Search and Rescue Files: Responsible Paddling

December 1997 - January 1998

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Lee Dixon

In my mind a kayak trip conjures images of being a sojourner on the moody Pacific waters exploring endless coastline, at one with the rejuvenating powers of nature. Occasionally my fantasies produce scenarios in which I have to rescue myself from wild water and survive alone in the wilderness. These imaginings are good exercises. They stretch my preparedness for a myriad of "what ifs".

To bridge the gap between my fancy and reality I took a trip to Canadian Forces Search and Rescue (CFSAR or SAR). SAR works in conjunction with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).

In the heart of a nondescript building in Esquimalt dockyards I met the not so nondescript Sgt. Al Banky who introduced me to the inner workings of the Victoria Rescue Coordination Center (RCC). The Center's search and rescue region includes all of BC, the Yukon and the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean. That's 27,000 km of rugged coastline, 560,000 sq. km of ocean and 920,000 sq. km of mainly mountainous area. Pretty impressive.

SAR responded to 1,910 incidents this year (as of September 27), fifty-six of which involved kayaks or canoeists. When mentioning the word kayak in the environs of RCC I encountered a lot of head shaking and 'The Look'. You know, the one that says you've got no business being out there. When seen from their perspective I can understand it.

• Fifteen of those 56 responses were life threatening situations.

• 41% of the total 56 responses were capsizes.

• 22% were missing persons.

• 14% were reports of boats or equipment adrift.

• 14% were false alarms.

• 9% were medical evacuations.

• 33 lives were saved.

• 2 people died.

When a distress call comes into RCC by relayed radio message or phone, the first step is to establish a starting point for a search. The amount of research required to establish that point will vary depending on the call. If it's a missing persons report and no float plan had been filed, valuable time may be lost in trying to establish where the person was last known to be and where they may be now.

Once a starting point has been established, aircraft and coast guard will be dispatched as required. RCC overtasks all Maydays, sending the maximum number of aircraft and vessels available. They also simultaneously arrange Emergency Health Services to be available for when the rescue is complete.

The cost of each response is $500/hr for RCC time plus $5000/hr each for air craft and coast guard vessels. The cost for the 56 responses was approximately $570,700, based solely on air and marine vessel time. This estimate does not include the time of the coordination center or of commercial vessels, police, fire, nor ambulance and hospitals.

Kayaking is a sport near and dear to my heart. I don't want to see the day that I have to have a certificate to paddle and file a regulated float plan before leaving the beach. Nor do I want to see more lives lost. One of the common themes that ran through these 56 response was that the paddlers were not fully equipped, and were often incapable of doing a self rescue. None had radios and only a few had flares. First aid kits were not packaged in waterproof bags. Many had no knowledge of tide and current tables or how to read a compass.

In examining the files I can see that either there are a lot of irresponsible kayakers or they're just uninformed. Either way it's obvious we need to promote more responsible kayaking. In order to help educate us all, over the months ahead I will be bringing you stories from the Search and Rescue files.

Float Plan

A lot of work is done through organizations such as Wave-Length, the Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC and the Sea Kayak Association of BC as well as numerous operators outfitters, clubs, and guides. But the truth is in the years that I've attended symposiums and festivals I've never heard anybody, including myself, mention float plan as a part of safe kayaking. In fact I've never really sat down and articulated what a responsible kayaker is.

Sgt. Banky talked to me about the float plan and what SAR would define as being a responsible kayaker (see Float Plan). This list can certainly be expanded but shouldn't be shortened.

Should you ever be in need of the services of SAR and the Coast Guard, be sure to give an accurate description of where you are. This is the starting point. Be prepared to wait up to 8 hours for rescue dependent upon where you are, and to be charged for this service. Kayakers are encouraged to use commercial operators in non-emergency situations.

When your vehicle is located at your launch point a note will be left on your car by SAR stating that a search is underway and if you should return, call RCC immediately so that the search can be discontinued.

We all need to take responsibility for our sport. If you introduce someone to kayaking, be sure to teach them what responsible kayaking is all about.

Happy paddling.

Lee Dixon is co-owner/operator of Windrunner Ocean Adventures with partner Stephen Hindrichs and young daughter Lyra.