Doug, I think the problem is that the latest batch of club officers where I sometimes post just have a different mindset about what's acceptable talk on the message board than did the officers during the past 10 years. For this new batch, the ACA, BCU and SKIN (Sea Kayaking Industry) guidelines essentially ruling out solo paddling and mandating a 3-paddler minimum are all that matter. I was told that USCG stats told the tale about solo paddling; I should go look it up. So I did, and found nothing. I was told the club's own guidelines were strict on solo kayaking; again I looked at all the club's bylaws, rules, regulations and found nothing, and reported all this. The result: end of discussion. Gonna put a real crimp in future trip reporting by some of our more independent and more poetic sea kayakers.

I guess it's a little like talking about m-----------; everybody (almost) does it, but....... She-Bop. I'll bet the authors of every sea kayaking text, video, and Official Club Guidelines have paddled solo, and can urge with perfect sincerity that novices not do it; they can also discuss when, where, and how in their opinion it can be done and by whom, but to just shut down discussion, in my opinion, was both wrong and silly.