RE: [Paddlewise] Kayaks and Visibility

On Saturday, 27 June 2009 21:02 Peter wrote:

>They don't sound dumbass to me at all. Its easy to hear a jetcat or
sailboat
>coming from behind at speed. It sounds like a loud crunch and its the first
>and last thing you'll hear. We do have a lot of deaths on the water in NSW
>from boaters not using lights. Afraid I can't condone it.

I didn't mean that all local regs are dumb-ass - just that the potential is
there for less-experienced folk to make hasty rules. The draft of our
Auckland bylaw had clauses which required:
- vessel name printed on the stern - visible 50m away 
- vessel over 4m to carry charts for the area
- torch plus 2m all-round light
- all paddles to have reflective tape applied
These all applied to most kayaks (4m is 13') and all shells even though the
Committee that had drafted it hadn't realised that any of it was difficult
or impractical for these vessels. As it also applied to a small lake used
heavily after dusk and before dawn by rowing clubs and K1 paddlers
(including our Olympic Team), there were some very grumpy responses. As
power-driven vessels on the lake are limited to coaches using 2 hp motors -
and the collision incidence is zero - a little more consultation seemed to
be in order. 

>I'm curious that your practise in traffic seems to be contrary to the
advice
>you gave the councillors in that you continue to run your 360-fixed-blue
light
>as well as turning on your head torch when necessary, when kayaking solo in
>traffic.

Not really. The presence of the torch makes my kayak compliant with both the
Int.ColRegs and also our National Maritime Law. The blue light has been
proven to keep me safe in traffic far more effectively than any number of
fixed white lights.

I find that the desire to turn off the blue light (to improve night vision)
happens at about the time that traffic worries fade. When I'm working along
a series of coastal reefs in the dark, there are very few nearby jetkats or
sailboats. When I'm crossing a traffic lane in the urban harbour area, the
container wharf lighting has already totally destroyed my night vision.
Horses for courses.

I will feel less safe if required to show a permanent 360 white !  

Best Regards
Paul

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