Cold water quickly saps the strength of even expert swimmers, and the time spent in practicing climbing back in a kayak would be far better spent in Eskimo rescue practice. It is sad to realize that in the thirty-six years since this article appeared, several kayakers have been born, lived their entire lives and died after making wet exits. They might still be alive if they had known Eskimo rescue technique. My impression from reading accident reports is that most capsize fatalities occur after the victim makes a wet exit. The rest are found in the water, or missing.
Panic can result in a fatal accident, regardless of whether one is in or out of a kayak.
I believe the most important obstacle to overcome in kayak training is the fear of being upside-down underwater. The trauma of a capsize begins with the shock of sudden immersion. Then there is the discomfort caused by hanging head down in the water. Water pressure on the nostrils is hardly noticed when swimming underwater, but it can be painful when upside-down. There is also the fear of entrapment that makes us want to get out of the kayak immediately, while we still have enough air to reach the surface.