Re: [Paddlewise] paddlefloat/outrigger rescue

>    From: Peter Treby <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au>
>    >>Around here, paddle floats are viewed as being a joke not
>    worth having. Despite that, I have made a couple, and carry them to
help
>    fill up the cockpit volume beside my legs. I wonder if anyone on the
list
>    has successfully used a paddle float / outrigger rescue after an
unexpected
>   capsize in rough conditions. Real life experience in "combat" conditions
is worth a lot of theory


I was in somewhat of a combat situation and performed a successful paddle
float reentry.  The conditions,  one half mile from a shipping lane (with
four deep draft vessels in view) eight miles out of the mouth of the
Mississippi River in the Gulf, over three knot currents pushing me toward
the shipping channel, 30 plus knot winds,  10 foot seas,  about the top
three feet were breaking on the  10 foot waves.  I had a electric bilge
pump.  Reentered on the first attempt, after the bilge pump pumped most of
the water out of the boat.  Not enough time to explain how I put myself in
that situation, way to long of a story, sorry.
 I had practice the paddle float reentry many many times in rough conditions
(with a electric bilge pump) before this occurrence.  I won't  say it would
be impossible to do a paddle float reentry without a electric bilge pump in
real serious conditions.  But that is for someone else to prove.
I am not looking to impress someone by not having a paddle float.   I'd
rather impress myself by having one.   On all paddling trips I have the
paddle float on my rear deck.
  Sure you can stand in your boat.  Sure you can use
the paddle without a paddlefloat held by hand in the outrigger position
climbing back into the cockpit.
You don't have to be a ACA or BCU instructor to accomplish those tasks.
It's all about practice, practice, practice.  After you practice, practice
practice and have it down, than if you don't try it for a long period you
have to practice, practice, practice all over again.  Just a little
reflection on my personal experience when I let things go to long without
training.
If someone out there decides to really get brave and try other tasks while
standing in the boat remember, don't pee into the wind!

Arthur



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