Re: [Paddlewise] A Story: Crossing the Baltic Sea

In a message dated 11/1/01 11:26:57 AM, Strosaker_at_aol.com writes:

<< I hope others learn from it that a group is only as strong as its weakest 
paddler 
and that one should never depend on a group to keep him or her out of 
trouble. >>

Good lesson to remember, especially when we want to take our less skilled 
friends out to help them fall in love with kayaking.

<<We, Markku and I, rescued the kayaker who had capsized first three times 
during that afternoon. He seemed to have a lot of trouble with the stability 
in his plastic single, which was noticeable too light. First we used the 
method described above, with the hand pump, but the pumping seemed to take a 
lot of time and precious energy even if there was two people taking turns at 
pumping. The next two rescues were modified x-rescues, where the bow of the 
light but water-filled kayak was
only slightly taken onto the deck of our supporting double, just to let the 
water out from the cockpit. We finished the rescue with the hand-pump, after 
the capsized kayaker had climbed back to his single from the space left 
between the kayaks. I was keeping the bows towards the waves and supporting 
with the stability, and Markku was giving directions behind my back and 
helping this mate to finish with his pumping.>>

I'm in agreement with Duane, especially with the great quality of the trip 
report. I enjoyed it a great deal. I wonder about the paddling that is done 
in other places, though. Here in the Chesapeake Bay area we tend to be a bit 
obsessive about safety, as our friend Ralph has pointed out with some humor 
at times. Why choose to use any rescue that requires hand pumping the water 
out if it isn't necessary? I'm sure there was a reason, as you mentioned 
above, you "but water-filled kayak was only slightly taken onto the deck of 
our supporting double, just to let the water out from the cockpit." Does this 
mean you didn't empty it as much as you could? My experience with "t" or "x" 
rescues is that the boat is so empty that a sponge is a better tool to remove 
the last of the water rather than a pump.
    The unending conversation about rescues back here is about learning every 
variation on the theme of getting the paddler back into their dry boat as 
quickly as possible. Was there a concern for the temperature of the water or 
what? What is the emphasis in your neck of the woods? Do you have any kind of 
standard teaching? I know the Brits don't think much of the paddlefloat. Is 
there some particular thing you do or don't do?
    I don't think 22mph is that bad a wind, just a lot of work but is that 
5'-7' sea normal? That could have been tough in that wind, though you didn't 
indicate was much of an issue. I've never been in seas that high so I don't 
know how tough they are. It sounds like your friend in the plastic boat felt 
too good in it.
    The paddling culture we paddle in seems to be different from region to 
region and even group to group. I find all of them interesting. Thank you for 
sharing yours.

Joan Spinner
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