[Paddlewise] Weekend Capsizes - The Good, Bad, and Ugly

The weather got a bit wild around the shores of Vancouver Island this
past weekend -- nothing too severe, but with more people out on the
water with the advent of Spring, and given windy conditions can come up
suddenly this time of year, there is always a potential for problems.
The water around the shores of VI are still very cold.

The Good
Things started innocently enough late last week. Westerlies funneled
down Juan De Fuca Strait. A new kayak and canoe store that just opened
up here in Victoria, was running beach demos out at a local lake. The
lake was experiencing on-shore winds, so ostensibly, all was safe.
However, from what I understand from a friend who was trying out some of
the new Formula kayaks available off the beach, a lone paddler headed
offshore solo to demo a bit, promptly capsized, and was at a loss as to
what to do. My friend(s) did some impromptu instruction, and taught the
hapless fellow how to partake in an assisted rescue. The paddler in
question had some experience supposedly, but certainly did not exhibit
any skills. The situation was fairly benign, but I do feel there should
have been a "rescue" paddler in place, in the first place. Ocean River
Sports ran a beach-demo-slash-paddlefeast the other day as well, and as
usual, provided water support via Zodiac. At a minimum, they usually
have a couple of paddlers going to-and-fro, sans flags on poles on
decks, directing paddlers from venturing too far and providing back-up.

The Bad
Sunday served up a nice Sou'Easter, with lots of rain and wind. I had
thought about going out after church, but the forecast was for
increasing winds later in the afternoon. With a bad back, I didn't want
to get caught by any early arrival of the predicted wind and
accompanying chop, which happens frequently enough if you spend much
time paddling this coast (i.e.., wind comes up earlier than predicted,
and often stronger). Instead I took the family out to lunch where a
paddler I hadn't met yet,  is the manager. I got to met him. He is
younger than I, paddles mostly solo in his Cirrus, in big winds and
tides off Trial Island, and "everyone" in town said the two of us should
get together. It was a great contact, and we both looked out the window
and agreed it would be challenging paddling that day. But I digress
(sorry, the prospect is exciting).

Three groups of paddlers were on the water that Sunday that I am aware
of, off Oak Bay where the SE winds impinge the worst. The first group
were members of our local club who venture out every Sunday. Older
folks, but keen in heart like you wouldn't believe. They had originally
intended to paddle over to Discovery Island, but with tides running and
a 16 knot breeze, discretion won out, and paddling was restricted
nearshore. They paddled into a protected bay for a break. Suddenly, the
wind picked up rather fiercely. The one member I spoke to said he poked
out of the bay to suss things out, but was blown back in. He added the
change in wind velocity was dramatic. Paddling back, the group decided
to ditch the kayaks and make the trek on foot, back to vehicles parked
some distance away. As they paddled toward shore, a group came screaming
in from around the corner, with some paddlers in tow. It was a class
from Ocean River Sports, who had experienced two capsizes in the sudden
wind, by two of the students. From what I understand, this was a
beginners class - an introduction to kayaking. The two leaders (both
Paddlewisers, I believe) had the situation thoroughly under control,
according to my friend. They too, had to walk back to vehicles from my
understanding of the incident. I also found out today that ORS had
another group out that day in the same area, and there was one or more
capsizes as well I think. This is all open to revision and correction as
details come together or someone cares to release some details, so don't
quote me on any of this stuff - it is all second hand. What I do find
intriguing is the fact that, from my perspective, what better way to
introduce new paddlers to the realities of west coast paddling!

The Ugly
As usual, after Sunday's gale, winds swung wildly to the west all day
Monday. This is my favorite paddling - lots of wind, clearing skies,
lots of daylight hours in June as we approach the solstice. I declined
paddling again, after work, as my back is finally responding to
double-doses of anti-inflamatories and _cessation_ of chiropractic care.
Winds remained steady throughout the evening. Off  Saltspring Island, a
German gentleman of about 60, went out for a paddle - perhaps around
dinner time. He was paddling along a channel, near the western end of
Russel Island. Wind was only at about 20 knots, as there is a measure of
protection in the channel, though waves were running about one meter (3+
feet). At about 7:00 pm, someone in a shoreline home noticed a kayak
floating by offshore, with what appeared to be a man clinging to one
end, bobbing up and down in the waves. Media reports on Tuesday morning
simply indicated a male kayaker capsized off Saltspring Island on the
previous Monday evening, and was rescued by the Coast Guard Auxiliary,
whereupon he was taken to hospital with mild to moderate hypothermia.

I phoned Rescue Coordination this morning, who said they would have the
auxiliary member from the rescue craft phone me back, at their
discretion. In the mean time, I phoned some of the Salt Spring Island
kayak rental outfitters. One of my contacts indicated that the fellow
was a known local who had been queried a number of times by concerned
kayakers over the last two months since he moved to the island. He
refused lessons, and felt he was in control and adequately prepared for
his small paddle outings. He had mentioned previously that difficulties
of a similar nature occurred on Okanagan Lake prior to moving to the
island. The owner of this kayak tour business said he could not confirm
that the incident involved the same person, but seeing as how there was
a 20 foot long brownish, poorly made kayak fitting the description of
the imprudent paddlers', locked up against the ferry terminal tower,
apparently impounded, that there was a good chance it was the same man
-- especially given that the kayak just showed up within a day.

The Mill Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary member called me back later. He was
first on the scene. The CG Aux. were on a joint training maneuver on
Monday evening. A call came in for Fulford Harbour area. The Sidney Aux.
was further away, the the Mill Bay Zodiac rushed to the scene, getting
there fast. It was a pounding at 40 knots crossing over from Pender
Island but time was critical, given the poor conditions. The CG Aux.
member I spoke with was able to pull the man aboard, but it was
difficult getting him to release his death grip on his paddle and stern.
The Sidney unit retrieved the "rust" colored kayak. The paddler was
incoherent, unable to relay any information about time in the water, nor
what transpired. He was barely able to give his name, "Clause" (sp). He
was in severe hypothermia, and had gone past the shivering stage. It was
felt that the best option was to get him to Swartz bay on Vancouver
Island, as hospitalization at an acute care facility would be required.
Vigorous warming procedures were rendered. Once at the ferry terminal,
the ambulance took some time to arrive. The paddler went back into the
shivering stage mid trip back across the water. By the time he got to
hospital, he was in moderate hypothermia, which explains the media
report. Time of initial report 7:00 pm approx. Time of search
commencement 7:15. Time of retrieval 7:20. Time of ambulance pick-up
7:45. The CG Aux. member felt very strongly that the paddler was 5
minutes away from death. Very nice work guys. Local residents apparently
tried to get out to initially help the kayaker in distress, but were
blown back to shore in their row boat.

The paddler was wearing a PDF, shirt, corduroy pants, no foot wear,
neoprene gussets around his ankles (CG had no idea what these were for),
no hat, no skirt, no flares, no spare paddle, no self rescue apparatus,
no communication, etc. It is not known what items may have been lost
during the man's struggle to hold on to the stern of his kayak, but I
suspect he had little in the way of gear. The man has no recollection of
most of the incident prior to rescue. The paddler was admitted to
hospital post haste. I have not checked out the story from any other
sources. How we can get the safety message to these types of paddlers, I
don't know. Rescue Coordination Center personal sure wanted to know when
I spoke with them.

Well, that's what kind of weekend it was around here. I'm playing it
cool, but missing all the action, though my phone bill is registering a
lot of action -- hope you wise-guys n' gals appreciate the effort. I
gotta go to bed.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who says be safe, keep it real, think slow before you have
to think fast, and...stay tuned)



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