I hate to Monday-morning quarterback but you did have a last minute safety outlet. Teller's Point offers a high wind and weather break. When you first spotted the bad weather coming at you, you could have paddled swiftly back around the point and gotten shelter from the waves and wind. It is amazing how much bad wind and sea you can ride out when tucked behind something, even a small island. Teller's Point is massive offering maximum protection. Other comments: > Lessons learned: > > 1) I didn't listen to the weather forecast, which predicted > exactly what came, (including the tornado in Pawling) if I had > I wouldn't have gone out at all Well, sometimes the weather doesn't happen the way of the predictions. But from where you were paddling it should have been obvious that the likelihood of the storm was high. > > 2) no paddlefloat, which prevented re-entry once it was calm > enough to do so >From what you said to me, you have not practiced using a paddlefloat anyway. Believe me, it requires practice. It amazes me the number of people who have paddlefloats decorating the rear decks of their boats (along with bilge pumps which are harder to use than people realize if a cockpit is very filled with water). You should practice both self and group rescues, starting first with calm water and walk thoughs on land. Then trying it under the stress of waves. For the latter you need not go out into a storm. There are spots almost anywhere where you can do this. I wrote it up in one of my newsletter awhile ago but you can find them easily. Spots where you are in relatively shallow water while boat traffic is passing by at a safe distance from you and the land next to you is a friendly beach or nice low dock. If you mess up, you can go to shore and rest, or if you lose your boat it will wash into a safe place. This situation gives you the feel of tougher self-rescues since the wakes give you some realistic wave conditions. But you don't put yourself at any risk. > > 3) no learned and practiced roll, which I couldn't have done > anyway in those conditions, but besides I That is true. Under the conditions you describe, only a handful of paddlers in the tri-state area would have been able to deal with the waters once they got knocked down. > > 4) had no skirt Not smart with bad weather approaching. Even a heavy rain would have been a problem and uncomfortable. > 5) no strobe on my vest, it was here in the closet, safe at home > > 6) no flares or even a flashlight Make certain you have a PFD with big enough pockets to contain all that and other vital stuff like an emergency space blanket, smoke cannisters, etc. This way there is no way of leaving it at home. Remember the survival axiom: IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT ON YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE IT! > > 7) no knife Make certain to have one if you have any kind of strap or cord around you such as a paddle tether or when sailing. > > 8) I was in street clothes, the drysuit was also safely home in > the closet. If the water were cold, I'd almost certainly have > perished. Paul, the water temperature was 70 degrees. And it is summer. You would not be wearing a drysuit!! > > 9)Tether the bilge pump in. I nearly lost it three times. That is a good idea. But again one more line to catch and entrap you. > > 10)I was out alone. Nothing wrong with that. Many paddlers paddle alone. The only thing is to make certain that you are well-equipped if you do and you know how to use it all and have checked out that it is in good working condition. > > Extrasport PFD worked well, but **only because the waist strap > was cinched as tightly as I could stand it**. A mistake I think > some make if they are novices who haven't actually ever been in > the water in their vests is to buckle up and leave the waist > straps loose, if tied at all. This will never do as the vest > will ride up around your head like a chef's hat while your chin > is at he surface of the water, if you're in rough seas you'll > be swallowing a lot. Very important point, Paul. I recently was with someone who went over in hairy conditions among pier pilings and swift moving waters. Her PFD was riding up so high that her chin was down at the zipper! BTW, Paul. Don't knock yourself on this. You are not the only one on these listservers who paddles with about the same level of preparedness as you. Your experience may get a few to take corrective action now. ralph ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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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