----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Hagen" <dan_at_hagen.net> > Two kayakers from the Bellingham area are missing. Their empty kayaks > have been found, but as far as I know (and as reported in the following > story) the kayakers have not been found. According to the article, the > two are not experienced kayakers (they were using kayaks they borrowed > from a friend) and one is a weak swimmer. "They did not take personal > flotation devices with them and were wearing lightweight clothing. Huso > said there is no indication they had any supplies with them such as food, > extra clothing or coastal maps." When you see such cases, and they do happen often enough, it makes you wonder. In this case what sort of provision did the lender make in terms of including PFDs or in any warnings he or she may have made regarding cold water clothing and precautions about paddling? A similar pattern happens here in the Northeast from time to time. Summer homes on the New England coast are getting readied for the season. A workman spots a kayak and paddle under the house or in a garage. The water seems calm and the air warm. He "borrows" it and goes for a spin., tips over in work boots and heavy work clothing into water at 45 degrees. Gone. Other cases. Other kayakers and I paddling in April around here often run across individuals who are launching at about the time we are. We are wearing drysuits or neoprene (water at best is at 45 degrees), PFDs laden with all sorts of things dangling from them including VHF radios, paddle floats, spare paddles, etc. The other people launching are in jeans, no PFD, no sprayskirt, no pump, absolutely no knowledge of the water beyond the put-in. I often wonder what they think of us. And, of late, I wonder what they would make of Doug Lloyd with his elaborate deck rigging, diving knife. Sea Seat et al. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 13 2001 - 07:24:21 PST
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:38 PDT