[Paddlewise] Contact Tows (was Rescue Options)

	Peter's mention of "contact tows" brings up a question that has been
bouncing around in my otherwise empty head for some time. Conventional
wisdom call for towing gear to be quickly releasable and shock absorbent.
Contact tows seem to be neither. Is there another option that we have
missed? Are contact tows really the best way to handle these scenarios? Both
the ACA and the BCU are big on the ability to release tows in an emergency
(ex. after the tow'er capsizes) and yet the contact tows that both
organizations recommend are, at best, difficult to release in the event of
such a capsize.

Jed
Team North Atlantic

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Treby
Subject: [Paddlewise] Rescue Options

Here's another option, use a short tow cord to tow the swimmer's boat back.
Carry a short, 2' length of cord with small snaplinks at each end in a PFD
pocket. You can quickly attach the bow of the rescued boat to a deckline
just behind you, and paddle, without unravelling your long tow line.


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