Re: [Paddlewise] tragedy in Sweden

Ari is right, my kayak link was a speculation of the ideal.

I have been involved in Finnish Canoe Federation safety committee, and 
partly due to it's work and partly  the kayak factories the bulk heads 
have became a standard in (sea) kayaks here. Still, it is possible to buy 
kayaks without bulheads (maybe bad for business in the long run 
for factories?).

It seems that also here the multisport or as it seems to be called, 
extreme sport, is growing. Due 
to some recent legislation here, the safety issues have become quite 
important in Finland.

But here quite often the kayaks are provided by the organisers of sports 
events, are 
usually plastic (polyethen) doubles or open canoes even. But like you 
predict, John, also the competition type kayaks have become more usual 
here as well.

So I agree: the paddle enthuasiasist are not at risk, but the people not 
so well trained with beeing on the water. And willing to compromise in 
order to have lighter and faster boats.

I will report these discussions to our Paddling Safety 
Committee, and, see if I know some one in the extreme sports area who 
could act from within that context. I think it might be wise to add to 
the extreme competition rules, the point of having bulk heads and 
decklines.

Thank you both,
and see you on the water Ari :)

Anna Leena Lind
alli_at_iki.fi
Sturenkatu 32-34 C 38, 00550 Helsinki, www.iki.fi/alli



On Thu, 29 Mar 2007, Ari Saarto wrote:

> Hello,
>
> we still do not know anything about the kayks. Presumably there were no 
> bulkheads, hatches or any deck lines. I did finally find some images about 
> recent races (2003). These doubles seem to be OK and they look familiar, 
> though I would like to know more about the paddlers skills. Of course, Nordic 
> night is full of light and usually the wind calms down...
>
> http://www.highcoast600.com/live/photos/
>
> And specially:
> http://www.highcoast600.com/live/photos/61-l.jpg
> http://www.highcoast600.com/live/photos/04_03-l.jpg
> http://www.highcoast600.com/live/photos/088T0086-l.jpg
> http://www.highcoast600.com/live/photos/62-l.jpg
> http://www.highcoast600.com/live/photos/Bild_047-l.jpg
>
> Pretty crazy looking stuff.
>
> Ari
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