http://www.seakayakermag.com/2002/02August/baffin01.htm Safety Life and Death Off Baffin Island by Doug Lloyd "Offshore winds rank high as one of the greatest threats to a paddler. A minute or two of inattention can mean the difference between getting to safety in the lee of the land and fighting a losing battle while being blown out to sea....." Took a long time to coax the story out of the survivors. Two died. Two survived. The off-shore winds in the story were outflow gap winds -- these winds are a local phenomenon in arctic waters. They are to be expected. There are other paddling locations in the world where sudden winds blowing in unhelpful directions can nail you, including more tropical locations (different context to the physics of course). Dave, you know about some of the QC/HG hazards, I'm sure...you gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them... Have paddlers done their prior research when paddling a new location? What is the back-up plan in the event of sudden winds forcing paddlers in directions they don't appreciate? Do members of the group have the stamina, skill sets, and equipment to deal? Are there generic back-up plans for sudden off-shore winds for any and all paddling locations -- regardless of geography? I ask that because wherever you are, things can go wrong. Yes, not sourcing local intel is almost unforgivable for what should be prudent kayak trip-planning, but being prepared at all times is a must also, as well as assuming any coast can throw you a curve ball. As is remaining vigilant -- especially where paddlers can be lulled to complacency in an area where the water temperatures or other marine hazards, etc., can significantly reduce chances of recovering from said errors or sudden changes. I admit the few times I've been caught by off-shore winds, it was a very, very humbling and disconcerting experience. Now I always look at prevailing wind directions, imminent wind direction change potential, wind vector discrepancies near prominent features and more importantly, the overall local topography as I progress (or retreat) my way along a coast rich with features or prone to influences asserted from even afar. I've also sought out these experiences in more "controlled" environments to test my mettle, equipment, technique, and mental/physical endurance; and to better understand the dynamics involved for both off-shore and on-shore wind hazards. And no, each time it wasn't a pretty sight. Doug Lloyd Bradford R. Crain wrote: > There was an article in Seakayaker Magazine a few years ago about a group > of four people visiting Greenland, I believe two men and two women. They > rented kayaks and went for a scenic tour in nice weather. Fierce winds > suddenly > pushed them away from shore and toward open water. Three people barely > made it to shore. One woman, the smallest member of the group, was blown > out to sea and never found. I decided then I would never paddle in > Greenland. I recall that, Brad. I think it was west of Greenland, on the Canadian shoreline of the Arctic Ocean. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Aug 15 2010 - 00:41:07 PDT
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