Last Saturday, my friend and I paddled our sea kayaks under the Golden Gate bridge from nearby Horseshoe Bay. This is what it looks like near the launch site:
That was a photo from several years ago, when things were calmer. On this occasion, there was a 3 foot swell, and breezes up to 10 knots. We timed the trip so the current would be working in our favor.
As we got close to the bridge, I noticed a group of rowers in single rowing shells. They blew by us in their sleek craft. One of them, however stayed behind. I think she was intimidated by the conditions and did not feel comfortable venturing out. I talked to her briefly and she said she would wait for her friends. She was dressed in typical exercise wear: leggings and a light zip up jacket. We were wearing a wet suit, windproof jacket and PFDs. There are several things that bothered me about this situation.
- I was taught never to leave someone by themselves, especially when they don't feel comfortable.
- This person was not dressed for the conditions. If she had capsized, the cold waters of the Bay would have been a huge factor in her ability to recover on her own. Also, no life jacket means that she would have to rely on her craft for buoyancy while trying to right it and climb back on. For those who have done this, you know it is not easy to haul yourself back onto a boat. Women struggle even more with this because it requires upper body strength. A PFD would help by holding your body higher in the water. I've also seen someone try to get back on a narrow scull. It did not look easy.
- The place where she decided to wait (right outside the Golden Gate) was where the worst conditions are. It is a narrow strait that funnels wind and water, magnifying their power. Wave reflection off the point of land also causes confused and larger waves.
I do feel some guilt, because we went on our way, instead of waiting with this person until her group returned. You could say I am a hypocrite for not offering to help, and that would be fair. I guess I didn't feel responsible for her. She was not in immediate danger, and she was literally hundreds of yards from a Coast Guard station. Had she gotten in trouble, there was a fair chance that people on the bridge would spot her or she could swim to shore. If that was someone in my group, I would have volunteered to stay behind while the rest continued exploring.
In general, most people I see on the water don't wear PFDs and are not dressed for immersion. This includes paddle boarders, rowers, outrigger canoeists, and motor boaters. If you look at Coast Guard statistics, 85% of all drowning victims are not wearing a PFD. When I learned to kayak, I was taught from the start: this is the gear you need. I guess these other boaters do not have the same mindset. I love the water, but to me it can quickly become a hostile environment, and I always respect that.
Anyhow, I thought of posting this after the safety glasses discussion in the Axe subforum. The chances aren't high, but accidents happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
That was a photo from several years ago, when things were calmer. On this occasion, there was a 3 foot swell, and breezes up to 10 knots. We timed the trip so the current would be working in our favor.
As we got close to the bridge, I noticed a group of rowers in single rowing shells. They blew by us in their sleek craft. One of them, however stayed behind. I think she was intimidated by the conditions and did not feel comfortable venturing out. I talked to her briefly and she said she would wait for her friends. She was dressed in typical exercise wear: leggings and a light zip up jacket. We were wearing a wet suit, windproof jacket and PFDs. There are several things that bothered me about this situation.
- I was taught never to leave someone by themselves, especially when they don't feel comfortable.
- This person was not dressed for the conditions. If she had capsized, the cold waters of the Bay would have been a huge factor in her ability to recover on her own. Also, no life jacket means that she would have to rely on her craft for buoyancy while trying to right it and climb back on. For those who have done this, you know it is not easy to haul yourself back onto a boat. Women struggle even more with this because it requires upper body strength. A PFD would help by holding your body higher in the water. I've also seen someone try to get back on a narrow scull. It did not look easy.
- The place where she decided to wait (right outside the Golden Gate) was where the worst conditions are. It is a narrow strait that funnels wind and water, magnifying their power. Wave reflection off the point of land also causes confused and larger waves.
I do feel some guilt, because we went on our way, instead of waiting with this person until her group returned. You could say I am a hypocrite for not offering to help, and that would be fair. I guess I didn't feel responsible for her. She was not in immediate danger, and she was literally hundreds of yards from a Coast Guard station. Had she gotten in trouble, there was a fair chance that people on the bridge would spot her or she could swim to shore. If that was someone in my group, I would have volunteered to stay behind while the rest continued exploring.
In general, most people I see on the water don't wear PFDs and are not dressed for immersion. This includes paddle boarders, rowers, outrigger canoeists, and motor boaters. If you look at Coast Guard statistics, 85% of all drowning victims are not wearing a PFD. When I learned to kayak, I was taught from the start: this is the gear you need. I guess these other boaters do not have the same mindset. I love the water, but to me it can quickly become a hostile environment, and I always respect that.
Anyhow, I thought of posting this after the safety glasses discussion in the Axe subforum. The chances aren't high, but accidents happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
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