I think Kirby didn't really made a decision to part from the group: The group parted from him. If I were in his shoes (boat) I would NOT have tried to catch up. I would have been steaming with anger. I would have told them on the first chance that I would NEVER paddle with them again. Groups are supposed to be safer then solo paddling. A group like this is a danger. Slower paddlers will fall back, force themselves to keep up, spending their strength in the wrong way, not having any left when they need it in an emergency. The group will loose members with nobody knowing where they are. The search for them might endanger the rest of the group. There is no check on the abilities of paddlers, so it is easy to enter conditions they can't handle. A group like this is asking for disaster. Kirby: Let them enter the disaster without you. Darwin will take care of them. On advice of this list I bought the book by John Lull: Sea kayakking safety and rescue, that has a very clear and manageable view on group dynamics. Read it, and use it! A group can be safe, when everybody has a clear understanding of the functioning of the group. Otherwise, the "safety by numbers" may feel secure, but actually is as secure as a PFD made of concrete. I am almost getting angry in Kirby's place. Niels. *************************************************************************** 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 Fri Apr 05 2002 - 13:32:22 PST
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