Managing Fleet Operations

Andy Singh

Effective field operations involves managing an invisible elastic band. Stretch the band too far, and it breaks, spilling capability into ineffectiveness. Slacken the band too much, it loses tension and grip, rendering intention into impotence. In expeditionary kayaking, the imaginary elastic band encompasses the first and last paddlers in the fleet, and the question of how far to stretch the band is problematic.

In moving water, speed is your friend. Your friend, in the kayak next to you, is your enemy. You are far more likely to be tipped over by their inattention and inabilities than by the submerged log. Hit the log with speed and intent, and you have good chance of survival. T-boned by your mate as you rest in the eddy - thanks.

This discussion is about the art of paddling rivers with moving water in sea kayaks. Short white water kayaking boats offer a completely different dynamic. But many paddlers are using plastic seas kayaks, given the length of their journey and the infrequency of grade 1 and 2 obstacles. In moving water they can be akin to taking a double decker bus onto a skid pan.

In moving water, a fast fleet means boats approach obstacles in single file, with space, time and vision to anticipate, aim accelerate and adjust. Faster paddlers find their pace at the front, and slower paddlers filter back into the queue. But speed doesn't always mean capability - so assume problems can occur across the fleet.

The scouting role, looks out for observable risks and establishes the safest route, builds a safety framework around the obstacle, and communicates risk back to the fleet. The aim is to be able to keep up the progress and pace to complete the day's goals. While this could be stretching the elastic band out wide, there can fewer dangers in a faster fleet, with happier paddlers, a strong surge of adrenalin, and some space to make mistakes. Pity the slower fleet, unhappy crowded paddlers, inevitably falling over themselves.

In calmer waters, when the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Darling Rivers are in their main flow, obstacles and capsizes are not the main dangers, rather fatigue. On big rivers, tired paddlers falling back, can be missed by the Tail End Charlie, therefore creating a liability. Without the excitement of rushing water, paddlers need to hold greater psychological and physical strength over longer periods of time. Everyone has a bad day.

In general, planning for a moving water river is for 8 km/hr in a fully packed kayak. This translates to maintaining 7 kms/hr on a day long flat water training run. With flow and momentum, 8 km/hr is achievable and frequently exceeded. On the big rivers, 60 kms per day is reasonable. In faster flowing water, when paddlers need to be guided through obstacles with appropriate safety frameworks, 45 kms a day is a realistic target.

Plan to put in at 8am and paddle 15 kms before a 30 min break. Morning tea should be about 10am.

Back on the water at 10.30 am, paddle another 15 kms before a 45 min lunch break.

Expect to back on the water at 1.15 pm, paddle another 15 kms before a 30 min afternoon tea.

Now it is 3.45 pm, 45 kms under your belt, time to dig deep for the final 15 kms - expect to arrive at your campsite at 5.45 pm - still a couple of hours of light to set up your camp.

Breaking a 60 kms paddling day into 4 x 15 km stages assists paddlers in meeting the physical and psychological challenges of a long journey. Eating and drinking each break, ensure paddlers are not depleted at the end of the day, but ready to continue the next day. Getting out of the boats and mingling on the river bank, gets our bodies stretched and helps provide shots of socialised endorphins.

Breaking every 15 kms, allows slower paddlers to come back into the group. Last in paddlers are strongly encouraged to be the first back on the water. Regular breaks allows a group discussion on progress, performance and future plans.

A Scout travelling at 8 km/hr will be 1 km ahead of the Tail End Charlie travelling at 7 kms/hr over the course of an hour, and so in arriving at the nominated 15 km break, could be 2 kms and 17 mins behind. Ultimately the Scout needs to slow up the front of the fleet, to ensure the back of the fleet arrives at the same time, and everyone can get their nominated rest and recovery time.

There is an important reason for a fleet to be no more than 10 minutes in spread (approximately about 1 km). Most expeditionary paddlers are on the mature side of 40 years of age. Cardiac arrest either as the consequence of drowning or heart attack is a significant risk. This risk can be significantly lowered if a defibrillator is available within 10 minutes of an emergency. The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine published in 2020 the Policy on Early Access for Defibrillation for Cardiac Arrest. The speed to which a defibrillator can be applied to a victim is a major determinant in survivability rates decreasing 10% with each minute of delay. Median response times for Ambulances are between 7 and 10 minutes.

As the flow of the river is always downhill, positioning the defibrillator with the Tail End Charlie, makes the device available, if required for everyone in the fleet. Limiting the spread of the fleet to 1 kilometre keeps the defibrillator within the 10 min zone, and therefore enhances the safety of everyone.

Managing a fleet of kayaks down a moving water river, takes into account a wide variety of known and unknown conditions. Having a set of safety practices and roles helps address emerging threats. Having a daily routine allows everyone in the fleet to know what their expectations are, giving them scope to measure their own pace and performance. Having defined roles, supported by equipment (UHF radios), and a culture of consensual leadership enables the imaginary elastic band to be stretched and contracted as required, to keep progress and safety within expectations.

Ultimately the maximum stretch of the elastic band is an arbitrary decision. The research into the effectiveness of defibrillators after 10 minutes has provided one point of knowledge as to how far the elastic should stretch. Ten minutes from the front of the fleet to the back. Ten minutes from a possible point of death to a possible shock of recovery. As arbitrary decisions go, this is an easy stretch