Sh**t Happens

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biscuit
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Sh**t Happens

Post by biscuit »

Some of you have probably heard
I was the one that flipped my kayak this past Sunday at the Nave Seal fundraiser
That was the first time I ever flipped a kayak
Everything was going great from the time we launched until we made the turn toward Picnic
About 300 yards later I found myself in the water
The strong out going tide against the east wind created some pretty heavy chop
A large swell lifted up the back of my Native causing the nose to go down and instantly about a 2 foot swell broke over the bow and instantly my kayak was upside down and I was in the bay
The swimmer I escorting seen it happen and stopped to assist.
The safety plan that we were briefed on didn't work
In in emergency situation we were to wave our paddle in the air and one of the support boats they had about every 500 yards would respond.
Well they never responded.
My swimmer and I drifted about 300 yards waving the paddle and blowing our whistles to no avail
Finally a boater watching the race from some distance seen us and came to assist
Once I got into his boat we lifted up my Native and was able to dump most of the water out
I tied off my kayak and he took me over to Picnic
My swimmer hooked up with another kayak and was able to finish
I was wearing a PDF unlike some others that were in the event
I was lucky the water was probably 66-68 degrees and I was only in it for about 10 minutes or the outcome might have been different
WARNING to anyone that owns a kayak that is not self bailing
If your Native of Wilderness flips I am certain you will NOT be able to right it or get back in if the water is over your head. You better hope the water is warm and there is shallow water near by or your screwed.
Another kayaker may not be able to provide as much assistance as you would think. He can't up right your kayak from his and you will probably flip his if you try to get in it
BEST ADVICE I can give is always wear a PDF of some type. Avoid rough choppy water if possible and don't kayak alone especially in water over 4 feet deep
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Manning
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by Manning »

I was also paddling in support of the Frogman Swim. I did hear your whistle and see the paddle wave about the same time that the boat took off headed for you. I also saw two other kayakers breaking away from their swimmers and head in your direction. As the two kayakers were a 100 yards closer to you than I was, I continued on with my swimmer. I am sure it was a bad experience. Glad it all worked out.

I also paddle a native ultimate, but mine is a 14.5. I became concerned about the deep water re-entry issue a few months back and did a test. Here is the article I wrote on my test.

http://paddle-fishing-forum.com/viewtop ... ry#p346232
Being out on the water in the kayak is the prize. Catching fish is the bonus.

Steve
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by fishpirate »

Wow!! Glad your ok. I was a little concerned with my swimmer, we were some of the last ones in. She almost hit a barnacle encrusted marker. Great event though!!
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by Todd »

Damn, sorry to hear about that and glad things worked out in the end.

Looking back over the last few years I have participated there are several kayaks, and kayakers, that should not be used as an escort. If it turned out to be a crappy day and they swam anyway, which they did the first year, they would have been rescuing a lot of kayak escorts. Many out there were not equipped, kayak size and physical condition wise, to paddle across the bay in any conditions less than we had on Sunday.
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DoubleM
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by DoubleM »

Wow.. hope you didn't loose any gear. Do you think it might had been avoidable if your boat was positioned differently during the slop? That's a big fear of mine while using the ultimate for tarpon fishing and one of the reasons I want to upgrade to a slayer.
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Rik
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by Rik »

DoubleM wrote:That's a big fear of mine while using the ultimate for tarpon fishing
Wimp.....
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BearsFan
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by BearsFan »

In case there are no rescue boats, something worth practicing.
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biscuit
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by biscuit »

I just got caught in an area about half the size of a football field where the chop was much more intense than the rest of the bay.
Others that seen it happen agreed there was not really anything i did wrong or could have done differently. Just got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I'm sure that if i do any fishing in water deeper than what we normally get into or on high wind days i will be using a different type of kayak.
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by Rik »

The title of the post explains it all. Glad you are okay and for all of us, let this be a warning. As they always said on Candid Camera, don't be surprised if sometime, somewhere, someplace when you least expect it.......
Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley
Heywood
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by Heywood »

I would be more concerned that no one came to your aid. If that would have been a swimmer in distress, (severe cramps) the outcome might not have been so good.

I would make sure you email Kurt and let him know, if he already doesnt.
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Mark R
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by Mark R »

Don't they use VHF radios? I know my 11' boat is too small to try that paddle!
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by paddle fan »

I was the first kayak-er to get to you. I was also surprised that a rescue boat was not there quicker. I was close to the bridge when I started to hear your whistle. It took me a couple of minuets to get your position figured out. I came as fast as I could. It takes a wile to get 300 yards against the wind. I escorted your swimmer back to the race so he could finish. I was glad to see the boat get there and pull you out and all was OK. I was very impressed with Paul.(the swimmer). He swam straight back to where you flipped and made the turn back towards Picnic Island. He must have gone 4-4 1/2 miles.


Steve
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by FrankC »

I duck hunted out of an open canoe for years and have some hairey tales to tell about my lack of judgement, so if I sound critical do not get excited. Once we had to crawl up a flooded tree and had to have someone else push our craft to us. The water temp was 45 deg, but thankfully the other party showed up in time.

I cannot understand why anyone would go out in open deep water in an open kayak, as a long thin boat does not handle waves worth a toot. All the re-entering blurb is fine in calm water, but if it is rough enough to dump you in the first place, you have a real problem on your hands. At least be smart enough to wear your PFD as this gentleman did.

If your judgement is no better than mine was in the past, it has been good knowing you. Dad told me the Coast Guard finds the boat most of the time, but the success rate on finding the bodies is much lower.

Good post, Manning, as it is a good lesson for others.

PS: Don't think you can substitute manliness for stupidity. Taking chances and feeling tough does not help when the chips are down.
sfurman
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by sfurman »

I am sure that the recue boaters were not ignoring you either, especially in rough conditions. It is difficult to see a person in the water even when waiving a paddle you are not as obvious as you might think. Paddling and swimming in the bay is extremely risky and very dangerous, especially when you have 200 people out there doing it. Add rough conditions and the event should have been cancelled. It is just a matter of time before something worse happens.
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dunfly
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Re: Sh**t Happens

Post by dunfly »

It wasn't particularly rough that day, certainly not enough to consider cancelling the event. There was only one patch of rough water, which is were Bisuit went over. I took a wave over the side there, but it was basically an area of heavy chop and you were out of it pretty quickly.

There was a wide variety of kayaks out there, some of which had no business going across the bay. I had two kayaks that were about 8 feet long sitting next to me before the start and there were several paddle boards. I do think the sponser of the event should be more selective as to the type of kayaks that can escort. SOT Fishing kayaks would be most ideally suited due to there stability, so more of you guys should volunteer.
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