Re: [Paddlewise] Is this thing on? - Tether

> Re Freya's PFD - It can be very hard for people used to cold climates to
> paddle in the heat of Northern Queensland so Freya was leaving her PFD on the
> back deck.

   Surely Freya has been around the sport long enough to know the 
alternatives, like the minimalist inflatable pfd's.

> Freya? She should know better. Then again, in the course of a one year 
> paddled one is bound to make a few errors.

   From what I understand Freya frequently paddles sans pfd on a regular 
basis, so it's difficult for me to believe that she just made a mistake. 
Of course Freya is not alone. I know Derek Hutchinson will often jump in 
a boat without a pfd, and scoff at those who suggest he should put one 
one on. But then He's just a pompous old fool. But then every picture I 
have seen of Ed Gillet on his solo trip from California to Hawaii has 
him without a pfd on. But that's just Ed. Of course from what I 
understand Maligiaq Padilla never wears a pfd except to humor us North 
Americans and our local customs. I find it rather humorous that people 
on this list just can't accept that there are knowledgeable and 
competent paddlers out there who recognize that at least in the sport of 
sea kayaking the pfd is not the Holly Grail of safety equipment you all 
want to believe it is.

Scott
So.Cal.
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