[Paddlewise] Sunshine Coast Incident

Bob said

>>Jack,
   Speaking for myself, thank you so much for this reminder that not all

people or all peoples share the same communicative conventions.>> <snip>

Just a quick follow-up to the incident:

I phoned the kayak rental/tour operator today and spoke once again with
the owner. She had a chance to speak with the exchange student for a
short debriefing. Apparently, the renter was too far from shore upon her
return, so much so that she could not make out the rental dock.
Disoriented, the paddler headed unknowingly the wrong way. The paddler
could not give sufficient explanation why she was so far from shore, and
was extremely apologetic and embarrassed today.

I asked for a few more details regarding the point at which authorities
were called in. Apparently Search and Rescue were alerted at 7:00 PM,
but declined to launch a search until it was determined a genuine
emergency existed. At 8:30, the store again called for help, and an
official search was sent into motion, beginning with a search of all
beaches and wharfs, etc., in the immediate area, before launching to
waters/areas further afield.

I also asked again, what the rental outlet staff had learned from the
incident. Jack's point about confirming communication was mentioned to
me, as was the fact that if this ever did happen again, they would not
necessarily search an area where they expected the paddler to be. They
should have commenced a search that included all shoreline accessible in
the amount of time the paddler had to get further away from the bay. And
no, the kayaker wasn't charged for the extra long rental that day :-)

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd




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