Re: [Paddlewise] How would you deal with the following situation

In a message dated 8/17/00 1:43:36 PM, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes:

<< Do not get close to the panicky fellows in the water.  They will only
pull you over.

While making certain that you are not near them, tip over your kayak and
fall out.

Keeping the kayak between you and them, push it close to them for them
to grab on to.

Whistle away or use your VHF radio to summon more help.

Keep the overturned kayak between you and them, while talking calmly to
assure them that help is on the way and that hanging on will keep them
afloat. >>

Essentially, this is what I have thought would work. My primary concern is 
moving the boat close enough for a panicked person to grab. It is bear 
pushing a boat while swimming. What I usually do when I need to get back to 
shore is not a safe maneuver in any kind of rough conditions because I stick 
my foot into the painter on the front deck and pull the boat behind as I swim 
with my paddle.
    Though I could probably avoid any panicked person I'd be betting my life 
on it. I'd have to swim to the person with the boat behind me, not between me 
and them. I would hope I had the time to go to one end of the boat and push 
the other they way. Swimming in a pfd is a big pain.
     What I'd probably end up doing is to get fairly close and as I dump away 
from them, pushing the boat in their direction as I came out. I'd try to tell 
them I was doing it and to grab the boat. Then I could either maneuver the 
boat to them if it didn't make it all the way or just grab the OTHER end of 
the boat from the one they have, trying to talk to them to calm them.
    I wonder what would happen if someone tried to climb on top of the 
overturned boat. I don't think they could flip it over on top of them self 
but a panicked person can do the most unlikely things.
    
<<- I wouldn't let anyone grab my boat while I was in it without being fully

prepared to bash'em in the face/chest/arms with the paddle to get them off

if they began to make the situation precarious (and at that point you're

dangerously close to becoming a possible victim yourself).>>

I'm going to agree with Dave because I had an experience in a swim support of 
a swimmer, not really panicked but not thinking either.I  told him to grab my 
bow toggle and I'd tow him but he tried to climb on my boat instead. I 
pointed at him with the end of my Greenland paddle (2X4) and in a commanding 
voice told him to get off. He did. But I thought to myself, what if he had 
grabbed my paddle? Then I'd have been in a world of trouble.
    The other thing is, could I hit a panicked swimmer hard enough to get his 
attention without more hurt? Could I even hit someone in obvious trouble at 
all? I'd have to be close to panic to do it I suspect.
    I hope I never have to get into such a life or death situation because 
I'd probably be too frightened to get close to someone going down.

Joan Spinner
   * * *
Paddling the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed in a yellow/white CD 
Gulfstream and a red, CD Breeze
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