Niels Blaauw wrote: > I'm almost embarressed to say, that right now I am in a > simular discussion with my own club, with a totally different > feedback. > > I'm trying to convince them, that for paddling on cold water, > more then 500 meters from shore, you may expect: > > - That kayaks have adequate floatation; > - That everybody has practiced rescues; > - That everybody has practiced capsising, releasing a > sprayskirt and getting out of the kayak; > - That if the wind is blowing 5 or higher, you should know > how to steer and brace. > > Doesn't sound too unreasonable, does it? Well, according to a > handful of my clubmembers its bordering on paranoia. Their > main argument: "Nothing happened so far, so how dangerous can it be?" Niels, A few years ago, we had a local outrigger canoe get into trouble approximately 100 yards from shore. The result was one fatality. The paddlers in the canoes typically carry PFD's but don't wear them. There was an offshore wind and the canoe got swamped. I don't remember a lot of the details, but you have to remember that our water temperatures are usually around the low 50's at the coldest. Things can and do happen close to shore. Steve Holtzman Southern CA *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Mar 27 2004 - 04:52:34 PST
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