Kayaker saved after trying to cross Pacific

My pops in law was to sail in the Pacific Cup from SF to HI next month.  The skipper came down with a case of the clap or something and bugged out.  sux b/c pops and the crew have been working on the rig and training for months.

ppl in their midlife crises . . .

https://pacificcup.org/

I've noticed the crazy people that try this crap are always from Colorado or Nebraska or some crap midwest state.

This one happened 2 years ago. He only made it out 15 miles.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=43419.msg478329#msg478329

no friggin chance. gonna sit for months on end

He will get a blood clot from sitting that long.

I've noticed the crazy people that try this crap are always from Colorado or Nebraska or some crap midwest state.

    

Perhaps a charge of expenses for rescue is in order. Should taxpayers foot the bill?

Yes, I think we should, the same way we would if you or I were rescued while fishing 2 miles offshore. Some people think that's crazy and dangerous and just asking for trouble.

Or maybe tax-funded emergency assistance should only apply to people driving to and from their jobs? Nothing recreational?

I wouldn't consider kayaking to Hawaii recreational.

I would. If it's done for fun, it's recreational.

Perhaps a charge of expenses for rescue is in order. Should taxpayers foot the bill?

Yes, I think we should, the same way we would if you or I were rescued while fishing 2 miles offshore. Some people think that's crazy and dangerous and just asking for trouble.

Or maybe tax-funded emergency assistance should only apply to people driving to and from their jobs? Nothing recreational?

Normal kayaking, within a few miles of shore is one thing and yes I am in favor of a non charge rescue by government agencies if need be but extreme sport participants who kayak to Hawaii or do dangerous climbs up the most difficult face of a mountain should self insure for a rescue if need arises.

Everyone has their own idea of what an extreme sport is. Many people would call paddling a small plastic boat 2 miles into the Pacific to catch salmon crazy. How about hiking down a steep and remote cliff to access a dive spot, and then spraining your ankle? Some would call that crazy and asking for trouble, while others would consider that normal diving. Worthy of a rescue or not?

What about the fishing boat that begins taking on water 40 miles offshore? Why should he get free vessel assist but not the sinking kayaker who is the same distance from shore?

Personally I think it's great that people do adventurous stuff, and it's great to have government agencies that will help us if necessary. I don't think offshore kayak rescues are putting so much hurt on our government funds that it's worth worrying about. I'm glad the guy made it back safe.

Can you purchase vessel assist insurance for your kayak?

Don't know. Do power boats need to purchase any sort of insurance for rescue or assistance these days? When I was a kid, we were out with our dad in our 19' Dorset off Pacifica, mooching for salmon. The motor died and we put in a call on the radio and got a free tow back to port from the Harbor Patrol or Coast Guard (don't remember who). My dad tried to pay them but they refused. We were sure grateful that such a service existed.

If you get towed back to port, it will cost a lot of money. But if you have insurance, it will cost much less. For example http://www.boatus.com/towing/

Hmm, well, it was free for us for some reason...I remember they asked on the radio if anyone on board was sick. 2 of us were. Maybe that somehow elevated our status to urgent or something? This was 20 years ago so my memory is a bit hazy.

Do we know that this kayaker wasn't charged a rescue fee?

While it is great to have satellite phones and similar devices to make distress calls and GPS for navigation, it has led to a generation of so called adventurers that expect to get bailed out when things don't work out. They expect other people to foot the bill for the rescue operation and for others to put their lives and well being in jeopardy when these risk takers should be left to fend for themselves.

It is a big change in attitude and a big change in the amount of self reliance that is expected. When I sailed boats in the Atlantic and the Caribbean as soon as the boat was 25 miles offshore we were on our own. No way to radio for help and no GPS for navigation. If we screwed up we knew we would pay the price and while one crew member might endanger others on the boat, that was as far as it went.

The same applied to friends who were mountain climbers. If they got seriously injured they knew they would likely die on the mountain and they climbed knowing the risks. They might take a fellow climber that was roped in with them down the side if they fell but no rescuers' lives were put at risk.

If I was 10 miles offshore and for whatever reason needed to be rescued I would make the call to the Coast Guard but I would be exceeding embarrassed to do so. If they did not make it to me in time I would blame only myself.