[Paddlewise] Trip Report: Taking on Mission Bay Pass [long]

Went to San Diego last week on business.  While there I managed to get on
the water twice -- Tuesday and Saturday.  Rented a kayak and gear from
Southwest Sea Kayaks on Mission Bay in San Diego.  Met Ed Gillet up close
and personal.  Ed soloed to Hawaii from Monterey in a Tofino double -- about
2,200 miles, give or take a few!  [Check out www.swkayak.com -- under the
"Tales & Tips" header.]  Cool guy -- quiet, unassuming, rugged-looking
ocean-goer type.

On Tuesday, I rented a Necky Looksha and set out for the Pacific in
65-degree weather.  Shrouded in sunlight and pushed along by 10-15 knot
northwesterly winds, I played a while in Mission Bay and then went out
through the pass.  About halfway out I encountered some awesome 8-10' swells
and a wall of fog that surreptitiously moved into the bay area.  [Not
unusual for the neighborhood from what I am told, but still a tad
nervewracking.]  A bit choppy and confused at the opening with some hefty
wave-crashing on the rocks.  Paddled out through it due west for about a
half mile in big swells, challenging wind-driven chop and that eerie
fog-laden mist.  "Swam" with the bearded seals that were just about
everywhere, headed south about a mile past the Ocean Beach Pier and then
back through the pass.  Paddled for another hour or so and then called it a
day.  A challenging sojourn once out in the Pacific -- some of the biggest
swells I've encountered since Hurricane Danny in the Gulf, but nothing too
outrageous.  Felt a bit uneasy being out there alone in 58-degree water and
fog -- but just couldn't turn back!!!

And then came Saturday's paddle ...

Went back to Ed's at about noon with a gent who said he had done some
kayaking in the past and was ready get it on!  I jumped into a Looksha Sport
with rudder [which I never used] and 22'-inch beam, and "Mo" in a 24-inch
Necky Narpa.  Another beautiful day weatherwise -- NNW winds at about 10, 64
degrees, and sunny with a bit of haze.  It became readily obvious Mo was a
bit rusty, so we paddled in the bay for an hour or so and then headed for
the pass.  I went over step-by-step what I would do in case he were to
capsize.

Once in the pass, it was the same as Tuesday.  About a 3/4-mile paddle out
to the ocean and nothing but smooth 8-10' swells rolling into the bay.  As
we approached the mouth of the pass we were about 20 minutes away from high
tide.  The challenge now was some wave-crashing on the rocks and heavy duty
chop.  Mo was holding his own -- though I was persistent all the way out
asking him if he wanted to turn back.  No way, he said.  Just too much
adrenaline flowing by now.  Still, I stayed close.  And then ...

The BIG ones, pushed by the onset of high tide and the winds, began to roll
in from the open ocean.  It was by far the biggest set of waves I have EVER
seen.  That's right -- WAVES and EVER.  No more swells -- just huge waves
making their way into the pass.  I guessed then the faces were 15-20 feet
high.  It was truly incredible -- and quickly became the most challenging
moment I have ever taken on -- touring or whitewater.  The first wave swept
in and the ride up that face was beyond description -- the ride down even
more so.  Thank God it wasn't breaking at that point in time!!!  Reflecting
water off the rocks and the push of a second monster wave put us in an easy
Class 4/5 situation.

I kept my eye on Mo continuously, and miraculously he was still upright!
Regardless, I knew then we had to get the hell out of there -- for his sake!
We rode the set's second wave -- all the way up and all the way down.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!  Etched indelibly on my paddling memory.  While in the
trough I hollered at Mo to start his turn and head back immediately.  I made
a 180 without delay, but Mo was too nervous as the third wave approached and
he decided to ride it through before trying to make his turn.  This one was
the BIGGEST of all.  I caught a glimpse of it with a quick turn and could
not believe my eyes.  For the first time even I was nervous!  I didn't like
having my back to it, that's for damned sure.  In a few seconds I was on its
crest, no longer grinning from ear to ear and bracing big time.  It was then
I heard Mo utter a muffled scream.  I turned and saw his boat upside down --
but he was popping out from under it.  I 180'd again and hollered at him to
relax and remember what we had talked about.  He swam to his bow and pushed
his boat over to me.  I considered emptying his boat at that point, but
along came the fourth wave of this truly amazing set.  And up we climbed!
To stay upright I had to let go of his boat and battle the wave's after
effects.

After that one passed, I went for Mo's boat a second time and suddenly, from
behind, came the Mission Bay Harbor Police.  Believe it or not they asked us
if we wanted help, which I thought was pretty damned cool.  Of course,
without hesitation I asked that they pluck Mo out and take him into safer
waters.  He was on board and safe within seconds, and heading back into the
bay.  One helluva relief, I dare say, though I really wanted to find out if
I could successfully do a T-rescue in that kind of water.  Anyhow, I stayed
out there and played in the last two waves of that set and then headed back
to sanity's fortress.  I later talked to the harbor cops and they said it
was the wave set of the day at 12-15' -- hitting just before high tide.
They also said the set took out a number of other smaller boats in the same
vicinity.


Jim Tynan
Pike Road AL

BTW -- Wanted to thank fellow PaddleWisers Alexa Shuman, Duane Strosaker and
Mark Hunter for all the advance San Diego-area paddling info they provided
me.  Getting out on the water was so much easier ...


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