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Sea Kayak Rescues will include Rough Water & Surf Rescues

            At some point in your paddling career you will paddle into or through rough water – rough for your skill set and equipment. Even in you don’t intend to paddle in rough water, conditions may change, tide or waves may carry you where you don’t want to be. Rough water paddling, surfing or playing in the ocean's rock gardens can be an exciting, demanding activity that will open new dimensions to your paddling. It is not without exposure but can be done safely, especially if you prepare for what will happen. So Prepare, Plan, Practice and Play.

 

In sea kayaking you don’t swim ashore. You must be able to rescue yourself and your friends in any conditions you find yourself paddling in.

You need understand the effects of and limits to your kayak’s design, outfitting and safety equipment. Know the rescue/reentry limitations of your kayak. Some kayaks are nearly impossible to self-rescue. Others are very difficult even for an assisted rescue. Think of the volume of water that must be removed and the rate that it is continuing to enter in a rough sea. What’s the integrity of your bulkheads (or airbags), what are they made of? How are they attached? What happens when heavy moving water hits them?

 

You should recognize the differences in the varieties of rough water rescues, and be able to maneuver to and affect the needed rescue quickly, efficiently and smoothly. 

 

You are both the physical and psychological rescuer.

Rescue Planning and Prep

Analyze where a rescue may be necessary, type of rescue to use, risk of the venue to non-victims both before trip begins and immediately upon need for the rescue.  Have necessary tools ready.
 

Basic Rescue Practice

There are only 2 steps in rescues

Get the water out and the person in…in whatever order

 

Emptying the Boat: Boat construction is critical here. Properly positioned bulkheads or buoyancy make life easier and safer.

 

Rescuing your partner. Getting the victim back in the boat. Know the differences of victim and rescuer kayak facing same vs. opposite directions. Focus on holding onto the boat with both hands on cockpit coaming or deck lines. Use your whole body weight on the deck of the victims kayak. Get your partner back into the boat, between the boats, across the back or across your bow. Do what works.

 

Solo Rescues: How you get back in without another paddlers’ assistance.

Assisted Rescues:
Decide about should you get water out or person in first, then

Eskimo Rolling: Commit to trying to learn this skill. You will acquire a set of tools that will make needing to roll less likely. Learn several rolls – on both sides. Very important to try.

This form of self-rescue is very achievable these days.  If you are not able to roll., what changes must be made to your safety and risk analysis of what you can and cannot do with your group?

Rolling Problems generally arise from: Wrong attitude - Poor setup and poor paddle angle - Reliance on the paddle blade - Failure to hip-flick - Lifting your head or pulling your body up first.

Rough water rolling requires appropriate timing, coming up on the correct (wave) side, and use of the wave’s energy to increase the ease and success.

 

Eskimo Rescue: Useful primarily as a training exercise for bracing and practice rescues.

Tows:

Effective, quick towing of paddlers and equipment is a crucial kayak skill – getting someone out of danger or exposure, moving rescue to deep water, holding longer rescue off a danger spot.

Equipment:

 

Additional Thoughts on Rescues:
Assess risk to yourself from the environment and the victim. Don’t become another victim.

 

Finally, lets not be too judgmental of others, remember…

There are only 2 kinds of boaters.

Those that have swum...

and those that are going to…

Thanks for listening. Be Safe, Have Fun… until we get a paddle wet

 

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