Re: [Paddlewise] SOT's/Rob' s Comments

In a message dated 6/6/2003 9:47:40 AM Central Daylight Time, 


lyon_at_interisland.net writes:








> First time post to the forum here and I'll try and keep this 


> short.  Regarding Rob G's remark's about my recent Open Ocean/Open Kayak 


> article in C&K, the incident off the Brook's to which you referred was 


> frightening, yes, mostly because of my own mythology, not because of a 


> real threat of being blown to Kamchatka, as you put it.  Here's the 


> unedited version of what I wrote:


>     "While the guys split up to check out landing potential in a couple 


> of spots, I paddled out toward the tip of the westernmost point to see 


> if I could spot Solander, and get a visual on our position.


>     I must have been only a hundred yards from shore and just caught a 


> glimpse of Solander . . . when a wall of wind slammed into the boat, 


> flipping it up on it^Òs side for a moment and scooting me like a leaf out 


> to sea!


>     Once the boat flopped down and I got my balance, I dug for all I 


> was worth, getting nowhere, losing ground even.  I felt a quick flush of 


> panic bolt through me.  I didn^Òt often get panicky on the ocean anymore, 


> but I knew this scenario as my deepest edge . . . being swept out to 


> sea.  It was an immensely potent fear and even though I was good at 


> dealing tactically with challenging conditions, even enjoyed them, it 


> was the thought of losing control out here, I realized, that terrified 


> me!"





The subject came about from Doug posting an inquiry on the pro's and cons of 



SOT's vs decked kayaks. I had read the article, enjoyed particularly your 


prose, however, when I posted my opinion I saw a boat with a lot of freeboard
and 


it's attendent exposure to wind, nearly flipping you over. Hopefully, you had

some sort of leash as high winds, inflatable kayaks and swimmers are pretty 


tenuous. Glad you made it out of the gust and are not on your way to
Kamchatka. 


My comments are rooted in an opinion of that particular combination and Doug's

inquiry, not your skill to blast out of there, your state of mind, or your 


judgement.





>     I've paddled a variety of open kayaks off the BC coast for months 


> at a stretch, mostly solo, and know of what I speak.  The Tiger on this 


> particular journey was experimental, my baby for the month for the most 


> part, and not be a boat I would endorse for long distance ocean 


> paddling, but then this was an expeditional narrative, not a how-to 


> piece.





However unintentional, it becomes a How To piece when a certain appraisal of 



skill, equipment and judgement are discussed for a potential trips 


suitability, hence my commentary. 








<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px;
MARGIN-RIGHT: 0p>     The reality of this particular situation was that I had
crossed 


> over the edge of my envelope, and knew it.  Paddling is full of edges 


> and edges are where we learn and grow.  This is the basis for an 


> experiential, organic, common sense approach to kayaking.  Expanding our 


> comfort/safety zone incrementally.  Inching out onto big water like a 


> wary toddler toward a stranger, ready to run back to the shelter of 


> Mama's skirts when we're frightened, then venturing out again a moment 


> later when courage returns.  It does not require a PHD in esoteric 


> kayaking skills, although it does require a water tight, self-bailing 


> boat and insulating clothing to deal with potential immersion.





There's nothing wrong with any of this. I happened to have learned similarly,

though not in a SOT. I'm not a pessimist on the type of craft any one 


employs. I don't care if it's a dugout or a wheel barrow with sponsons, my
comment 


was based on the fact that the boat you were paddling, in those particular 


conditions presented a lot of surface for the wind to grab and being a very
light 


craft an easier flip potential, as was apparently the case. If you, the
Tsunami 


Rangers and Audrey Sutherland like SOT's, it's enough for me.








>     


>     You say experience and skills are everything.  Not the case, not at 


> all.  The Cape Scott trip was a shake down for the three young men who 


> hoped to intern with a local non-profit here in the islands.  None of 


> the three other paddlers on this trip had ocean paddling experience.





As a fellow paddler, I am very glad you guys made it and are all the richer 


for the experience gained. I disagree with your comments on experience and 


skills being *over rated* for open ocean conditions, as applied to SOT's.


  


>     I'm not at all suggesting someone merely grab a SOT and go.  


> Learning, experience, research, and collaboration are a big part of a 


> safe approach to ocean kayaking.   What I am saying is that ocean 


> paddling can be a lot more straight forward than the kayaking industry 


> and fraternity would have us believe^×given the right equipment and right 


> approach.





Yes, however, your article seems to suggest the SOT is an equalizer of sorts,

with a greater potential to *ease yourself safely in that direction*. In my 


opinion, that makes the boat a band aid, in leau of a greater arsenal of skill

and experience.








>     


>     As for that surfing shot, that isn't me; you could tell if you'd 


> read the caption.  





Now, now, we're all friends here! The caption makes no mention of who is 


riding the  Tiger, it just describes what one may expect on the Vancouver
Island 


coastline.





Secondly, the young man, Cedar Charnley, is wearing a > 


> Kokatat Durasuit and had been comfortably practicing remounts a moment 


> earlier; he was nowhere near hypothermic.  As for helmets . . . this 


> particular beach was a long sandy one with a small shore break.  We do 


> not play in rock gardens and do not wear helmets.





Are we looking at the same magazine? I see an image of a guy with no helmet 


on, the photograph is rimmed with rock and reef, not at all a long sandy
beach. 


Granted, what you were probably surfing into was likely a beach, however, the

photo shows no sand. Sand is still very hard and rock and wood are a constant

threat in any surf zone. It's your noggin, but your readers may want to know 



you have a long writing career in front of you.





>         Self discovery is innate to the human spirit and highly 


> underrated these days.


> 


I believe it is rated as highly today as it was in the golden age, whenever 


that was. I look forward to reading of more of your journies. We can agree or

disagree on many of the larger issues, too. That's what internet and magazine

paddling is all about.





Cheers,





Rob G





***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************