: Dave mentioned that the group got strung out. So what? Are you saying
: that you were too fast or others were too slow. Who's at fault?
: What did you do to rectify the situation?

I've been in both situations. In a non-ConnYak paddle I was dropped out of a race training group on an unfamiliar river well after sundown, after I'd hit the wall during a 3 hour fast paddle. I bonked pretty hard, and had to pull off the river in complete darkness and get a ride back to the launch site. In a Connyak paddle, I was in the lead group when we noticed 2 paddlers were falling behind. This was on a twisty river, and the lead group I was with was coming up on an area with many cul-de-sacs where people could have gotten lost, so I went back to the slower paddlers and continued with them through the area where it was difficult to choose the correct direction, since I know the area. In another ConnYak paddle in the middle of winter on an out-and-back venue, I noticed one of the paddlers on the way out was having trouble keeping their boat off the rocks in wind. I dropped back to stay with this paddler. At the destination, I asked the rest of the group (about 5 paddlers) to have the slower paddler lead on the way back to keep the group together. This didn't work.

Having the group spread out is the default, which results from not planning, committing to, and working out a strategy to keep the group together.

The problem with a strung out group is usually invisible, but escalates when something happens - conditions become more challenging, equipment failure, sudden physical problem (heart attack, stroke, pulled muscle, someone becomes seasick, etc), or a fast powerboat speeds through the area.

: I don't necessarily
: think that slower paddlers are at any more risk than the faster
: paddlers, as long as they have the skills to be paddling where
: they are headed to in the first place.

The difference between slower paddlers and faster paddlers regarding risk is, for the slower paddlers there are less or no paddlers behind them who will come up to them if they stop making forward progress. For faster and mid speed paddlers, if they stop there will be somebody behind who will catch up to them. If the slowest paddler stops, the distance between them and the next paddler in front will increase. Hence the de facto motto: "Don't Be Last"

Another difference is communication. Slower paddlers can't catch up, so can't communicate without VHF. If conditions become more challenging, letting go of the paddle to use a VHF may not be an option. If a strung out group is paddling into the wind, it's difficult or impossible for paddlers in front to hear paddlers behind them, even if they use a whistle.

Another factor is getting lost. This doesn't apply on open water, but on a twisty river in the middle of woods, if paddlers are left behind they may not know where the others have gone. Also, the leaders may not know where to go, and may lead the group in the wrong direction if they are way ahead of people who know the way.