: More on the accident Spidey posted on Thursday, 28 December 2000, at 7:16
: p.m., titled Fort Walton Beach Kayaking Tragedy

: A friend of mine contacted Pactrick Wright, the reporter who wrote the
: article on the accident that resulted in the deaths of two kaykers on the
: Choktawhatchee River (up in Florida's panhandle). Following is the email
: he sent back. I have also inculded an article that I ran across on cold
: shock.

: Mr. Coley-
: Sorry for the delay, I have been waiting on the report from the Sheriff's
: office. They originally thought they had been hit by a tug boat because
: the boat had no lights on it. Now, they believe it was the mast that
: caused them the biggest trouble. Unlike most kayaks, this one was for two
: people and had a mast for sailing. When the two men capsized, officials
: believe that they tried to upright the boat and the mast caused them more
: problems then they had anticipated.

I was interested in this story when it was first posted. First, I had no idea that the waters got that cold in Florida,,, which could cause shock or hypothermia. I can see how a mast could cause such a big problem, from my own experience. I was sailing a catamaran when it flipped and turned turtle (upside down). My aluminum mast wasn't sealed or filled with foam as it should have been, which would have cause the boat to float on its side. It was impossible to upright the cat which should have been very simple and taken less then a minute. It took a pontoon boat, a power boat and a half day to rig and get the cat to shore. I can easily see how a kayak with a hollow mast could cause such a tradegy with a seamimgly innocent mast.

John