From: Bruce Taterka
Sent: Sun 20 Jul 2003 10:50:20
To: nyckayaker@lists.hrwa.org
Subject: Air, Land & Sea Response to Roll
Anyone ever have this happen before?
Yesterday I took my daughter for her first paddle on the Hudson. We
launched from the Englewood Boat Basin at slack water in late
afternoon and headed across the River. About half way across I did a
quick roll just to cool off. As we aproached Spuyten Duyvel we
noticed a police car and ambulance, lights flashing and sirens
blaring, parked along the shore of Manhattan next to the railroad
bridge. Then a police helicopter swooped over us over us. A few
minutes later a NYPD boat came flying out of the Harlem River and
pulled up right next to us.
"Did you do a roll?" the cop asked me.
"Yes sir, officer," I answered.
"Someone called in an emergency - kayaker in distress," he explained.
"That's why we had the ambulance and the helicopter out. But don't
worry. It's not your fault. Just don't do it again, OK?"
To their credit, the cops were very nice about it. But I can't
understand how anyone watching that situation could have called in an
emergency. I only did one roll, and after that it was plain that we
were both fine. The River was calm, boat traffic was light, and
almost no wind.
I guess it's good to know that there's that kind of emergency response
out there, but unfortunately it's probably another one of those
situations adding to the NYPD's general annoyance with kayakers.
- BT
