During the Storm Island rescue last April, the three of us involved used a combination of flares and VHF radio to help rescue resources locate us in the confused surface of the sea and swell. I had smoke flares, but did not use them, as the 12 gauge aerial flares finally did the job. The fish boat skipper said that with the wind blowing such as it was, the smoke flares would have dissipated too quickly anyway. I also had a parachute flare, but did not know how I could shoot one of these big mothers off, while still maintaining balance and paddle purchase in the wild sea. Finally the other two guys, rafted up together (with me towing them into the tide and wind) were able to shoot the 12 gauge safety launcher (gun). In an article I did for Sea Kayaker a while ago, about a novice who bailed off near Trial Island (Victoria), a report was given on the novice's use of his teeth and one free hand to launch his small Skyblazer aerial flare. Questions: 1. In a churning, windy sea condition, dye markers and smoke flares (unless they are really big offshore units) might prove useless. Any comments? 2. Where maintaining stability in horrible conditions is paramount, but where a distress signal is required, what can a tippy paddler do? Are there one-hand launchable flares, or ones where you can hit the bottom of the flare on your deck to fire? 3. After seeing dramatic evidence of the ease with which rapid fire sucssesion can be maintain with a bandolier of 12 gauge cartridges close at hand, I'm surprised more kayakers don't use them [I mean carry them :)]. More than a few people went out and bought them after presentations of our slide show and/or rescue story retelling. Any comments from the peanut gallery on these 12 gauge gun launchers. I need some food for thought -- sorry, I don't have a "flare" for breakfast recipes so left the other thread alone! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Sep 06 1999 - 21:52:20 PDT
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