I was thinking about this subject just yesterday before this announcement was made and remembering the casual approach paddlers used to have in the past regarding cold water paddling. There was a day not so long ago that many folding kayakers, particularly Klepper owners, thought that their boats made them invincible. They tended to wear neither PFDs nor cold water clothing even in those deadly days at the beginning of the paddling season and toward the end of it when warm air temperatures beckoned the kayaker but the water beneath was at killing temperatures. Of course, no boat is unsinkable, no water so calm, no shore so close that you can count on working yourself out of a jam if in the cold drink. I remember, too, an accident that occured a few years ago in the middle of the winter on one of those days in New York City when the air turns spring like. I got a call from a fellow who, hearing the weather predictions for the balmy interlude in Jack Frost's blast, was planning to paddle in the embayment in front of the Downtown Boathouse with his son. He was asking my advice but I got the impression that he was looking more for some blessing from me about it being okay to be in his double foldable without cold water clothing for him and his precious cargo. I told him an absolute no, even though predictions were for calm water and no wind and nice air temperatures. Nothing happened to him or his son BUT his lack of cold water clothing did exacerbate a situation that could have proven unfortunate. Someone was paddling a single, a Khatsalano, in the same embayment area and went over and couldn't self-rescue. He _was_ wearing some cold water gear, a watersports polartec suit but not much more. That clothing would be okay for only a very short exposure at best given the very cold water temperature; but, as he could not get back in soon enough, he started having trouble. The double folding kayak was right there, an almost perfect stable platform for a rescue of any boat. But the man in it with his son dared not approach to do the rescue. He was concerned about their being capsized in such an effort. If they had been prepared for cold water immersion that concern would not have been an issue. I don't blame him for not wanting to take the risk. But it raised the large issue...he and his son were not prepared for a cold water dunking. The fellow in the water finally just swam what wasn't a very long distance to the dock. But by the time he got there he was in real bad shape and had a hard time getting out. After awhile he warmed up. But it could have been a sad ending. So, do attend this free clinic if you are in the NYC area or any that may be offered in your area of the world if it is subject to cold water conditions. If there aren't any such sessions in your area, encourage getting one organized. Sorry I won't be at this one. I will be paddling in the balmy waters of salt water marshes on the North Carolina coast south of Hatteras. My annual sojourn to the Balogh Sail Designs Sailing Get-Together. I will do lots of paddling down there when not acting as ballast in the front seat of a double kayak under sail. ralph diaz Tim Gamble wrote: > > The New York Kayak company is sponsoring and the Downtown Boathouse is > hosting a free cold water paddling seminar on Saturday 10/21/2000 at the > Downtown Boathouse In Manhattan from 10:00 AM to 1:00PM > > See www.downtownboathouse.org for directions. > > In a few more weeks the waters around New York will be too cold to paddle in > safely without special equipment and training. Hypothermia and cold water > shock are very real dangers and all paddlers should become aware of the > risks, and techniques for handling cold water. This seminar is your chance > to learn about cold water paddling it could save your life and its free!!!! > what a deal. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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