Safety
Cailean has got a great post on his blog about just how difficult it is to see you when just your head and shoulders are popping out of the water.
Just because you can see your friends when you are out paddling, doesn't mean that you can be seen from a boat nearby, or from shore. I discovered that when I was out on a ferry in Toronto one summer afternoon. While crossing the harbour, I was looking for the kayakers that I knew where out there. When I finally spotted them, I was amazed at how difficult it was to see them even though they were fairly close to the ferry. They were hard to see because of my height out of the water.
So, what colour is best to be seen? I'm not completely sure as everybody seems to have an opinion, I do know that talking to SAR helicopter pilots, ivory or white hulls just look like white caps on the water...
Got an opinion? Post it below.
Canadian Rescued Off Tasmanian Coast After Sending Distress Message Using SPOT Satellite Messenger
By: David H. Johnston
It's been reported today that for the first time a Canadian (and kayaker) was rescued by using the new SPOT Satellite Messenger by Globalstar.Derek Crook and experienced paddler from Nanaimo, British Columbia was on a 36 day expedition paddling around Tasmania when he was hit by rough seas near Conical Rocks and flung from his kayak on a reef just off shore.
Crook managed to hold on to his kayak and activate 9-1-1 on his SPOT Satellite Messenger to initiate an emergency response call. The distress message alerted the GEOS International Emergency Response Centre used by SPOT, who contacted local Tasmanian rescue authorities providing Crook's GPS coordinates.
This is the first documented rescue of a Canadian using the SPOT Satellite Messenger; three other life-saving rescues have taken place in Colorado, Alaska and Wyoming since SPOT was introduced in North America in December.
Andrew McAuley corners inquest report released - Coroner criticises kayaker rescue delay
By: David H. Johnston
Since they never recovered the body of Andrew and it would be impossible to pinpoint exactly how he died; the inquest mainly focused on what happened after the emergency call was received the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre.
Investigators are not sure how it happened. No injuries or pollution were reported. The accident happened amid roughly 5-foot waves and 25-knot winds as the stormy remains of Hurricane Noel approached the seas off New York.
According to the Wikipedia, the rotating 10,000,000 candle-power light is visible for up to 18 miles.
More Info: US Coast Guard
I was reading a letter to the editor today in the online version of The Sun Chronicle. The letter went on to complain to the editor that they published a photo of two canoeists last week out paddling. The problem was that they didn't have a PFD on.
In the letter the author makes mention of a law in Massachusetts that stipulates that you must wear a properly fitting approved PFD between January 1-May 14 and September 15 to December 31.
I had no idea that this rule was on the books. It seems bring a good compromise between cold water safety and those who complain that PFD are to hot in the summer and unnecessary.
I am interested in hearing if this type of law is in effect where you live. Also do people know about it or is it one of those obscure rules like the one in Florida which states that "If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle." [lawguru.com]
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David H. Johnston
