[Paddlewise] Being Seen At Night--LEDs etc.

<snip and rip>

Hopefully Doug Lloyd will also respond.  If you look carefully at my
photos
from the trip in October, you'll see the flag stand he rigged for his
boat
for at least daytime visibility in the Victoria harbor.  I'll resend the
URL
if you'd like.  He was bristling with distress flares etc. - nah, we
won't
go there...

Natalie Wiest
Galveston TX
----------------

I've done a fair bit of night paddling over the years, for various
reasons. Along shore, close to town, a certain genteel voyeurism ensues
as you pass waterfront homes and garden parties in the summer. In these
cases, total darkness was essential for invisibility, with a handy
waterproof flashlight for CG compliance.

Rough water paddling at night was another enjoyable activity. Exiting
and entering harbors to said conditions was the most dangerous phase.
The protocol was to light myself up with white strobe light and a
headlamp on high. Batteries sure fade quickly on high. I remember almost
being run over by a small fish boat pulling in for the night, when he
suddenly changed course. I had forgotten the boat would make the turn
for the fisherman's wharf. Makes sense they would suddenly turn in
there, but I figured they should have seen me. I never did see anyone
visible in the window. I was much more terrified than when out in the
waves at night, without the traffic. Don't assume you will be seen.

Tide races at night can be a real thrill and an ultimate Darwin
Challenge for a solo sea survivor episode. I played in a standing wave
in Active Pass one moon less evening, on a big Spring tide, off Helen
Point. I let the Sidney to Tawassen ferry pass, then rode the standing
waves that were caught by the 6 knot current, enjoying the thrill of
burying the bow up over the spray deck to my abs, then popping back out
as the Nordkapp's buoyancy reasserted itself - all in the dark and done
by feel. I wore a white strobe on my arm, secured by a Tekna
articulating velcro strap, slightly astern on the bicep. The low
intensity strobe emitted enough light to make me visible, and arm
movement from paddling heightened the visibility. I had reflective tape
all over the paddle blades. Being pitch black, I was navigating by local
knowledge and ambient light from whatever source was present, but I
didn't want my vision impeded in any way whatsoever, so the small strobe
was my best compromise. The whitewater jumbling at the surface made
navigating possible, and it is all you can reaaly sea, along with the
roar of the race. It really is the ultimate in adventure  - best done
prior to marriage and family. I unfortunately forgot about the
inter-island ferry that sailed on an ad hoc time schedule. The two big
ferries pass in deep channel in Active Pass, so are predictable). I
heard the horn blast and ran for cover as best I could. Within seconds,
the ferry was upon me, coming around the corner at full steam into the
current. I flashed my blades in an attempt to gain recognition, but was
spun about with no sculling stabilization. It was useless trying to gain
attention, and the ferry has no manouverability anyway. Paddling
desperately at an acute ferry-glide angle, the whirlwind arm action
flung off the strobe, just as the cold steel hull slid by. I could just
see the deck hand, high above, with search light peering into the dark
looking for pesky sportsfisherman. Safe in the back eddy near IR land,
heart in mouth, I watched the errie glow of the strobe, as its
brilliance subsided into the murky darkness, one blip at a time.

Most of my night paddling these days is done due to late return times.
By default, I carry an assortment of flashlights, both on my PFD, in my
PFD, and in my fore deck accessible day hatch (where I keep the
headlamp- Princeton Tech). The perimeter of the kayak is defined easily
by quality marine reflective tape, easily identifying me as a sea kayak
if any light is cast my way, along with the flag that is also bordered
with reflective tape (sewn on). I carry flares, readily accessible, and
also hand held flares like the ones you use at the side of a road
hazard. Laugh if you must. Outwitting the Darwin Award is a
technology-intensive enterprise.

Most of my night paddling is done in more remote locations nowadays,
away from vessel traffic, ferries, powerboaters and all sources of
man-made light and noise. I told Jackie about some night paddling I was
attempting last year, which proved a lot of fun in the end, but I
restricted myself to advantageous tides and full-moon conditions and
moderate wind (not easy to get on Juan De Fuca in summer at night, some
years). This is where the magic is for me now. Silently slicing by
steely-dark granite cliffs, listening to the sound of surf and swell
where it meets land, spooked occasionaly by a surfacing seal, and then
waiting for the sun to rise, burnishing the same cliffs with a golden
glow that speaks of an eternal hope for what often seems like an
impossibly hopeless future for mankind. No lights are used (in terms of
being turned on), as they are not needed for these trips.

Paddling at night in Manhattan Harbor -- now THAT sound dangerous to me!

DL - one paddler's experience

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