Paddling with a Group...      by Janice L. Green

After giving it a lot of thought, I kept coming back to; “Whose responsibility is it for my safety while participating in a kayak group outing?”. The answer I arrived at was; it is mine.  I should not expect anyone to know what my paddling capabilities are; whether I am able to swim; paddle in gusty wind; or to get back onto my kayak if I capsize. Nor should I assume that anyone else has good judgment in making vital decisions, even if they have paddled longer than I have.  My safety, what I do, and the decisions I make to ensure my safety, is entirely up to me.  

Determining the safety of a situation is the logical conclusion with everything we do in life.  At least I hope it is.  You need to access whether the position you are placing yourself in is safe, or whether it is hazardous to your well being.  Hopefully, you wouldn’t ride in a vehicle if the driver is intoxicated, because it is too risky.  The same would apply to participating in a group outing that is beyond your physical capability and experience. If you have any doubts about the distance of the paddle, or the weather conditions, etc. it is your responsibility to make inquires so you can access whether or not you feel confident participating. You would have to make the same determination if you paddle alone, or with anything else in life for that matter.

Unless otherwise stated, kayak group outings are not intended for people to learn how to paddle.  Usually the purpose is to have an enjoyable time; to meet other paddlers; and to have a safe experience. Many people, especially those new to kayaking, make the assumption that paddling in a group is safer than paddling alone because they are under the belief someone else will come to their aide if they encounter difficulty.

Never assume or count on anyone else coming to your aide because they may be too busy trying to keep themselves upright. They may be too busy assisting someone else or they may not be capable of rescuing you because they are a novice kayaker. Or the weather conditions may have deteriorated so bad it would be impossible for even an experienced kayaker to assist anyone. This is why everyone needs to know how to safely operate their boat prior to embarking on any paddling excursion.

You also need to be aware it may not necessarily be safer paddling in a group, especially if everyone in the group is a novice kayaker, which increases the odds of encountering trouble with each additional participant. For example, an experienced kayaker is probably safer paddling alone, than kayaking with three or four novices, which could place him in more danger if the group encountered bad weather conditions, and he was the only one capable of rescuing anyone.

Granted there are times when things happen beyond your control. At unforeseen times like these, you can only hope someone will come to your aid, but never assume someone will step up to the plate to assist you. All you can do is hope that all of the participants in the group, (not just the coordinator or the most experienced kayaker), will give it their best effort if the situation arises to rescue someone. You also need to take into consideration there are some people you can’t count on to come through in a pinch because they don’t want to “get involved” for whatever reason. It all boils down to being responsible for yourself, and for determining what your limitations are, regardless whether you are paddling alone or in a group.

While you may know what your capabilities and limitations are, you may not know that about someone else, and unfortunately, even if you ask, many people often stretch the truth about their kayaking experience, in order to participate in the outing. If you participate in an outing whether that entails kayak fishing, sea kayaking or paddling on a lake, if you have doubts about your physical capabilities, it is not only placing you at risk,  it is also placing all of the other participants in the group at risk.  It is also not advisable to go on a group outing if you are not comfortable paddling the same route by yourself, which is usually an indicator you have some doubts about your capabilities. It would be foolish to attempt to fly an air plane without taking flying lessons first or to fly in a plane with a pilot who has only flown a few times before. The same holds true for kayaking.

In order to participate in a group paddle you need to be self-sufficient in operating your kayak during all types of weather conditions, and to be able to reenter your boat in the event you capsize. You also need to take classes to learn how to self rescue, to roll, or to wet exit before you put yourself in a situation that would endanger you or others in the group.  Always make an honest assessment of your capabilities and convey them to the group if you have any concerns about the outing, prior to departing.  Better yet – prior to showing up.

If you have any doubts about whether you can physically handle the distance of the paddle, it is best that you decline, or feel confident paddling back alone if you feel yourself tiring. Do not assume someone else will tow you back, just because you are paddling with a group. It is not the group participant’s responsibility to have to tow you, because you over estimated your physical capabilities or you neglected to inquire about the distance of the paddle. Towing someone should be performed during emergency situations only, because it puts both individuals in harms way due to exhaustion.

In addition, it would be unfair to the other people in the group who are capable to paddle the entire distance, to cut the trip short, in order to accompany you back in to the launch area, especially if you knew from the beginning you were not physically capable of paddling the entire length of the paddle. If you decide you are capable of participating, and then determine half way out on a lake, you are unable to paddle the remainder of the distance; it is up to you to have a back up plan, which you would need if you were paddling alone. For the same reason you should also have a back-up plan worked out if you become separated from the group.

Trip Coordinators, Leaders and Guides

There is a difference between coordinating a paddle and paying someone to act as a guide. Coordinating a paddle may, (or may not) include providing maps, directions, or camping information etc.  Coordinating a paddle may simply mean letting others know you are planning to paddle at a designated time and location, and if anyone wants to join you they can.  When someone acts as a coordinator it usually implies you will be paddling as a group whether or not there is a designated leader, who is making the calls.

In some instances, the coordinator of a paddle may list various conditions in order to participate in the paddle outing in regards to the distance, speed, and location to paddle, which may or may not include the type of kayak and the level of experience etc. you need to have.  If there are conditions required to participate in a paddling outing, they are usually stipulated in the original announcement. The coordinator may have numerous reasons as to why they made these stipulations, which could entail safety factors, and/or it is their personal preference. You need to adhere to these stipulations for safety reasons and out of respect for the coordinator who was interested in hosting an outing geared to his personal preferences.

