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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Some more info *LINK*
Posted By: Matt Brammer In Response To: Another tragedy of poor preparation? (Gary)
Date: Sunday, 6 March 2005, at 1:10 a.m.
Sorry for yet another long message. This story has really stuck with me (I suppose since I have kids that age), so I did a little more searching to try and fill in the blanks. Here's a link (below) to the St. Petersburg Times story about this. It provides a bit more detail and some insight from local kayak guides & outfitters. Still don't know what was going on after the boys were 1st noticed missing.
Just a few things that they could have done to prevent this from happening; check the marine forecast before setting out, talk to some of the locals about the route, use kayaks instead of canoes (there were 3 kayaks, 3 canoes in the group), dress for immersion. Don't know what kind of floatation any of the craft had, either.
Jim Whittaker in his autobiography writes of subjective risks and objective dangers. Objective danger would be a tsunami for example. Nothing you can do to prevent it. You might mitigate it by developing your skills and seamanship, or in the case of the Bellingham kayakers in Thailand, by knowledge of your environment.
Subjective risks are completely or partially avoidable. They can be removed or mitigated by preparing oneself for them; using the right equipment, wearing proper clothing, checking weather, carrying proper resue gear and some means of calling for help.
Best thing I can think of to make some sense of this is to make sure it doesn't happen to my kids or anyone else for whom I could prevent it (including myself). So to those of you on this board who give us the benefit of your experience and preach the gospel of safety, Thank You & keep at it. (And send your thoughts to the families and friends of all those involved.
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