Re: [Paddlewise] It could happen: Re-Entry

At 02:22 PM 7/7/98 -0400, you wrote:

>> 
>	[>]  One thing I'm going to start carrying is a sling to help
>hoist myself up over the cockpit.  In conditions such as Paul described,
>it will require less effort and you'll expend less energy in getting
>into position to use the paddle float.  Who knows, he 'may' have made it
>with one more try.
>
	HOLD ON!!! There's an easier way!!! 
	
	Approach the re-entry from BEHIND the cockpit.

	From the port side, hold the paddle against the coaming as an outrigger in
the LEFT hand. 
	
	Facing the boat, extend the right hand/arm across the rear deck.
	
	Approaching the re-entry from BEHIND the cockpit solves several problems:
The rear deck is solid/flat and much easier to hoist onto than pulling
oneself over the open cockpit. Far fewer things to snag up and more support
across the chest for moving into position. Less likely to drag additional
water into the cockpit. Because the rear deck is narrower than the cockpit,
there's less tipping of the boat because of less leverage from the
center-line. Coming up over the rear deck is nearly efforless compared to
coming up over the cockpit. 

	Hook the LEFT foot/ankle over the paddle outrigger while pulling oneself
onto the rear deck. These two moves pretty much happen together, pulling
onto the deck gets the foot into position to hook the paddle. Hooking the
paddle provides leverage to further move onto the deck. A position over the
rear deck is more stable than being sprawled over the open cockpit.
(Actually only your stomach and above are over the rear deck. Your hips end
up over the seat--which is exactly where it needs to be.) 

	Once "on deck," bodyweight should secure the paddle against the coaming.
>From this point it's easy to shift from a LEFT foot hook to a RIGHT foot
hook on the outrigger while the body swivels and the left leg moves into
the cockpit. 

	Using the aft cockpit approach, you're in position to easily move the legs
into the cockpit. Unlike the approach over the top of the cockpit which
puts the feet too far forward of the cockpit, being over the rear deck
provides the right distance to put feet into the cockpit WITHOUT bending
knees and probing blindly behind while precariously balanced over the void
of the open cockpit. 
	Being over the rear deck also provides a solid platform for hands, elbows,
shoulders. It's easy with this platform to reach out on the outrigger for
bracing and to stabilize the boat while rotating into the cockpit. 
	It's necessary when getting ready to rotate into the cockpit and face
forward that you move the RIGHT hand under the body to secure the paddle
against the coaming. The LEFT hand/arm moves out on the paddle to balance
and keep weight on the outrigger. This is an easy move. From this position,
entry is almost like using a paddle to balance when entering the boat on a
beach or dock. Keep the torso low with weight on the outrigger.  

	Once in the boat, bring the paddle forward and brace the boat against the
outrigger while you pump the bilge. This is tricky! I wedge the shaft
against my stomach--above the skirt and under the PFD. In heavy seas it's a
good idea to work the skirt around the coaming with one hand to keep from
taking on more water. Brace against the paddle float with the other hand.
With a port side entry, the "weak" left hand is used to brace while the
"stronger" and more dexterious right hand replaces the skirt. Of course the
southpaw approach starts on the starboard side of the boat and all the
moves are mirrored. 

	My boat doesn't take on too much water and is low enough on the shear-line
to be fairly stable with the water from a capsize. Still it takes five
minutes of serious pumping to empty the bilge. (Getting at the pump once
back in the cockpit can be problematic. Make sure it's secure and
accessible.) 

	The re-entry from aft of the cockpit is much easier than re-entry over the
top of the cockpit. Hutchinson's book is a bit dated, and rescue moves have
been refined considerably since publication. Hutchinson even notes that the
paddle float re-entry is an unreliable, last-ditch move for paddlers who
can't roll or have been tossed from the boat. Unless you're really fat,
out-of-shape, or a complete klutz, using the paddle float/aft entry is fast
and fairly straightforward. It's NOT, however, something you want to learn
during an emergency! It's summer, and the water is warm. Take advantage and
practice the paddle float rescue before you need to use it. 

	I'd stay away from ropes and slings for the same reason I stay away from
loose tethers and other entanglements. Also, the less encumbered the
re-entry, the less that's apt to go wrong. 
	
	Geo./Svenn	

______________________________
George Bergeron, Secretary '99
Oswego Heritage Council
www.europa.com/~heritage/
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