Doug, I am a big believer in the paddlefloat rentry and roll technique. It works in very rough water, its fast, and it doesn't require rodeo style gymnastics to get back into a bucking boat. It does take practice, but once learned anyone ---- with or without rolling experience --- can use it to get back in a boat. Just to be most clear about what I'm talking about, let me describe exactly what I mean by this technique. Frist, you swim next to your boat and attach a paddle float. Hold the paddle next to the boat, take a big breath, flip upside down and renter the boat. That upside down re-entry step is the one that takes practice. It can be a bit dis-orienting down there. Once in the boat, sweep the paddle out to 90 degrees and execute a hip snap. The hip snap can be real sloppy 'cause the paddlefloat provides so much bouancy. In other words, you don't need to know how to roll to make this work. I use this even though I can re-enter and roll without the float. Why? Well, the downside of any re-enter and roll method is once you are up, there's going to be lots of water in the cockpit. The paddle float at the end of the paddle gives you a great outrigger to stabilize things while you pump out your boat. If you haven't tried this technique, its worth experimemting with. Other paddlefloat rentry methods would be bitterly difficult in rough water. This one's a breeze. The only problem with it is that re-enter upsidedown trick, but that just takes practice. --Tim > -----Original Message----- > From: dlloyd_at_inetex.com [SMTP:dlloyd_at_inetex.com] > Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 1999 5:31 PM > To: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: > > My club is having a pool session here in Victoria this weekend. The last > one, we had a number of very large women who had difficulty doing self > rescue AND assisted rescues. Alas, they were told to definetly not solo > paddle, and on group trips, stay within swimming distance of shore. Does > anyone have any ideas. We tried the stirrup meathod, which gave the > mid-range weighted ladies a "leg-up", but I hate to see the heavier ladies > curtailed so much from paddling. This is a serious question, asked by the > ladies themselves, so please, no super silly remarks, just some > constructive > advice. PS We have one large fellow who HAS upper body strength, and still > is having difficulties. > > Doug Lloyd > Victoria BC > > ************************************************************************** > * > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > ************************************************************************** > * *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jan 27 1999 - 07:02:51 PST
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