ACCIR-20081116:
Novice Open Double Lost Control in Current & Hit Moored Boat, Capsized. - Shoreham, River Adur
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Summary
Novice Open Double Lost Control in Current & Hit Moored Boat, Capsized.
Report
Facts
0) Until the Friday before the website mistakenly advertised the day as suitable for beginners. This typo was discovered only at the Thursday pool session (in a conversation, coindicentally, with one of the victims).
1) HT was 1pm, so it was whizzing in. The conditions under the Norfolk bridge were not suitable for beginners. The problem is the known combination of difficult tide and nearby moored boats.
2) The Duty instructor (Robbo) and the team had a specific strategy for dealing with the problem, which was to walk to the Cruising Club slipway, nurse the group past the hazard, and enter the mud flats just south. This was clearly briefed.
3) The group was large, but numerically cover was adequate - at least two helpers got to the victims BEFORE they capsized.
4) Two inexperienced paddlers were tandem in an open canoe. Both large middle-aged blokes. They had some aspirations to solo, but were advised not to on this occasion, and were paired, and assigned to an experienced open boater (Steve B) for supervision, and he gave some more briefing. Pairing them with experienced open paddlers was considered, but none were available and keen on doubling.
5) They were briefed not to get on the water until Steve was with them, but in fact got on before Steve was there, although other cover was about.
6) They had insufficient steering control and swerved away from shore. This happened more or less immediately they launched. They had got in with the heavier at the front, and this bad trim cannot have helped.
7) Several present, including the duty coach and two others spotted the problem and tried to correct their course, or nudge them off, but failed.
So far as I (Gideon) can tell, that was the series of things that led to the collision with a moored boat, and capsize. After the capsize it appears a rescue was speedily effected, and the group continued. The victims were ok and unaware how seriously we regard a moored boat incident.
Questions
The question is what can we improve, assuming the above is correct?
a) Should the "victims" in the open have been out at all? It sounds to me as if this could have been ok, with the right support.
b) Was the group safety cover sufficient and appropriate? Well, there seems to have been plenty of help at the critical time.
c) Was the briefing, generally, and of these specific paddlers, clear? Could they have paid more attention?
d) Was the plan for the session sufficiently safe? My feeling is, it was generally, but something specific went wrong.
e) Was the plan well executed? Ditto d).
f) Did the safety cover take useful steps to stop the situation developing?
Problems
In general, "two big blokes in an open", with no skills, can actually cover an awful lot of ground. Half the North American outfitting business relies on it. But....
i) The paddlers didn't follow the briefing and wait for the assigned supervision. Who might well have realised that...
ii) ...Starting under the bridge was inappropriate. Perhaps wading through under the bridge would've been sufficient.
iii) ...and that the heavier paddler needed to be in the stern.
iv) Maybe the many short-boat kayakers in the safety cover didn't perceive how large an arc the open would take in a swerve? That is, slap into the wrong place. Rather than a short kayak's typical spin on the spot.
v) It sounds as if one kayaker tried a nudging correction that'd work on a short kayak, but not on a heavily crewed open. An open boater tried some kind of get-between intercept, but it didn't help.
My overall feeling is that it happened because of the choice to tandem the two paddlers, and their premature start; and the corrective steps failed because it was a tandem, and people aren't used to dealing with them. I don't think it's "open" that was the issue, but "tandem". A double sit-on-top or sea kayak would behave much the same. However, "open" may make kayakers less willing to intercede?
We have noted before that we have to take some specific care with opens and the sea.
Corrections
We should consider the following measures:
A) Be more assertive in our limiting of beginners and tides. Not necessarily saying "no paddling", but if they do paddle, making sure they are tightly constrained (e.g. paired up suitably, and as intended on this occasion, specifically "marked" by a suitable helper), and walk if necessary.
B) Can we make briefings for beginners clearer?
C) Increase awareness of tandem and open specific issues amoungst our helpers and coaches. New 2* anyone?
You'll note I say "tandem" not "open".
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