Re: [Paddlewise] Reentry & Roll - What then??

From: Peter D Osman <rebyl_kayak_at_iprimus.com.au>
Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 21:50:46 +1100
G'Day,

Postscript - I sent my last reply before reading the latest Paddlewise
digest and seeing all the questions - not used to telephone modems yet!
Thanks for all the responses - here are the replies: -


Doug' wrote:
> A reliable Reentry and Rolls in real-world
> conditions is the sum of many parts. You
> can't break it down and say this or that is
> the most important part.  ................
> You can see the set-up I use at my
> Nordkapp page, along with some other photos:

		Doug, Thanks - I'll certainly check it out. I guess the learning of
techniques starts in pieces which become,   integrated with time - I sure
hope this applies to older paddlers like me!


Thomas Cromwell wrote:
> I hook the front of the spray skirt on without
> completely sealing the cockpit. It cuts the
> amount of water in the boat to a manageable level.

		Thomas, This sounds doable! Sounds good!


Colin Calder wrote:
> if you can roll a boat with water in it i.e.
> re-enter roll, then you can brace and paddle a boat
> with water in it.

		Colin, I paddle a small cockpit boat, with a handpump and an electric
pump, but as you suggest will try switching it on while submerged. Paddling
a cockpit full of water in rough conditions sounds like a highly worthwhile
exercise (with a friend nearby). I've capsized in conditions where there was
no easy route to safety and the chop was very severe for a novice. It wasn't
obvious to me that my ability to reenter and roll was consistent with an
ability to brace with a cockpit full of water in conditions a novice (me)
would consider rough (3 to 4 feet chop coming every which way and a 20 knot
wind). If I had been in a Klepper foldable these conditions would not have
concerned me a bit!


Jed wrote: -
> Peter, is this the same thing you were talking about?

		Jed, Yes my technique sounds the same as yours - but I'm going to work on
the bombproof roll you recommend. Occasionally have had to make three roll
attempts before getting up! HipFlick HipFlick HipFlick!


Patrick Maun wrote: -
> I'm confused here. Why exactly do you need to catch a breath
> from the cockpit? Can't you just breath normally before
> starting the reenter? Big waves, wind?
.....................
> Always check your paddle position before you get in the
> boat, I have had to roll too many times with an upside down,
> non-powerface etc paddle.

		Patrick, Just as you sometimes used to get into the boat with the paddle
backwards, sometimes I used to try to get in the boat facing forwards. The
breathing time allows me to check orientation, an expert probably wouldn't
do this. (By the way a local paddler stayed in this mode once to protect
himself from very severe hail.)


Ralph Diaz wrote: -
> In almost every case back then, the reentry/rollers kept
> the kayak totally cockpit down and somersaulted in and
> attached the spray skirt before finally coming up.

		Ralph, your description is my Eldorado and I can do everything except get
the spray skirt on. Haven't attempted this yet, but lots of hints from
Paddlewise. Once I can do this and pass my sea proficiency then I'll try it
on a Kepper Aerius, for fun! By comparison I've watched people reenter
hardshell boats on their side and it looks difficult and clumsy.

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Received on Thu Mar 08 2001 - 02:53:38 PST

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