What with wind, waves, and probably poor technique, and maybe an improperly loaded boat, he or she is having trouble maintaining course. Someone in the group is having concern about stability. She or he is worried about capsizing. Or the concern may be realistic, with wind and waves actually too steep to handle. Either way, the paddler, fearful of capsizing, will try to head perpendicular to the waves, regardless of whether that direction leads to safety.
Someone is in the water.
In Puget Sound at least, that means hypothermia is setting in and life expectancy is measured in minutes. About being in the water Being in the kayak is good. As Lee Moyer said, from the waist down, kayaking is an indoor activity. Being in the water is bad. Based on the several magazine articles i've read, Eskimos try really hard not to get out of their kayaks and into the water.