Comments for Millers Run - without the fun at http://www.surfski.info , comment 0 to 1 out of 1 comments http://www.surfski.info Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:03:32 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.surfski.info/content/view/395/154/#pc_573 We've faced similar a situation a couple of months ago with a less experienced paddler joining our typical "crew." (We also face that "getting dark" situation faced by all paddlers who work regular jobs and the light starts to fade quickly after summer.) We were lucky on this particular occasion since it was a Saturday and we started around 3:30, leaving plenty of daylight left. We started the run from our usual take off point. The guy looked pretty unstable but the conditions were not super big and we all thought he'd be OK. After 30 minutes and meeting at our typical rendezvous point, and then waiting for another 20 minutes, we decided to head down to the finish of the run and notify the Ocean Safety lifeguards. They sent the whole regatta out to find the guy, including jetskis and a helicopter. It turns out the guy (wisely) turned around and went in to a beach park right after we started the run, and called his wife to pick him up. However, he did not have any of our cellular phone numbers (only a "saved" contact) and there were no messages on any of our phones. After notifying the lifeguards, and as I was driving back to the start of the run intending to stop at each possible place he might have swam in, he flagged me down from his wife's car. We thought of one other "suggestion" for the guy who swims to shore - immediately call "911" or equivalent and let the lifeguards or whomever might be looking for you know that if they are searching for a paddler who meets your description, you are OK and they can call off the search and notify the interested parties. This will save much worry for all concerned. - Scott Tue, 01 May 2007 20:36:59 +0100