[Paddlewise] landing a victim through surf

Scott wrote:
>If they were too far gone that I didn't believe they could paddle, then I
>think the next option would be to have them climb out of their boat and
lie on
>my back deck, arms around my waist with their feet apart and in the water for
>stability. I believe I could land a person through all but the hairiest of
>surf in this fashion. At the very least I could get them close enough to
shore
>so that if I did lose it and capsize I could exit my boat and swim (walk?)
the
>victim the rest of the way in.

Prior to a three-week paddle trip this summer with two friends, we all
practised various self- and group rescues together. My two companions are
experienced paddlers in their own right, and have a good sense of how a
kayak needs to balance. One of the methods we played with was the "victim
on the rear deck" rescue. Admittedly my boat was unladen and therefore
tippier than it would be while touring, but I was struck by just how
unstable the "victim" made my boat, even with their torso pressed to the
deck. And this was in calmish water. Of course, this may simply reflect my
limitations as a paddler.

The prospect of bringing someone in through surf this way does not fill me
with delight. I'd be concerned the additional weight at the back would
cause the boat to broach very easily. (Although I suppose their legs
dragging in the water might act as "sea anchors", reducing the broaching
effect.) While I'm comfortable side-surfing with a brace, my head is above
water much of the time. Anyone with their body pressed to the rear deck is
going to have their head underwater a lot of the time - perhaps the whole
way into the beach - in even moderate waves. Ugly enough if you were in
good shape to begin with - utterly brutal if you were in bad shape from
cold. Then too, once you do start to side-surf, you are committed until the
wave lets you go - you can't back off while your passenger takes a breath.
So that leaves paddling in with them on your rear deck, with the boat
facing out to sea. While I like playing in the surf, I find being surfed
backwards down the face of a wave is a very out-of-control, scary feeling.
And all that weight on the rear deck would make it far harder not to be
surfed backwards.

So, what I am left with? One possibility would be to inflate my Sea-Seat
(I'd use a paddle float if I didn't have this). Just outside the surf zone,
my passenger and I would get out of our boats, and swim far enough to one
side that we wouldn't mix it up with the kayaks in the surf zone. Then we'd
join arms across the floatation and try to ride through the surf as quickly
as possible. This idea assumes a few things: 
That the victim is still able to assist at least moderately in their own
rescue. 
That they are prepared to enter the water.
That the beach is big, rock-free and gradual enough that we and the boats
are likely to get in intact.
That I really would be noble enough to abandon, however temporarily, a
perfectly good boat.  

Great scenario, very thought-provoking, no easy and certain solution.

Cheers,
Philip T.


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