Function over fashion. PHOTO: RYAN BONNEAU
SAFETY BY TOM WATSON
colour for visibility on the water? Opinions vary, research is scarce and personal experienc- es are conditional at best. So the bottom line, it seems, is that it all depends. Our eyes have sensory cells called rods and
Can You See Me Now? O
ne of the most frequently asked ques- tions in sea kayaking is: What is the best
cones. Rods are more abundant and help us see size, shape and the brightness of an object. Tey are also more sensitive than cones, which show us colours and detail. Cones detect specific wavelengths corresponding to red, blue or green. We use our cones to see during the day. In low- light conditions we see mostly with our rods, and those images are basically black and white. In those general terms, a colour seen in full
sunlight would begin to appear differently as light subdued, caused by either atmospheric conditions such as fog and rain or as nightfall approaches. Te U.S. Navy’s medical research lab con-
ducted a study on colour and visibility in 1951. Researchers sought the best visibility colours to aid search and rescue operations at sea. Tey compared the existing basic yellow of the then current G.I. survival raft to other colours in the spectrum that might be more visible. Tey determined that yellow-red colours
were more visible than yellows of the same brightness. Tey also found that light targets against dark backgrounds were easier seen than dark against light, and that the old G.I.
Events
August 28 The Great Canadian Kayak Challenge Timmins, ON
www.thegreatca- nadiankayakchal-
lenge.ca
August 23–28 Canada 55+ Games
Brockville, ON
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ville2010.ca
CHOOSING THE BEST COLOURS FOR VISIBILITY ON THE WATER
rescue raft yellow wasn’t very visible at all. Te general conclusions gleaned from the
Navy study were that against normal sea back- ground colours, yellow-reds (think oranges) are most readily detected; the redder the bet- ter for visibility in a given value range; and vis- ibility increases by 30 per cent when the target colour is lighter than the background. A Coast Guard friend of mine throws another colour into the discussion. Robin’s egg blue stands out extremely well in water from the air. So what should one’s choice of colour be for
optimum visibility? Consider the conditions in which you expect to paddle most often. For sunny, clear, bright days, favour reds. If you’re in an area that is commonly overcast, misty and foggy, favour bright yellows or red-yellow. Composite kayaks can be ordered in custom colour combinations, but for single-colour plas- tic boats, reds and yellows are probably the best all-round against both dark and frothy waters. More important than your boat colour may
be your life jacket, especially if you get sepa- rated from your boat. Te same colour theory applies to your PFD and clothing. To be more visible at night, carry lights and consider reflec- tive tape on your body and boat, and maybe even a radar reflector for an even greater chance of being spotted.
Tom Watson is a freelance writer with over 20 years experience as a sea kayaker. He specializes in kay- ak safety, skills and survival techniques.
August 14 Mayor’s Cup Kayak Championship New York, NY www.nymayorscup. com
October 1 Surf Superior Confluence Wawa, ON
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rior.com
October 10 Kayaking for Climate Change Dunville, ON
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