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

Scott,

Maybe I missed something but I didn't think there was an issue here on 
paddlewise with the recent posts about Freya not wearing a PFD. It was about 
loosing it. Maybe you mean she doesn't need one at all and only carries one 
in deference to the community so who cares about her loosing it overboard 
when she doesn't really need/want it.

If indeed she doesn't really feel she needs one (let alone wear one), then 
she should be man enough not too take one. I rather suspect there are times 
when she would prefer to have it on or at least readily available. If she is 
far front prying eyes and still feels she wants a PFD nearby or on then you 
are waaay off base, other than espousing your usual views on PFD's (which I 
respect). If she wants to be "legal" by having a PFD and that is the only 
reason, well that is a bigger issue and comes down to regulations and one's 
desire to be a good citizen and all that.

I don't think Paul C wore his much on his circumnavigation and I can't 
remember what circumstances he put his on for. I remember at the symposium 
here in Victoria at U-VIC just after his historic circumnavigation, there 
were a few gasps in the audience when they saw Paul's PFD on deck in a net 
bag - and not on his person. You would have laughed at the muted rancor, 
Scott. :-) I still do these many years later. And I see it is still a bit of 
an issue, I guess.

Regardless, wearing a PFD paddling on a long trip where there is a risk of 
hyperthermia and skin infections, the issue of wearing or notwearing a PFD 
is kind of mute.

Doug Lloyd



>> 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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