Re: [Paddlewise] successful (stirrup) re-entry

From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 09:11:35 +1200
>David Seng wrote:
>
>>  I assume that most people are aware of the technique but you can
>>  also get a piece of rope about 15' long and tie the ends to form
>>  a loop.  Lay the paddle across the deck and through the loop......

>A variation on this theme if you are rescueing another boat: Bring your boat 
>parallel to the righted victim's boat. Being careful not to get your hands 
>pinched, lower a paddle (preferably the rescuee's) between the boats,.....
>........
>Disadvantages: theroretical possilbility of breaking paddleshaft with a very 
>heavy victim (but you're both carrying spares, right?)

Now has anyone actually done this when it is blowing a gale and all the
waves are breaking and everything is trying to fall apart? Personally I
haven't and wouldn't even consider it - takes too long, too prone to fail
in those conditions and yes, I've done rescues in those conditions.

The rescuer should be leaning with all their upper body weight on the
fore-deck of the other kayak, arms locked under the decklines (there are
decklines?). The boats are now stable and locked together. It is possible
to unlock the rescuees-side arm, reach a hand out and grasp the back of the
other person's PFD and assist them in over the side of their kayak. 

Better, if you haven't got the strength to rescue yourself, you should have
your own loop to wrap round your cockpit rim and use as a stirrup - no
tying, no placing of paddles, complete simplicity. An alternative, a loop
with a carabiner and reach across and attach it to the far side deck line
just aft of the cockpit. NOTE - proper deck lines, not bungies.

As a guide with beginners, you carry the loop already to a suitable length.

A short length of rope, tied or hooked to a deckline, and a velco strap cut
off a pair of old Teva type sandles makes a good paddle park.

Alex
Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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Received on Mon Jul 05 1999 - 14:08:44 PDT

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