[Paddlewise] Another Rescue off Victoria

Details are sketchy, but I'll let you know what has surfaced.

On March 9th, 2000, our local TV station ran a quick story on its
supper-time edition. Basically, a man between the age of 45 and 55 was off
the Oak Bay waterfront, being brought in by boat, after spending some time
on a rock a mile or so offshore. He refused an interview, and the camera
only showed the back of him. He had longish hair. This information was
given to me today by a co-worker, who only just remembered I don't have
cablevision, meaning I don't get the news.

I followed up with Search and Rescue, who indicated to me the said kayaker
got into trouble shortly after 8:00 am that morning, and had contacted the
Canadian Coast Guard via his cell phone. A number of vessels were tasked in
the area, including a helicopter, however, either the Auxiliary CG Zodiac
(the one that picked me up off Trial Island a couple of years ago) or a
private vessel got to the distressed paddler in time to have the other
vessels/aircraft stand-down.

The paddler was treated at the scene by first aid personnel for mild
hypothermia and minor bruising from what apparently was a rough time on the
rocks. Conditions were breezy with an average tide running. No one knows if
he was returning from Chatham Island or if he was just out for an early
morning paddle from the watefront.

The area is well known as a hazard to small craft, with backeddies that
produce net ebbs and can cause apparent miscalculations when it comes to
timing crossings. The chart for the area has numerous "rip" symbols all
around the area.

As the individual kayaker wishes to remain anonymous, I will not pursue the
story anymore. Perhaps someone from Paddlewise that lives in the area has
some further details or more precise details, as I had to "pull teeth" to
get any info from my sources. 

We had a similar incident just like this one a few years ago. I'll dig up
the details and post that one for comparison, as there may be a bit of
interest on the list according to my earlier indication for support from
some of you.

The Bottom Line?

Don't paddle solo if you can't prevent a capsize or effectively reenter
your vessel for the chosen conditions or conditions forecasted. 

Do carry communication equipment so that if you fail to follow the above
advice, you can summon outside assistance in a manner that allows a degree
of efficient, directive communication.

Cold water is cold water. The paddler wasn't out there too long, yet was
getting cold very quickly, sitting on the rocks. Dress for cold immersion
and exposure - its still winter here, anyway.

Learn some moving-water skills if that is the environment you are going to
go paddling in, or if there is a possibility of encountering such
conditions. Crossing eddylines is a given for the area where this incident
occured. Expect close-shore backeddies around small islands, which can be
used to advantage at times, but offshore rips will demand vigilence and a
strong paddle stroke to overcome if slack-tide is misscalculated. Expect
sudden breaking waves in an area where the chart shows numerous submerged
rocks/reefs - usually designated by a little "s" (which also dot the area
in qustion).

Learn to reenter your kayak from a variety of positions/places. Canoes are
sooooo easy to get into off just about anything reasonably solid. Kayaks
take a little more work and practice, especially with a little wave action.

PS This is just a "fast-post", not meant to be too detailed. This is just
e-mail, okay?

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd
 
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