Re: [Paddlewise] Soft Water (was?)

Fernando responded to my suggestion the ocean was softer, but the
lessons harder:

< I don´t want to polemize here, but I would like to clarify and maybe,
give
my excuses ..>.

Fernando,
You didn't need to clarify here, as I understood the intent and context
of your post originally. Sorry you felt like I was pointing a finger at
you,  suggesting you had offended me. (No one on this list can offend me
after some of the stuff I go through back channel with ex-paddling
partners :-) ).

I was simply emphasizing to newer paddlers on the list who might be
reading, of the notion that you can get into trouble on any body of
water, be it ocean, lake of moving river. Also, shoulder dislocations
are not as uncommon as people think, nor are other injuries -- both in
river whitewater and ocean "whitewater". Being a medical adjudicator for
the Provincial Government of BC, I see a lot of kayak related injury
reports. Well, at least my co-workers run over to me when they get them,
'cause they know I'm a kayaker: "Look here Doug, must be one of your
idiot kayaker friends!"  Nice, eh?

I see lots of broken nose injuries, near drownings, shoulder
dislocations (surfing), and lacerations. Some of these reports originate
from different parts of the world where British Columbian kayakers have
been off adventuring (coast of South America, Hawaii, etc). Privacy
issues forbid me from delineating much further.

You also said:

<Said that, then I may have to give my apologizes, because I now realize
that
when I said " "Doug's" stormy seas ", I may have sound rude to him.
Saying
"stormy seas" would be graphical enough. The image I have of Doug
paddling
among huge waves may be only in my imagination, but it's a very good
picture
of a kayaker enjoying an extreme adventure plenty of most of the
ingredients
found in class IV rivers.>

Yeah, most of my rough water sea kayaking is in my imagination too!
Well, I have done my fair share of rough water, to be sure. A 7-meter
sea with a 9-foot chop and gale-force winds is about the worse
combination I've been in. One good thing about playing in rough water
seas "on purpose", is that you don't panic so much, or reach your
limits,  when caught in average stormy seas during a regular trip. The
seas we encountered in the Storm Islands incident were within my comfort
zone, having been out in far worse before - though not towing someone
for 6 hours :-).

One thing that newer paddlers need to realize, especially gung ho macho
types, is that the sea can be a lot more difficult to paddle than it
appears from shore. Often, sitting at the beach, looking out of a small
bay to seaward, you may be left with the impression that it doesn't look
"too bad". Get out there, commit to a headland or some such thing, and
you may be in for a bit of trauma. The sea doesn't have to be huge and
nasty looking to present a major challenge. If most paddlers that like
to talk about rough water paddling were honest with themselves and
others, they would admit that a kayak traveling about 4-knots has many
other limitations imposed, such as vessel size, stability thresholds,
limits of skill and endurance, and personal aversion to the prospect of
death. I can always tell after a few posts on paddlewise, whether a
paddler is talking or walking the walk.

The other thing that can catch newer paddlers intent on a little fun and
adventure in rough seas is sudden wind direction change. The transition
time can be very short when a front moves through rapidly, and if you
haven't allowed enough of a margin or if the wind direction is integral
to reaching shore you could be in for a bit a beating - or worse.

Always, repeat, always, have an escape route or bail-out/backup plan. Do
the thinking to make sure you have covered all eventualities. I once got
into some of the worst seas ever imaginable off Cape Beale (entrance to
Barkley Sound, West Coast Vancouver Island) - heavy swell reflecting off
cliffs, big chop, with "elevator rides" so severe it felt as if the sea
would suddenly disapeer for a momment from under the kayak The plan was
to duck back into the Sound and Bamfield if it got too hairy. I forgot
about a heavy outgoing tide that only made the seas that much worse and
tightened entry to the escape route. A huge race off Cape Flattery in
heavy seas did the same thing to me again . I've left these stories
mostly silent under my "stupid is as stupid does" section of my log
book.

Well, don't rely too heavily on the forecasts. EC predicted gales to
35-knots this morning. Trial Island off Victoria was gusting to 49.
Always allow for a healthy margin of error. And as always, those who
paddle "Class IV" ocean whitewater know that it is less a matter of
wholesale physicality, than it is of intelligence and conditioning to
get you back home safely.

Best wishes and all friendship to you Fernando.

And remember, "Safety SMILES!"

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd


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