Re: [Paddlewise] St. Clement's Island; kayaker death

----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Broze" <mkayaks_at_oz.net>
>
> I have a slightly different take on this. I think it wouldn't have made
much
> difference what he was wearing. The paddlefloat being still folded and
with
> the kayak points to the conclusion that he lost his kayak as soon as he
> bailed out but before he got started with that rescue. Once that kayak is
> gone if he didn't have a way to summon outside help (or other boaters or
> paddling partners in the area) and if he was far from shore (and that
could
> be a few yards if the wind or current was taking him the other way) no
> amount of thermal protective clothing up to a full survival suit would
have
> been likely to save him (other than by extending his life for a few more
> hours when someone just might happen to come upon him accidentally).

I was in DC over the weekend and the consensus is that even if the fellow
had been wearing a drysuit (with good insulation) beneath, given where he
was paddling, he would have perished.  This is still very much the
off-season in terms of boating.  I was an event at a marina there and all
the pleasure craft were still on their stilts in dry dock with their owners
sanding and painting.  When he went over, there would have been scant
traffic to see him or come to his aid.  Even if had had a marine radio, it
would have been sheer luck if he could have hailed someone.  In the water,
his range would have been just a mile or so, although some rebounding off
hills etc. may have increased that.

The real lesson is frankly that in cold water paddling while alone, you are
at great risk.  You need to really consciously work at reducing those risks.
A dry suit, a tether, a radio, a float plan, all would have reduced the
risks but they would not have eliminated them.

I recall seeing discussion of a self-evaluation point system somewhere.
Basically, you take various variables of paddling conditions against your
own preparedness in terms of skill, gear, etc.  You score yourself on these
and come up with a figure.  If the figure of risk is too high, you then
either lower the risk elements of the paddling conditions or you add to gear
and skill to compensate for it.  Some of these charts seem pretty arbitrary,
and frankly, people who prepare them tend to lay the system out in a way
that
supports their kind of skills and type of boat.

But those systems do help because they make you think of paddling conditions
in terms of their variables.  So much wind, such and such water temperature,
so much exposed waters, so much distance of travel.  Working against these
variables are your experience level in dealing with components of these
variables (paddling skill in beam winds, as an example), type of boat, skill
level in keeping yourself upright, skill level in recovering from being
knocked over, clothing level that will sustain you for two or three times
the in-water exposure that you know it takes you to get back in and pump
out, etc.  When you start thinking in these terms, you stop kidding
yourself.  Or if you ignore them; then you knowingly run the greater risk.
Doesn't mean you should not go ahead but it may suggest that you alter you
plans a bit and, say, not paddle in unfamiliar waters but stay closer to
where
you know conditions, quick exit points, places to find calmer waters, etc.

ralph diaz


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