[Paddlewise] The Dumbest Thing I Ever Did (Paddling)

Hi folks --

Further on the PFD discussion, here in South Florida both the air and
water are warm, at least to me. And I am pretty heat and sun intolerant. I
paddle a self-bailing (with scupper holes) Prism SOT which lets me pour
water over myself frequently (wear a long-sleeved cotton shirt and long
pants), or I couldn't manage a lot of the time. I paddle in
non-threatening water, ordinarily with others though I like paddling
alone. And no, I don't ordinarily wear a PFD but have it bungeed over the
front hatch unless I foresee there could be a problem, in which case it is
either on, or over the back hatch where I can get to it. I've practiced
re-entries and it's easier to get back on the boat without a PFD on. I
feel that the comfort of not wearing the PFD under these circumstances
outbalances the risks, though of course they are not zero.

However --here's my Dumbest Thing (what's yours?):

One day last May I was coming down the Gulf coast after paddling some
rivers with a friend, and decided to check out Caladesi Island, which is
one of the barrier islands north of Clearwater and Tampa. It is accessed
via Honeymoon Island, directly north of it across a narrow inlet called
Hurricane Pass. The map I was looking at indicated that Caladesi was no
more than 2-2 1/2 miles long, and I had read that the inland side was good
for birding, etc. I planned just to drive to Honeymoon Island, put in at
the beach on the south west Gulf side, paddle south across Hurricane Pass
and continue along Caladesi, then cut inside, look at the birds, and come
up on the inside back to the put-in. Should have been a short trip. 

It was windy, and there was some surf, and I should have at least put my
PFD behind me. But that wasn't my biggest mistake of the day. Also, I
trusted the map I had looked at. And that wasn't my biggest mistake of the
day, either.

When I got across the pass and proceeded south, there was quite a nice
surf, and the wind was at my back pushing the surf about SW. A lovely
ride, although more sea than I had been used to in So. Fla. in my Prism.
(I've been in heavier seas in Scotland, but in a real boat.) I decided to
rig up a paddle leash just in case. I kept going, looking for the south
end of Caladesi. That island must be longer than the map shows, I thought.
But it's a fine ride! And I'll be sheltered on the way back so the wind
and waves both against me won't be a problem....

Well, the end of Caladesi apparently doesn't exist, at least at that state
of the tide. I ended up at the south end of Clearwater Beach, some 6-7
miles from the put-in according to the lifeguard, who immediately ordered
me back into the water, as you're not allowed to have a boat on a swimming
beach. Can I return by going under that causeway just south and paddling
up north on the inside? He was pretty sure I couldn't get through.
(......oh......shit......)

And THERE, folks, was where I made my biggest mistake. I didn't put the
PFD on before heading back.

It was a fight, but I consoled myself by the thought that it was no more
than I deserved for not looking at a real chart first. And anyway, I
needed to build up my arm strength. I was tired as I got closer to the
inlet. Stopped on the beach at Caladesi to pee, relaunched into the surf,
and approached Hurricane Pass. What I saw may have changed my rosy
complexion: my trip had taken so much longer than anticipated that the
tide had changed, and was now going out that narrow (maybe a quarter mile)
inlet, against the wind. There was a row of BIG LONG breakers stretching
across the pass, parallel to my intended direction, of course.

There was no way I could go anywhere but out to the west, pretty much
perpendicular to the waves, without broaching and being flipped at once.
And it seemed I couldn't make any progress at all. Nor could I stop and
rest, of course. If I had had time to think, I would've been scared (and
no doubt would have wished I had donned the PFD), but I was way too busy
to do anything but keep the boat at the right angle and try to get to the
north gradually. Had I flipped, I'm sure there's no way I could have
gotten back onto the boat in that water; I would have had to wait until I
was washed well eastward. I would have put the PFD on after flipping, of
course -- if possible with those huge waves breaking over me, and if I
were lucky enough to stay with the boat.

Obviously I made it. I was so tired, though, that I had to ask a passerby
for help getting the Prism back onto the car (unlike Blanche, I try not to
depend on the kindness of strangers). And I was too wasted the next day
even to drive home. Later, telling the tale to some sailor/kayaker
friends, eyes rolled when I said I'd never known what wind and tide going
in opposite directions can do. Its something I'll never forget now.

I hope I'll also remember a few other things....

Slainte! e

Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu


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