Hi Ralph et al, Thanks for your comments re our rescue day. And BTW thanks for posting the Boatshed web address on P/W. You may recall my Klepper 'career' began at the Boatshed some years ago! Just a couple of comments which may be of interest to Klepper people. I use the original tuckunder spraycover which is excellent, except for the annoying habit of collecting seawater/rainwater in a puddle. I fashioned a 'stiffener' of thin laminate which I jam up between the cover and the cockpit coaming. This solved the puddle problem and gave me a nice picnic/chart table! I should note that I don't use a sprayskirt unless I am in big seas or heavy rain. BUT, taking the flex out of the cover immediately reduces one of its great safety advantages [ the flex ] and this only became obvious when we practised in rough water. Just that little bit of rigidity made a difference in scrambling back into the cockpit. Again, this reinforces what other posters have commented upon and that is the necessity to practise self rescue in REALISTIC conditions. I was the seasick one on the practice day, and I can only repeat what PeterO mentioned, and that is how quickly one is debilitated when this happens. The weekend after this event four of us went out to sea for the day and one man [ experienced] became seasick. Again, he went 'down' very quickly. This is not nice when it happens! As one who has 'been there' I believe the seasick one quickly needs someone alongside his boat, preferably nose to tail, so the 'rescuer' can visually assess the sick person's state. If possible get the seasick one paddling again. I think forward motion with eyes on the horizon [ if it is visible] can stabilise the condition. A tow can provide the sick one with a modicum of security while he/she recovers. A big factor in both these cases was that we were 'mucking about' in fairly rough conditions. We were flopping about in the chop experimenting with tow ropes, and other gear. On the most recent occasion it was my friend head down using his radio. Seems obvious when you look back on it, but it is similar to reading a book while travelling in a car. Some people can do this, others, like me cannot! Lessons learned. PeterR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
PJ Rattenbury wrote: > > Hi Ralph et al, > > Thanks for your comments re our rescue day. And BTW thanks for posting the > Boatshed web address on P/W. You may recall my Klepper 'career' began at > the Boatshed some years ago! I have a vague memory of it. I must be getting old!!! > I was the seasick one on the practice day, and I can only repeat what > PeterO mentioned, and that is how quickly one is debilitated when this > happens. The weekend after this event four of us went out to sea for the > day and one man [ experienced] became seasick. > Again, he went 'down' very quickly. This is not nice when it happens! As > one who has 'been there' I believe the seasick one quickly needs someone > alongside his boat, preferably nose to tail, so the 'rescuer' can visually > assess the sick person's state. If possible get the seasick one paddling > again. I think forward motion with eyes on the horizon [ if it is visible] > can stabilise the condition. I have only been sea sick once and really was nausea that started before I got into my boat. My tummy hadn't been too good earlier in the day when I had accompanied a swim race but I just put it out of my mind. Then, silly me, I had a greasy hotdog and limonade and that did me in. I decided to paddle back to the putin even though I could have left my boat where I was (the Boathouse). Boy was I ill!! I had a couple of other paddlers with me and warned them of my condition. Well, the water was very choppy with boat wakes hitting us on our portside. I just kept looking at the horizon for all I was worth and swallowing copious rolaids. Upon getting to the takeout, the small dock was bouncing with boat wakes. I barely crawled out in a most ungraceful exit. Looking back, I should have just taken a cab!!! ralph -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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