[Paddlewise] wind

Jim posted (snip):
>Had an unintentional adventure Saturday off Tybee Island GA....As soon as
we got out of the calming effect of the trees we were blasted by 25/30 knot
winds. Went out with a friend to paddle over to Little Tybee.  A distance of
about a mile.  It was windy that day but it frequently is in that area...<

Jim,
Great post! Good observations, good resolution. The situation you describe
is typical of the reason we get into a spot of difficulty now and then -- a
moment of inattention.

I was speaking with a friend this weekend. He's about 55 and his wife
perhaps 50. He's a chemist with Ocean Sciences, and she a RN. Bright couple.
He's spent most of his adult life between the lab and being at sea. The were
up at Quadra Island this fall. They notices a kayak rental place near Open
Bay and figured, hey, why not finally try a little kayaking. Their first
experience wasn't a good one.

Conditions were calm. The rental outfit proprietor said wind was due the
next day, so he didn't even bother adjusting the rudder pedals for the
couple. The two paddles headed to an small island about a mile away. Tides,
they were told, weren't bad. By the time they went around the island and
came out on the exposed side, a wind was brewing up. An elderly couple in a
sailboat positioned themselves alongside, indicating to the new paddlers
that a strong pressure ridge was forming. My friend said they were headed
back, and that the rental operator had assured them conditions were suitable
for novice paddlers.

As the crossing progressed more into the open section, wind waves were
starting to break over the decks, soaking the couple. The wind became strong
enough that forward momentum took all their strength to maintain.  They
commented to me that it was sheer adrenalin that helped them complete the
crossing. They registered their concerns with the owner who said very little
in response. My two friends seemed still very upset about the situation 3
months later.

I don't want to be too critical of my friends, especially after telling Nick
that paddlers often have a critical eye for other paddlers perceived to be
doing dangerous things, while winking at themselves, but this couple really
wasn't looking for any "action" when they decided to try some sea kayaking.
Nevertheless, I feel they abrogated their personal responsibility by overly
trusting the rental operator. I think this happens a lot, but fortunately
most new paddlers rent stable-enough kayaks to make it back in.

Here's a link to an article I wrote dealing with a unfortunate incident with
two couples, where one of the couples died in an offshore wind situation:

http://www.seakayakermag.com/02August/baffin01.htm

Doug Lloyd (who shaken up more than a bit after being side-swiped by a city
bus on his morning bike commute today, being pin-balled between the curb and
the side of the bus at 20mph - and you want to talk about being suddenly
cognizant of one's mortality! I'll take storm-paddling anyday for a safer
activity)
Victoria BC
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