Re: [Paddlewise] Stuck in cockpit

Niels,

I would try the "Hand Of God Rescue". Reach over the overturned kayak and
grab any part of the capsized person that you can (preferably, the PFD).
Pull up while at the same time pushing down on the near side of the boat.
You can read and see more of these techniques in two great resources that
should be in the library of all kayakers.

1. "Sea Kayak Rescue, The Definitive Guide to Modern Reentry and Recovery
Techniques" by Roger Schumann & Jan Shriner.

2. Wayne Horodowich's new video "Capsize Recoveries & Rescue Procedures".
www.useakayak.org

I am not associated with any of these products, although I am acquainted
with Wayne Horodowich. Usual disclaimers apply. I firmly believe that these
2 resources are excellent and I own and use them both.

I would also make certain that you instruct novice users on how to get a
sprayskirt off when the grab loop is not accessible. We had this happen to
an experienced kayaker during a  club rescue workshop. He was using a
borrowed boat that was too small, had not adjusted the footpegs, and at the
same time managed to get his grab loop under the skirt. Although I wasn't
there, I understand, he was literally trapped in the boat until someone was
able to assist him up.

As a result of this, we are trying to have at least one rescue workshop
every month.

Steve Holtzman
----- Original Message -----
From: Blaauw, Niels
To: paddlewise (E-mail)
Sent: September 17, 2001 5:31 AM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Stuck in cockpit


Last wednesday I was instructing a group of novices. They were in kayaks for
the third time. All of them had capsised in the first lesson, and shown that
they were able to remove their sprayskirts and get out of the boat. During
that exercise an instructor was standing in the water next to the kayak, to
help if the novice did not manage to get out. All got out without problems.

Last wednesday a guy capsised in deep water and panicked. I saw him
struggling to get his head above the surface, without releasing his
sprayskirt.

Luckily he was on my side of his kayak. If brought my bow close to him, and
he managed to grab my bow. After that I told him to relax and breath, and
then to take his time to get out of his boat.

If he had tried to get to the surface on the other side, I would have had to
paddle around, loosing precious seconds. I he was too panicked to grab my
bow, I don't know what else I could have done.

Does anybody have experience with rescues in that situation? Any
standard-rescues available?

Niels Blaauw.

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