Re: [Paddlewise] Point of no return

On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 5:33 AM, Tord S. Eriksson <tord_at_mindless.com> wrote:

>
> How do you handle such incidences?!
>
> Do you let the group split up, or what?!
>
>
The "point of no return" for an aircraft is generally for a flight over
water or where there are no suitable emergency landing places (like the
arctic or large desert area) and has to do with available fuel. It's the
point at which you *must* continue on as turning around will surely result
in running out of fuel and a subsequent emergency landing. But it's not
always a fuel issue: The "point of no return" for General Billy Mitchel and
his group of B-25s that flew on a mission from aircraft carriers in the
north Pacific across Japan and landed in China was immediately upon takeoff.
There was no return for those bombers to the aircraft carriers from which
they launched.

So the "point of no return" might not be halfway to your destination.

The "point of no return" for some kayakers might be just after the launch
where strong currents may soon preclude a return to that beach. Or it might
be when the tide changes. In other words, kayakers may face that "point"
sooner than they think.

Since I most often paddle solo, I don't have a lot of experience in keeping
a group together. But recognizing the "point" is probably a good idea that
lots of us don't think about in any specific way. If we think about it
during trip planning - even if we're just standing on the beach - it gives
us a chance to think through our "escape plan". We may have only minutes
available to return to that spot... or we might not be able to at all.
Whatever the case, if we recognize the issue early we can deal with it
better if there is an urgent ("drat, I left all the food in the trunk")
reason to get back.

A perfect example of "point of no return" in Puget Sound is the commonly
taken Anacortes (Washington Park) paddle to Friday Harbor via the southern
end of Lopez Island and Cattle Pass. This is a popular paddle for clubs
because the ferry ride from Friday Harbor (on San Juan Island) to Anacortes
is free of charge. It involves making use of the sometimes brisk tidal
currents and also involves timing those currents to ride the ebb to the area
off Cattle Pass (the southern passage between San Juan Island and Lopez
Island) where one then wants the flood to move the group north through the
pass and on to Friday Harbor.

The "point of no return" for this trip is almost certainly when they move
into the current in Rosario Strait and it becomes difficult or impossible to
paddle back (even to Skyline Marina). One is pretty much committed from
there on until Mackay Harbor at the southern tip of Lopez Island (where most
paddlers on this trip pause for lunch and to await the flood).

But when it comes to tidal currents, the "point of no return" can become a
movable point. Consider the Anacortes to Friday Harbor trip. If you simply
*must* return to your launch point you can simply wait for the current to
change direction; which, inevitably, it will.

Nice point to be brought up and thought over, Tord.


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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