in waves that he had been
afraid to paddle in previously. conquering a fear is always a high. He
thanked me for insisting he go with the group.
Later we split the group. The weaker less experienced paddlers voluntarily
made the more dangerous choice of getting into their automobiles and driving
home. We more experienced paddlers chose the relative safety of another
crossing out to an island and back in the wind and waves. Since we also had
to drive home afterwards we only delayed our having to face the greatest
risk that most people face in their lives.
Statistically a driver living in an urban area has a 1 in 5000 chance of
being killed in an automobile accident each year. Odds of serious injury are
much more likely. Scary thought.

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com


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