Here in Weymouth, there has been an dramatic increase in the popularity of sit-on-top kayaks (SOTs). A drive along the esplanade will result in numerous sightings - either on car racks, or in gardens. Throughout the summer months, these have been mostly used for pottering around on the water, often by families looking to enjoy the calm waters of Weymouth Bay and soak up the Sun.
However, now Autumn has arrived, bringing with it autumnal swells on the beach, these are now being taken out into the surf - and they hunt in packs...
I'm not too bothered about what you take out into surf - I mean, I currently have two surf boards, and a composite surf kayak and have been seen surfing on body boards, in sea kayaks, on surf rescue boards, in RIBs and would love to get out into the surf on a kiteboard.
However, I do have some concerns about safety. I'm not too fussed that often SOTS are paddled in surf without buoyancy aid and/or helmet and without decent wetsuits - each to their own when it comes to personal protection. Through experience, they'll either by the kit or learn to deal with implications of not having the kit, or Darwin's rules on species evolution will rule.
I do get concerned however that SOTS don't seem to understand the rules/etiquette that the rest of us play by out in the surf - and this will result in them injuring someone else. Now, this is an accusation that used to be often thrown at surf kayakers, and is something that I know all of us surf kayak coaches have done our best to improve.
SOTS are an enigma in paddlesports - the BCU doesn't seem to have thought to much about how to address/integrate the sudden increase in them. I can't imagine for one moment that the British Wave Ski Association would want to 'own' them. So, in the meantime who's going to educate these users in the ways of the world, particularly the ways of the surfer. Last week I was dropped in on by a SOT - a first time experience. How long before an injury occurs??
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