Re: [Paddlewise] Inuit

In a message dated 11/14/2007 2:55:55 PM Pacific Standard Time,  
skimmer_at_enter.net writes:

Regarding being sewn into the boat, when Maligiac first came to 
the  US to show his skills, he brought a genuine skinboat with him 
and a proper  tuilick/anorak. The Anorak (made from gut?) reached 
to about his ankles  when standing next to his boat.

His cockpit rim had four bone segments  attached to it on the 
outside (in place of our standard cockpit rim). The  bottom edge of 
the anorak had a thong around it. In the boat, Maligiac  tied the 
thong tight around the cockpit rim with the intent that the  bottom 
edge would not come loose from the cockpit rim. This is their  
reality! There is no swimming home from a lost boat off the 
Greenland  coast. The petrussan (sp?) maneuver allows a paddler 
to partially exit the  cockpit of a capsized kayak and rise head and 
shoulders to the surface  next to the cockpit- lower trunk still in 
boat. 

The unusual length  of the anorak kept the paddler from being 
directly exposed to the cold  water, offered the possibility of re-entry 
and roll, or assisted re-entry  and roll with help of a fellow paddler. 

This approach seems better  than "swimming for it" and merely 
requires the paddler to have truly  mastered rolling.

Chuck Sutherland 



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
Chuck and all,
 
I think I know what you are saying and in my heart of hearts I tend to lean  
heavily to at least what I interpret of what you are saying....but a big 
however  ( to follow). One of the dogmas I'd like to see permanently retired from 
sea  kayaking is the bit about not necessarily needing to roll. Ya ya, I know, 
I swam  recently, but just hang on. I had and have, options beyond roll and 
die and the  Petrussen (sic?) maneuver. Mostly it is due to immersion apparel, 
lifejackets  and post swim floatablility to the boat, up to and including 
bulkheads. Harder  in the river with only float bags but I get another chance with 
a reenter and  roll, paddle float, etc., in the sea kayak. The Inuit did not, 
beyond the  Petrussen maneuver, if they knew that one.
 
What kind of survival rates did their kayakers enjoy? Fairly high,  actually. 
But lower than rec boaters of today. And that was because they had to  do 
what they did to bring the blubber home. Otherwise the society was less apt  to 
make it. A swim is not your best bet for safest of options unless your boat  is 
wedged, destroyed, etc. But if it happens, it is not your end of the road. If 
 you can make it and do, then do so. Countless have and countless haven't. 
Odds  even? If you don't know how to swim, and the arctic is not the best place 
to  even bother to learn, roll-die-or Petrussen- might be the better of 
options. In  modern times, with modern equipment choices, up to and including your 
spraydeck  with neoprene tunnel keeping your core warmer than the surrounding 
sea you have  more options. Do I take off the neoprene spraydeck, in addition 
to my lifejacket  to reduce swim drag, thus sacrificing even more core warming 
potential, to make  it to shore, or do I keep it on. The last bit hasn't been 
added yet to the Swim  For It discussion to my reading anyway. I like options.
 
Cheers,
 
Rob G
 
 



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