Since the wind was something like 9 metres/s ( ? knots ?) yesterday I chose to spend the afternoon paddling my new kayak and trying to get a feel of its stability in more choppy surroundings. I bought the Nordkapp before Christmas and have had quite rare possibilities to get used to it, because the ice left here relatively late. I chose a safe route around an island and a bay nearby, quite close the shoreline, where I would be paddling two miles exposed to SW wind and rain (total of 7 miles). The air temperature was 15 degrees centigrade, water 4 degrees centigrade (F 34?). When I was safely and comfortably - I thought- paddling along the downwind coast of this island, a motorboat left the harbor. Not very large, not very fast, maybe only 24' long but a really heavy one. I passed its wake and enjoyed the surf and speed it gave to my kayak. The boat was long time gone. Finally I slowed down when coming near a small pier, because I didnt want to crash into it, the distance was something like 60'. After a few moments the wake hit the left back quarter of my kayak. I do recall watching the waves coming nearer: four or five of them, maybe 1 1/2' to 2' high with sudden breaking tops. I wasnt paralyzed, more like wondering what should I do. There was no time to turn the kayak, very little space to move forwards to run from the waves, so I sat there like a duck watching down the barrel of a shotgun. And down I went, the paddle in my slight confusion to the right side and I, catching my breath, to the left side of my boat. It really gives new meaning to saying bottoms up... After a short passing moment of panic, trying to get my upper body towards the surface by bending it in vain, I opened my eyes, saw the greenness of the water and instantly popped the spray cover open, wondering if my contact lenses would drop from my eyes. Fortunately, they didnt. The kayak and the other pogue were floating beside me, the paddle with other pogue few feet away. I gathered my things and started swimming towards the pier, pushing the kayak. I felt how cold water was getting inside my two-piece dry-suit pants. Really amusing, especially when I did notice that the wind, even if this was the calmer side of the island, was starting to push me slowly past the end of the pier to the boat route. After soothing my breath I changed my swimming position from the stern to the bow, where it would be easier to draw the boat and paddle and keep me heading towards the pier. I did not turn the boat up, because it would probably had got more water in the cockpit and became more heavier. The other pogue between my teeth, I was grinning and feeling sheepish. I am not sure how long time the swimming took, but I was not feeling very cold and reached the pier under control. Emptying the kayak at the foot of the pier took six minutes. The spare clothes were in the aft, but I have a twofold spray cover, which keeps my feet and precious a** very warm inside the cockpit - my upper body was warm and dry so I trusted the spray deck, besides sitting also on a thermo seat. Actually, I had a second pair of spare clothes at the club, too. After going around the island and the more windy and choppier part of my trip (2' to 3' waves) I paddled directly to the jetty of the company where I bought my dry-suit and walked to the shop wet and dripping salt water. The folks were a little bit bewildered before I left - still dripping - including the owner, who had said before that the trousers m i g h t let s o m e water in. I should have paid more critical attention to his words then: with even a slightest leak of water through the gaiters of a dry-suit changes it to an un-dry-suit. Neoprene gaiters and straps do not seem to keep water, even though it feels tight and safe together with a neoprene sock. Positive observations: the dry-suit shirt was ok, and the hatches were tight and safe. The spray cover did keep the warmth inside, and it was tight enough to make a possible rolling easy. But I did not have to fight to pop it open. Everything I keep with me during such a short trip was securely placed: knife, keys, chart, compass, GSM mobile phone, bailer, water bottle and thermos, first-aid kit, paddle-float. Some conclusions I draw from the incident: Be sure that the grab lines of your kayak are good and thick enough for you to have a good grip of them. There was not very much wind, but I can imagine how it feels to lose your kayak... Test your equipment before using it in real situations. I did not. Do not take for granted what the salesperson is telling you, even if you have been knowing each other for years. I did. Btw: I had tested the dry-pack of my mobile phone before - why not the dry-suit? Never trust too much to your equipment. I lost my paddle and would there been more wind and more distance to safety the things would have been very much more serious. Though, I must admit, besides having a paddle-float with me I am sure that I am having also a spare paddle with me next time when it is windy. And a chord between the paddle and the deck lines. Emptying the half flooded kayak cockpit took six minutes. It is a fact I have to think carefully. A funny thing: even a shortest feeling of panic can give you a false sense of secureness later, a kind of a backlash. When later walking to home I had this strange feeling of being hard-boiled. Those PaddleWisers who have known me some longer time do know that I do take safety issues seriously, and that I am able to practice some self-criticism - besides being maybe a little thick-headed ;-) What I should have done: Added some ballast, maybe, even though the kayak went very well during the more windy part of my trip. Paid more attention to the situation as a whole: I was concentrating too much to the wind - not to the situation I was in... Unfortunately, I am leaving for England for five days, so I am not able to answer any possible questions or comments before next Tuesday. More fin-stories from Finland will follow... I am starting to practice my hand roll. Cheers, Ari Saarto "Home of the Famous & Traditional Scandinavian Skinny-dipping [TM]" Finland - Europe GSM +358 - 50 - 526 5892 fax. +358 - 3 - 828 2815 e-mail: asaarto_at_lpt.fi *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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