: Here we go...

: "4 Kayak'ers" have to cross the chanel befor the tide goes out'
: that happens in 17 minutes and they must all cross the chanel or be left
: to parish. All four men begin on the same side of the chanel. You must
: help them across to the other side. . There is one kayak. A maximum of two
: people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people,
: must use the Kayak to cross . The Kayak must be paddled across and be
: paddled back and forth, it cannot be push empty string or rope but paddled
: by 1 or 2 paddlers, etc. Each band paddler paddles at a different speed. A
: pair must paddle together at the rate of the slower man's pace: * nick: -
: 1 minute to cross * ross: - 2 minutes to cross * eric: - 5 minutes to
: cross * spivey: - 10 minutes to cross

Nick and Ross cross = 2 min Nick return ................ = 1 Erik and Spivey........ =10 Ross return................ = 2 Nick and Ross........... = 2 Total time.....................17 min

Got it under 5 min. but won't work for M.S. : )