Paddling ~ In Winter ~ At Night

Paddling is fun, challenging, addicting, healthy and many other things.  As with anything in life, it can also be risky if our wisdom is left at home. On the west coast of Canada, we often paddle after dark and all winter long. This increases some of the risks, so some additional wisdom is required.

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Risk - Darkness

Be seen.

• Verify the boats are rigged with bow and stern lights working.  If they are dim or powered by a half dead battery, NO ONE will see you.
• Seat #1 can use a brighter headlamp.
• The steerer may consider a light on their back.
• Wear an individual waterproof light on your person.
• If you go in the water, you will be found quicker.
• You will be less likely to be run over by another boat.
• Small LED lights can be had for $2 each up to $50 or more.  A good waterproof light that can be dimmed down is about $30.
• Lights MUST be waterproof.  If the light goes with you into salt water and goes out, it is a false sense of security and will not help you.  Get a waterproof light that is not too bright.

Night Vision.

• Our night vision takes up to a half hour to fully recover after a flash from a bright light. LED lights that look like airliner landing lights are not a good idea for seats 2 through 5. Stroke seats may wear a bright light but be cautious about shining it at other paddlers.
• In the Gorge, most obstacles in the water are seen because of the contrast provided by glare on the water from outside sources, not from a bright headlamp. A bright headlamp can distract your vision so you miss the glare on the water and that log lurking at the surface.
• If you have a bright head light, you may get a reflected flash everytime your hand goes in front of your face thereby knocking the hell out of your night vision.

Good technique

• Good technique is never more important than it is at night.  Be alert to commands in the boat. Be ready to respond. When you are down for a break, place your paddle at the ready across the gunnels. Starting with the stroke seat, place your paddle on the side you will be paddling, so you are ready.  There is little more frustrating to a stern than have everyone chatting when they call for a necessary action and everyone needs a moment to put their gloves on and adjust their hat and find their paddle.  Be prepared at the start of every rest.
• Keep your knees off the gunnels. Brace with your feet on the bottom of the boat, not your knees.
• Stay centered in the boat.
• Make sure there is an experienced #6 in adverse conditions.  Its not a good time to try it out.
• #6, be conservative with corrections.
• Stick to the marine traffic rules to avoid collisions or quick avoidance manoeuvres.
• When at rest, #2 and #4 should be leaning on the iakos.
• Review huli technique.
• Be prepared.

Obstacles.

• These include unlit boats, channel markers, bridge abutments, logs and other floaty things found in the Gorge!
• Rowing skulls go like hell and are usually poorly lit or unlit. Be vigilant and look way ahead. (eyes up)
• All paddlers must be alert to obstacles and call them out ... LOUDLY, especially the stroke seat.
• Their job is to be the eyes of the steerer.
• At night in the Gorge, most obstacles in the water are seen because of contrast provided by reflected ambient light, NOT headlamps.
• Everyone must be alert.
• When looking about, keep your eyes moving. There is a phenomenon called 'empty field myopia' whereby your eyes will focus down to about a 1- 2 meters when there is nothing to focus on, like in the dark. To counter this you must consciously refocus at a distant light or some prominent object in the distance

Risk - Cold

Buddy system

• In an OC6 we have help close at hand as long as nothing compounds an emergency. Two OC6s together is better. Use the buddy system.
• In small boats, IN ALL CASES, use the buddy system.
  • One boat should not go out alone.
  • Stay in visual and verbal contact with your buddy at all times.
  • Periodically check for your buddy, especially back at the dock.
• Stay inside the harbour where help is reasonably close at hand and there are fewer fast moving boats if there is any chance of getting into distress.
• If you can't physically get back in a boat, then you are a liability to yourself and your crew. DON'T go out of the harbour. The outcome is predictable!

Getting Wet

• You have all read about hypothermia. In the winter, the Gorge water is very cold and will impede or prohibit your self rescue ability. Always be prepared for immersion.  It most likely won't happen but it may. You may only have five minutes or so of useful strength once in the water.  Mitigate the risk and be happy thereafter.
• Wear protective clothing.  Hydroskin, or thin merino wool shirts that breathe. It always seems like a balance to find clothing that will breathe when you are perspiring heavily and still provides heat retention when you are immersed.
• Layers of thick cotton shirts and thick sweaters are dangerous and heavy when wet.
• Thin neoprene pants, while not the best for breathing and other reasons, will provide good heat retention when immersed. Go 'commando' underneath them to prevent losing skin and parts to abrasion. (What your mother told you about going the hospital after a traffic accident and not having any underwear on is not true).
• You may end up having to wear gloves out of necessity as well. Light neoprene paddling gloves are avaiable at paddling stores for about $30 - $40 per pair and should last a season.
• Foot wear should give you grip on the dock and the bottom of the boat.  Bare feet are good if you can stand the cold. Neoprene boots must have good grip or they are useless. Tech socks provide warmth under booties even when wet.
• If you cannot swim, wear a PFD. If it is after dark, the club demands we wear a PFD because it is a good idea. Rescue can take longer at night and hypo thermia can compound a rescue. Be prepared.

Ice

• Be cautious about trying to paddle a canoe through ice. Ice can cause hull damage and hole a canoe.
• Be really cautious on the dock when it is icy. It WILL be slippery and the water IS cold.

Risk - Weather

Weather

• Check the weather, especially the wind predictions, the tide, the visuals. There are harbour web cams, weather forecasts, tide graphs on this and other web sites.
• Know if the wind is increasing or abating. If it is forecast for a gale force or storm force wind, then take caution even if it is calm when you go out.
• Its all about being proactive.  Its not just the #6 seat's job. Be smart - we are here to learn, so study.

Conclusion

Paddling when it is dark and especially when it is snowing can be quite beautiful. It is even more beautiful knowing you have mitigated most of the risk of paddling after dark, in the winter. Any Aussies or Hawaiians who read this probably think we are nuts.  They are probably correct in that assumption!