As the coordinator of the paddle it would be helpful to stipulate the distance of the paddle, and if there are any known hazards which would help assist the participants to determine whether or not they are capable of participating. However, do not rely solely on the coordinator for supplying you with the information.  It is the participant’s responsibility for determining his safety. Not the coordinators. Why would you blindly follow another person’s lead, especially if you know absolutely nothing about them? The same applies if you are not comfortable with the decision someone else in your group makes.  For instance, if the weather conditions look threatening or if the wind suddenly picks up, and the rest of the group participants want to continue paddling, you need to determine if it is time for you to head back in. 

A “leader” also does not mean that they are acting as a “guide” unless you are paying a fee for them to guide you. A leader is usually a designated person who makes the calls in which the other participants have agreed to follow.  Whereas, a guide is someone with whom you pay a fee to, that may or may not, supply you with the equipment, food, and transportation.

It is also wise to investigate what kind of experience and training the person has before you hire them as a guide. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a situation where the blind are leading the blind.  Even if you are paying someone to act as a guide, your safety, and the situation you place yourself in, is your responsibility. If you are not comfortable with the decision the guide is making, you will need to take care of yourself. The main thing you need to take into consideration is to not to place yourself in a situation you are unable to handle by yourself, in the event something happens to the guide. 

My motto is to be as prepared as possible at all times, because your chance of survival increases immensely when you are prepared, and to remember at all times your safety is entirely up to you and the decisions, (or lack of them) you make.  This applies to anything you do in life and the decisions you make. So use good judgment, don’t be afraid to inquire if you have questions, and take it upon yourself to be as well prepared as you can be, in order to have a pleasurable and safe outing.

Here are a few rules of thumb I follow when paddling on a lake. 

·                     Knowing the number of shoreline miles around a lake is crucial information for a kayaker’s safety.  A bad scenario is to underestimate the size of a lake only to discover half-way around just how big the lake is and how tired you are.  Knowing the number of shoreline miles will also help you determine how long it will take you to paddle a lake.  If you want to know how long it will take you to paddle a lake, divide the number of shoreline miles by your miles per hour paddling speed.

·                     You can determine your paddling speed, by finding out the lake’s number of shoreline miles, and then see how long it takes you to paddle the entire shoreline distance. Also, it is important to always be aware of the miles of shoreline the lake has; how far you have paddled; how long it took you to paddle to reach the distance where you are located on the lake, in case you find yourself becoming tired. That way, you can determine if you have the energy to paddle the remaining distance, or whether you need to head back in.   

·                     Always call prior to paddling a lake to find out the present number of surface acres of water.  Surface acres are the number of acres the lake covers when it is full. By comparing the number of surface acres when the lake is full, to the level the lake is presently, you will know how high or low the water level is on the lake, and if there is a reduction in the miles of shoreline.

·                     Familiarize yourself with the lake prior to paddling. Also, take a map with you while paddling, unless you have paddled the lakes frequently and know it well, so you can get an idea of how far you want to paddle, and where the narrow areas are on the lake to cut across in the event you begin to tire, or in case you need to notify the harbor patrol of your location.

·                     Before you leave to go on a trip, (or begin paddling), always check the current weather conditions with the local weather station, a park official, or with the weather web site www.weather.com.  There is nothing worse than driving a long distance to a lake only to discover bad weather, or a forest fire.  Unless, of course, you get caught half-way around a lake in a thunderstorm!

·                     On the majority of the lakes I have paddled during the late spring and summer, the wind is normally calm in the morning and tends to pick up around 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. unless there are strong winds or storm conditions, when the wind can often be gusty throughout the entire day. Some lakes have a tendency towards consistent strong wind conditions, which are hazardous to paddlers.  During high winds conditions, a number of lakes and reservoirs have wind warning lights.  A yellow warning light indicates the wind is blowing between15 to 29 m.p.h.  A red warning light means that the lake is closed because the wind conditions are too unsafe to paddle.

·                     Inform the ranger or harbor patrol of your trip plans, especially if you are paddling alone.

·                     If you are out on a lake when it begins to rain or when a lightning storm begins, get off the water immediately.

·                     Kayakers don’t realize how difficult it is to see a kayak low to the water surface, especially when there is glare from the sun. Always hug the shoreline, especially when there are fast-moving powerboats and jet skis on the lake. 

·                     Keep within eye sight of the group at all times in the event the group changes directions.

·                     If you are aware of how long it took you to paddle out this far on the lake, then you know how long it will take you to paddle back in, unless you encounter windy conditions. Never use up your energy reserve in case you encounter gusty wind conditions which can turn a 20 minute paddle into a strenuous 2 hour paddle due to the amount of energy you will expend paddling in the wind

·                     You need to be able to control your boat during gusty wind conditions. Keep in mind if the wind is too challenging for you to paddle your boat, you may have to paddle to the nearest shoreline and sit the wind out.  Make sure you notify someone if you plan to sit out the winds.  You will need to bring plenty of water, food, a jacket, suntan lotion for this type of situation.  You also need to use caution for bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, coyotes and bob cats while sitting along the shore. It is advisable that you bring your walking shoes with you for such emergencies.

·                     If you prefer to paddle alone, or break off into another group, always let someone in the group know first, that way they won’t have to send out a search and rescue team to look for you, because they are concerned you are lost, or worse capsized. 

Know Hand Signals In Order to Communicate to Others in Your Group:

·                       To tell someone to stop: Raise your paddle over your head horizontally.

·                       To tell everyone to form a group: Lift your paddle in the air in a vertical direction.

·                       To tell someone which way to go: Point your paddle in that direction.

·                       To see if someone needs help:  Pat your hand on your head up and down.

·                        If you need help:  Wave your paddle back and fourth from side to side.

© 2005 Janice L. Green  All Rights Reserved.