The Causual Paddle

No Such Thing?

In medicine, we say that the most common error is that of omission. Someone forgets to check something or to ask some vital question and, as a result, a disaster occurs. I wonder if that might not apply to kayaking. How often does a situation arise during which a piece of necessary equipment is ashore or is found not to work? In medicine, we avoid omissions by using recipes or set, repetitive ways of doing things. The same really applies to paddling, at least the way I go at it.

A lot of my paddles are solo, in not very challenging conditions and close to shore. Even so, I put the short tow line on the deck lines, my extra paddle on the foredeck the long tow set up around my waist and a first aid kit, repair kit and extra safety equipment in the day hatch. My radio is in a pfd pocket, and so on. It is almost certain that none of these would ever be needed during these casual paddles. I carry them all and every time, however, so that my ritual before going out on the water is always the same and, in being so, reduces my risk of omission.

When the times come when I, alone or with a group, will be going out in the big stuff or making a crossing, I automatically know that I have what I may need without having to go through a long check list. Now, if only I could find my car keys.

Paddle safe...
DS