Re: [Paddlewise] kayaker lucks out

As one of the posting site's reader comments noted, the kayaker states:
1) He was a former Navy Seaman;
2) He used his survival training from the military;
3) He gave his swimming coach credit for teaching him how to swim;
4) He's 29 and couldn't swim until a year ago.

How does a Navy Seaman graduate survival training w/o learning how to
'drown proof swim'?

Granted that present day newspaper reporters check their facts less-
than-once,
and most will wear blinders when going after the more obvious
'survival drama' hook.
If the incident is investigated, one doubts that the follow up will
garner much print space (if any).

Context might also suggest that Naval Seaman and Navy Survival
Training do not teach people to swim.
They teach them how to float.  So he knew how to drown proof himself.
He likely did know how to swim, but not how to swim efficiently and
effectively in conditions such as the open ocean.
So, thanks to the swimming coach, he learned these strokes.

The kayaker's comments about how he prepared himself to endure these
conditions, how he managed a looming task
by breaking it down into smaller, patterned steps, how he 'relaxed,
cleared his mind, didn't think about sharks'...as well as
his humble approach to recounting events...these are all points
summarized by Laurence Gonzales in his book, 'Deep Survival:
who lives, who dies, and why".  Luck certainly plays into this
situation...so many obvious-in-hindsight mistakes:
1) taking a craft into the open ocean that is a: old, b: recently
'repaired' at a critical seal, c: unchecked for sea worthiness;
2) no PFD (would an experienced kayaker call it a 'life jacket' or is
that reporter speak?), no signals (think those wine & beer drinkers
would have heard a whistle or seen a flare/smoke/strobe?);
3) launching a solo paddle w/o telling anyone of his plans and
estimated return time.

Humble and contrite as this guy is, these stories begin to amass a
like-aggregation of simplistic themes...
and far too often, these are reduced to the tried and true plot
diagram in a 'Character vs. Inner Self' + "Character vs. Nature" drama.
If you have not read Jack London's "To Build a Fire", here's a link:
http://www.kingkong.demon.co.uk/gsr/fire.htm

Had this guy washed up on shore or been recovered in open water,
authorities would reconstruct his demise using the obvious
mistakes in judgement as their summary.  But we would not have the
narration such as London provides.  Arrogance can hide
in the most humble of post-event responses to a crisis.

  He was quick and alert in the things of life, but only in the
things, and not in the significances.

That's London talking.  I'm thinking I should talk less and listen
more.....

Will


On Aug 11, 2007, at 9:31 AM, James Farrelly wrote:

> "Around 5 a.m., he reached the rocky shoreline at Point Loma and an
> officer at the Point Loma Navy Base heard his cries for help.
>
> Navy officials didn't know about Bolter's ordeal, so they initially
> refused his request to come ashore at the beach, which is located in
> a restricted area.
>
> Unable to swim much farther, Bolter implored them again to call for
> help. Shortly afterward, San Diego lifeguards came in a boat and were
> able to pluck him from a rock just offshore."
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