REPORT BACK - SUNDAY PADDLE 24/01/2010

I have witnessed a sense of quiet anxiety amongst the paddling community since the attack at Fish Hoek. I think that we all, to a differing extent, feel a sense of apprehension in putting our boats in the water after having been reminded, again, that the ocean is not exclusively our playground.

The feeling that has gelled over the last few weeks I think can best be summed up by the closing words of Dawid Mocke in his recent post on the Varsity Surf Ski School Website. Since they are his words I won't repeat them here but suggest that you read Dawid's contribution for yourself.

I was very happy to hear from Basil T  that the Wednesday evening paddle after the incident was particularly well supported. I think that Paddlers, whether Kayakers, Surfskiers or Waveskiers are on the whole philoshophical about sharks. We know that they are, like seals and dolphins, with us in the water and that it is by no means a certainty that one of our ilk will never encounter them. We do however believe that we must moderate our behaviour in proportion to the ultimate risk. The exact extent of that risk clearly cannot be determined with any accuracy. We can only look back historically at the number of Kayaks attacked by sharks. It is small. Worldwide.

Fortuitously Sunday brought a light Southwester which, by unanimous assent, took us in a Westerley direction to Fish Hoek Beach via Glencairn. The conditions were perfect and we paddled, as a group of about 8 Kayaks into Fish Hoek beach. We weren't making any statement, just quietly asserting our privelege to paddle in the environment which we love and respect and where, for most of us, we choose to spend a large proportion of our spare time.

Bernard and I met Adrian Good on the beach. Adrian had brought his kids to take part in the Nippers training. Bouys had been placed, marking out a course. Assistants on boards kept an eye on the youngsters as they swam the course and a rubber duck sat a little further out. It was reassuring (to me at least) to observe a sense of normality (and rationality) returning to our environment.

For me this paddle was a little more significant than most and so I have chosen, perhaps out of a sense of deference to desist from the usual light hearted tone of these postings.

In closing I do however feel compelled to report that The Webbmaster and The Hun declined to accompany us this time. It had nothing to do with sharks but everyting to do with a burning desire to catch (and eat) Calimari. I understand that they spent the better part of 2 hours sitting at a certain yellow bouy just off the naval base. They caught, between the 2 of them, 3 of those enormous animals. The Webbmaster was (a little) defensive when suprise was expressed at the generous extent of the oceans bounty. While the rest retired to a Restaurant table to gorge on Calimari, The Webbmaster and the Hun snuck off without fanfare to enjoy their feast with the Selke (who was no doubt disappointed).

And Viv is wearing that damn lifejacket again....

Paul