Subject: [baidarka] recovery techniques
From: kyak@rockisland.com
Date: Fri Jun 29 2001 - 10:01:00 EDT
>I understand you can't roll a Bering Sea kayak.
Most of the informants I spoke with in the Y-K delta didn't know of rolling
as a recovery technique for Bering SEA type boats. Possibly width and /or
loading made this a less desireable method, they didn't have an
explaination. Boats to the south and north (ie Bering STRAITS) were rolled.
Yup'ik qayaq safety starts with extreme caution,they tried to stay out of
trouble. Paddling with a partner or in a group was practiced as much as
possible. IF you went into the water you were told to stay with your boat
and wait for rescue. The large hole in the bow is sized so you can shove a
whole arm thru while you lock on on a death grip and wait. They also learned
re-entry techniques by playing around in qayaqs as kids. In desperate
circumstances I was told you could climb inside the inverted hull which is
supposed to have several minutes of oxygen in it.
Working on the fast, shore ice meant that yupik qayaq men were in manifest
danger at all times, even when not in their boats. Add in weather, current,
and upset walrii and you have an environment made to eat qayaqers
THe general idea was that to go in the water was to die. Qayaq fatalaties
were an accepted part of that life- I have a document somewhere in which a
nunivak elder lists the seven kayak fatalities remembered from his youth.
Capsize and sudden storms (" a strong wind from the SE")are a major cause.
Over a third of the losses happened to a solo paddler under unknown
circumstances.
Those men are listed in the narrative simply as "never returned".
Visit Kayak Way:
http://www.rockisland.com/~kyak
-
Baidarka Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be
reproduced outside Baidarka or Baidarka archives without author's permission
Submissions: baidarka@lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions: baidarka-request@lists.intelenet.net
Searchable archive: http://rtpnet.org/robroy/baidarka
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b27 : Sun Jul 01 2001 - 01:30:02 EDT