: I agree with April. The need to have sweep paddlers is an admission
: that the group is already fractured and the slowest paddlers are
: at risk.

Someone acting as "Sweep" is standard practice in any large group that needs to be kept together. It is not an admission that something is wrong, only an acknowledgement that something can go wrong.

Groups spreading out is a fact of life. People paddle at different speeds, are interested in different things and have different goals on the water.

The only way to eliminate this tendency is to have a leader with a whistle who is tasked with maintaining the group. This is not going to happen at Connyak for reason we have discussed ad-nausea and clubs where it used to be the rule no longer do it that way.

What we can do is suggest people stay together. But this does not merely mean that faster paddles slow down. Slower paddlers also should do their best to keep up.

Since their is no one person responsible for keeping the group together everyone should take on the responsibility for keeping track of everyone. If you are paddling with a group because you want to be with a group it is up to you to stay with the group as best as you can.

The fastest paddlers are not always the most experienced. Sometimes nervous paddlers get out front because they are sort of "running for home". Others think they know where the group is going only to find out when they get there that the group has disappeared off to some other destination. Faster paddlers should make a point of turning around and looking back. This does not mean once every 20 minutes, it means every couple minutes or more. When it is appears that you are leaving the group behind, slow down, stop or circle back. If you stop to rest, allow the slower paddlers catch up and rest as well. Be courteous, don't just leave paddlers behind.

Note that getting out ahead of the group means you may not know of changes in the plan or if you are wrong about the plan you may fail to realize it until it is too late. If you are paddling with the group for the perceived safety, it is only available to you as long as you stay with the group. You should stop before entering any risky area so everyone can evaluate whether to proceed. If you don't know what a risky area is, you should not be in front at all.

The slowest paddlers should also make an effort to stay with the group. If the pace is faster than you want, but you can go faster, you should do your best to go faster. Don't take advantage of the group slowing down ahead of you to take a rest. Keep paddling as fast as you can until you catch up. If you then need a rest, tell the group and they should wait for you. If you slow down when they slow down or stop when they stop, without catching up to the group, the group is likely to proceed. Please be courteous and do what you can to stay up with the group.

There can be safety reasons for why the group is moving fast. Incoming weather or an oncoming boat or ship may need a quicker pace to minimize the danger. Paddling in current is easier at a faster pace because you usually get out of the current faster.

Nobody is required to stick with the group, maintaining the group requires everyone work together. Nobody is entitled to courtesy if they are not courteous in return. If you don't want to work as a team, you are probably better off paddling alone to begin with.