this was a shipping company group? Doesn't say much for their seamanship.

Contrary to myth, most kayaks--certainly the scows that would be rented to a lubberly group such as this--are quite difficult to capsize. I've been paddling one for 20 years (boy are my arms tired and my knees have gone to sleep years ago) in all kinds of interesting waters and never had to do a wet exit or a roll.   

And four feet of water is plenty deep enough to get hypothermia in!      

Doesn't say much for the hapless rescue crew either, should have beaten the swimmers off with an oar if they were so panicky...

W-O