the world according to Laurie
Published April 9, 2007 | 
Bass Strait between Australia (top) and Tasmania (bottom)
It’s worth opening up today’s post to share a bit of Justine’s crossing. She and Alun just made their longest crossing of the trip, just over 35nm. A trip that took just over 10 hrs and left Alun nursing a sore wrist. The PODCAST is HERE.
With the season coming up quickly I thought it may be a good time to review some "rules of the road". Of course, I don’t want to be the one to tell you the way you should act on the water. So I’ll let Laurie Ford do that. Laurie has a reputation as an outspoken, opinionated, larger than life type guy. A bit of a legend actually. One thing is sure, he is an experienced paddler and has a lot of good information to share. I’ve never met him personally but he is certainly on the top of my list of people I’d love to paddle with. . . even if he spent the whole trip telling my why I was wrong about everything. 
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5 Responses to the world according to Laurie
I disagree with his comment: “There is only one signal to use – stop paddling”. What about the whistle that most paddlers have attached to their pfd? And what about one experience paddler staying behind or with the slowest paddler? That is what I was taught by my ACA certified instructor.
Yep, I don’t always agree either, but there is something worth thinking about. One, do some whistle tests. Go out on the water when there is some wind,waves etc. Have friend paddle away from you and see how far they can go and still hear your whistle. Then have them go up wind and down wind and compare. The results may freak you out at first. Whistles are important to have, but they can be surprisingly worthless sometimes.
Group management is another complex issue. I agree with you that someone should be back. Often though no one does. Also sometimes the guy at the back IS experienced and so everyone else just assumes they will be ok. I.e. I’m always fiddling with cameras, so people get used to me dropping back, then catching up. However, there have been times that I knew if I got in trouble it would be a long time before someone looked back.
I think the most important part of what Laurie brings up is that a group should have a plan in advance of their trip and everyone should be looking out for everyone else. There are way too many “everyone for themselves” type paddlers out there.
Interesting read. I posted some time ago what Inuit do when travelling by snow-mobile. Their idea being that you are responsible for the person behind you. If anything happens to slow him or her down, you go back and assist. My life was saved by following that simple rule in a blizzard condition years ago, so I know what Laurie write about actually works. I’d follow his advice on the water, but like you say Derrick, it must be agreed upon in advance by everyone.
I agree with Derrick on this one – whistles are a waste of time in about 99% of conditions, and the 1% is when the person can tell you directly what may be wrong. Laurie’s always got something worthwhile to say
Derrick, I think it is right that everyone should be looking out for everyone else. But in my opinion the most important thing to do in a group is to be true to yourself. We are probably all guilty (especially when a newbie) of pushing ourselves beyond our limit to keep up with a group more experienced or fitter for one reason or the other then ourselves.
These are times when accidents can happen – and even leaders can succumb to the pressure of group conformity.
With this in mind I normally find myself being “Tail End Charlie” Keeping an eye out on the slowest paddler to check if they are in trouble or just a slow paddler. Best spot to keep an eye on the rest of the group as well. Probably why I do most of my paddling solo
If in trouble say, and I agree the best way to do that is what Laurie said – stop paddling. In a group worthy of paddling with there will be people looking out for you.