[Paddle] RE: Kayaking Accidents

[Elligett, Margaret]

It's a terrible tragedy and clearly an accident for anyone to be lost at sea.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family and friends that are
grieving this loss.  It's easy for some to place blame, but I try to remember
that they did not have the information or skills required to make the correct
decision to "stay out of open water".  I honestly believe that they just did
not have a clue about the dangers of this type of trip and how quickly the
weather and a little bad luck, can turn things into unmanageable chaos.     

I can see exactly how something like this can happen because I nearly drown
in the surf off Cape San Blass about 15 years ago.  I launched into an
overnight camping trip on a sunny (calm surf) day with a fully loaded boat
and another novice kayaker.  Neither of us had taken any basic safety/rescue
training for kayaking or canoeing in open water.  We thought -- oh gee, we
can do this just fine (because we were both experienced in river canoeing,
bay sailing and swimming) and besides that -- we planned to stay close to
shore.    

We were "completely unaware of the dangers of open water" and we felt
confident of our abilities as boaters.  That confidence - ego thing, can
really get you into trouble on the water.  We did not have the knowledge that
would enable us to make the "correct judgment" of - "not going on open water"
and the boat rental shop offered us no words of caution.  

As novices, we should have stayed in "shallow" "sheltered" water, and should
have taken some additional precautions even for the safer trip of choice.  

Here is what happened to me 15 years ago: I was paddling outside the surf
zone (I thought), and the waves began to get bigger.  A larger unexpected
breaking wave suddenly capsized me about 100 yards off shore.  I had never
practiced a wet exit in that boat (pulling the spray skirt off while upside
down).  The paddle got yanked out of my hands by the force of the wave.  The
kayak I had rented had a long cockpit (I am short), and the spray skirt was
too tight.  The force of the wave was like being in a washing machine and it
prevented me from being able to bend forward to grab the spray skirt exit
loop.  I got a lot of water up my nose and began to chock, panicked, thought
I was going to die and began to inhail water, just as the force of the next
breaking wave ripped me out of the boat and my head popped up to the surface.

..... 

My paddle partner was also busy capsizing in the surf zone.  He had an easier
time of getting out of his spray skirt but was in deep water and getting
pounded by the waves a fair distance from where I was located.  We both
eventually got washed into shore along with the boats.  

Since that time, I have made it my mission to get the training and experience
necessary to make the "good judgment" of when and where "not to go" and what
precautions to take - when I do go.  I have committed myself to learning the
(BCU) skills and standards for training and coaching - safety and rescue.
The British refer to kayaks, as canoes.  I know enough now, to know that I
have a lot to learn and just as importantly - I know my limitations.  



I believe that accidents can happen to even the most highly skilled kayakers
with experienced group leaders.  Try reading the book "Deep Trouble" and you
will get the hair to raise on the back of your neck.  
         




-----Original Message-----
From: paddle-bounces at paddletally.org [mailto:paddle-bounces at paddletally.org]
On Behalf Of William Murdick
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 3:55 PM
To: paddle at paddletally.org
Subject: [Paddle] whistles

Bet the kids didn't have the required whistles. The boat should have had 
a loud horn for a long ocean trip.

I do the trip planning for my group and when we kayak or hike in the 
wilderness with total beginners along (I'm an experienced beginner), I 
make sure that I or another experienced person takes up the rear and 
keeps an eye on stragglers who may go "off trail." It's just common sense.

--Bill Murdick

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