Re: [Paddlewise] Losing contact with the boat

rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com wrote:
> Nick wrote:
>> If the conditions are severe enough that your roll is not
>> enough, then chances are quite good that they are also
>> severe enough that you may not be able to maintain
>> contact with your boat. 

> If judgment fails and a kayaker is likely to be caught in the 
> conditions you describe in a location where they can't be blown or 
> pushed to the shore by waves, then surely there's going to be some 
> advance preparation possible to avoid losing contact with the boat. In 
> such a situation this might be a personal tether, or at least the 
> training to hang on to a paddle that is securely tethered to the boat.
> 
> BTW I'm not advocating using a tether while landing through surf, but 
> suggesting that its an option at least as important as training for a 
> long swim, when preparing to paddle alone off shore or with a risk of 
> bad conditions off shore.

Peter, I suspect this is one of the devil's choices we face:

1. no tether and you may lose the boat
2. tether and the boat may beat you up [severe overfalls and tide rips can 
do this, not just surf]

Whichever choice you make, there is risk attendant.  Not only is this a wet 
sport, it is a sport with some inherent risk.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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