NYCkayaker Kayak Safety ( paddler rescued near waterfall

[erikbaard at gmail.com]

Hi all,

The boaters were in tandems, so our three escorts provided the ratio recommended, which should apply to boats, not boaters. Of the group being escorted, about six were substantially experienced paddlers and others had paddled before. We communicated This was not an introductory paddle.

We had escorts in the front and rear and a rover in the middle. At the time of the accident, our sweep, Ted Gruber, was near. I paddled back to assist, not to be the first person on the scene. John McGarvey also hastened back.

The paddlers themselves said they were scared but their comments to the press indicate that they didn't experience the terror that David so vividly, graphically, and exquisitely imagined for us all.

The highest rapids rating of waters in the harbor is at Hell Gate and it's a 2. Vessel traffic is a greater danger, though I certainly agree that paddlers must wear PFDs and be confident swimmers. 

We will certainly hammer even harder on the issue of staying away from the falls and security zones. We will also drum even harder into participants that they float with their boats. The real dangers of holding onto containment gear are those of snag lines, barnacles and rusted sharp edges (on older infrastructure) and again, vessels should you slip free and not have that big, yellow boat to make you visible.

As it happened, no one was injured and no one was in great danger of injury. We simply had an issue of "location, location, location." The police postings at such a famous site foreclosed the possibility of a kayak rescue. The excellent crews of the Harbor Unit were present, equipped, obligated, and trained, so we quickly deferred. If we had a few minutes, I believe we could have easily talked Bert and Vlad into releasing their hold on the boom.

On the same day a 24-year old cyclist was run down and killed by a minivan on 1st Avenue and 49th Street. Her death holds much greater civic importance than two extra-wet paddlers. I won't buy into the false news priorities and panic.

Erik Baard





Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Giller <briogg at yahoo.com>

Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:22:39 
To: <nyckayaker at rockandwater.net>
Subject: NYCkayaker Kayak Safety ( paddler rescued near waterfall


We as the kayaking community need to make sure that we are more safety conscious than any other group on the water. There are enough groups already saying that kayakers are reckless and do not need any additional access to the water.
 
Anytime beginners are on the water the safety margin needs to be 1 experienced leader to 5 paddlers MAXIMUM, having 2 experienced paddlers for a group of over 20 paddlers( if the reports in the paper are correct) is asking for trouble. Even if you are right in front of your own dock, you have to realize "water is dangerous"
 
All of our groups want to get as many people on the water as possible; but we must do it in an efficient, safe, organized manner or everyone will feel the consequences
 
Phil


      
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