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

Hi Ralph,

> From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
<snip>
> one-eight of a mile) and people on a seawall can be seen gesturing and
> using cell phones, there is virtually no risk to yourself to drop out of
> your kayak and push it toward the drowning non-swimmers.  While we are
> all trained to consider our kayak our lifeline, or ultimate survival
> tool, in this case your survival rate in your PFD, with help on the way
> and the marina's docks a leisurely swim away, was 100 percent even
> without your kayak, as long as you had it between you and the panicky
> swimmers and could swim away from them if they started climbing over and
> trying to grab you.  You secured the scene by thrusting your kayak into
> the situation as a virtually unsinkable life raft.
<snip>

>From your original post:

> They panicked.  I don't know whether the
> small motorized dinghy sank or drifted away but they did not seem to be
> able to hang on to it for support. 

Did anyone ever find out what happened to the dinghy and why they were 
unable to hold on to it?  That questions keeps coming back to me though I
agree that pushing my kayak to the panicky swimmers seems the most 
logical idea in the scenario described above.  Maybe the dinghy was 
washed away in the boat wakes?

Though somewhat heated :-)  I think this has been a good topic.  Thanks,
Ralph.

Jackie


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