I did indeed mean to say "parallel" to keep it as the safest advice but for myself it depends on the current strength. Sometimes, I'll point inwards a ways off the parallel, just to negate the outwards drift a bit as I move down the shoreline.

It depends on your confidence and how energetic you feel at the time, I suppose but yes, parallel is the safest advice.

Thanks Mark.

And thanks for the kind words on the girl's passing, Peter. However, I should have used the term lady as I never heard her age but she was an adult. Not a child but still tragic.

With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.