[Paddlewise] Sun, wind, waves, and a jellyfish in my lap...

Just another day in paradise. With a slimy, potentially dangerous twist.

I've been seeing lots of Lion's Mane jellyfish in my local waters this
year. Many more, it seems, than in the past few years. They're everywhere.
Usually, I see more Moon jellyfish than Lion's Mane. This does make me a
little nervous when I'm practicing rolls, and especially when I practice
the slower self rescues that require longer "exposed" time in the water.
During summer, I usually wear my "shorty" wetsuit, so my legs, from just
above my knees down, are exposed. Lion's Mane are one of the very few
truly dangerous invertebrates we have here. I know they can get much
larger, but the ones I'm seeing are quite large enough, thank you very
much.

Today was one of those glorious early summer days, with sunshine, a fresh
afternoon breeze, and dancing waters. Of course, I was where I should be
on days like this (and on any other type of day, for that matter) - on the
water.

There's a shoal (about two miles long, almost a mile wide) off the tip of
Damon Point that, when conditions are right, provides a perfect place to
play/practice in "bouncy, chaotic" conditions. It can be like "open water
clapotis" given just the right combination of conflicting currents, wind
waves, swell, etc. Surfing wind waves here is lots of fun as well, as I
can catch ride after ride for almost a mile before I need to turn around
and go back for another run.

The wind waves over the shoal were pretty steep today - about 4+ feet and
breaking. Today was more of a "clapotis" day than a straight wind wave
type of day. I enjoy paddling through these conditions in all possible
directions, giving myself the chance to practice with wind, waves,
current, swell, etc. coming at me from every quarter. Today, lots of waves
crashing over my deck. On warm days like today, all the splashing is very
refreshing.

One wave deposited a visitor on my sprayskirt. A large and slimy visitor.
A dangerous one too - Lion's Mane! eek! This one was relatively small, as
it's bell was only about the width of my cockpit (completely covered my
sprayskirt), and it's long tentacles trailed off into the water. For a
split second, I considered rolling to get it off my "lap", but in the
second half of that second, I had a vision of this thing attaching itself
to my face while underwater, so instead, I scooped it off the skirt with
my paddle blade. Though I was afraid of it, I hope I didn't hurt it as I
scooped it off.

Not knowing to what extent it may have deposited "little stinging
thingies" on my sprayskirt during it's visit, I avoided touching the
neoprene of the skirt, and the front of my PFD. I let several more waves
wash over me during the afternoon, then rinsed the skirt and PFD very well
when I got home.

Questions: With the very large population of Lion's Mane in the the water
this year, should I be nervous about all my rolling and self-rescue
practicing? Are these things known for any sort of "aggressive" behavior?
Should I at least be wearing my full length wetsuit during long, "in the
water" practice sessions? Can a potent jellyfish like Lion's Mane sting
through 3mm neoprene?

Melissa
-- 
PGP public keys:
mailto:pgp_keys_at_gmx.co.uk?subject=PGP_Keys_1&Body=Please%20send%20keys

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************