Re: [Paddlewise] Skills

Peter T said (snip):

> But there is a real division. Anyone taking great risk like Andrew, with 
> whatever skill and preparation, is still going to need a good dose of 
> luck. If "stuff happens", did the adventurer understand the magnitude of 
> the impending disaster before taking on the risk? Does anyone really have 
> an idea of what they are doing when playing with their own life? Modern 
> affluent societies insulate people against death. It more often occurs out 
> of sight in a hospital wards, rather than side-by-side hand-to-hand 
> combat.

My read on this is Andrew probably realized toward the end that he had bit 
off a huge chunk to chew on. It wasn't more than he could chew, but 
something did choke him dead in the end, you might say.

While the magnetism of Andrew's appeal lay in his choice of using a 
reasonably ordinary kayak, it may have been his downfall too, given the 
possible failure of his home-made capsule. We will know more, I hope, when 
friends finish their documentary of his trip. As a general rule, your 
typical sea kayak isn't designed for long crossings, hence the more 
successful exploit with the Peter Bray styled full-canopy cockpit kayak 
across the very rough Atlantic.

And there is really only one way to see how much you are playing with your 
life sea kayaking, ocean canoeing, etc. That is to do a wet exit in cold, 
excited seas and see how difficult your self rescue is to perform, how well 
your ability to pump out is (if cockpit equipped), and then also reattach 
your spray skirt if so equipped and required for continuance of the voyage. 
And just how able are you to continue with paddling, unassisted.

Doug L 
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