Re: [Paddlewise] paddle float self rescue

At 11:33 AM 11/21/01 -0500, Steve Cramer wrote:
>John Fereira wrote:
> >
> > A self rescue with a paddle float
> > followed by an assisted rescue might be quicker than both swimmers trying
> > to reenter at the same time.
> > How many of you practice "all in" rescues?
>
>Here's a quicker one. A and B both in. A lifts the bow of his boat while
>B sinks the stern (Don't let go of B's boat). Score so far: one dry
>boat, one full boat, two swimmers. B grabs the coaming of A's boat and A
>re-enters. Score so far: one re-entered paddler into a dry boat, one
>full boat, one swimmer. A does a T-rescue for B. Score: all in and dry.
>
>This can be done in about 3 minutes with a novice B.

That is something that is certainly worth practicing.  I would imagine that 
the most difficult step will be when "A" re-enters the boat.  Even though 
"B" is holding the cockpit of "A's" boat, "B" won't be able to stabilize 
"A's" boat (especially since B will only be holding the combing with one 
hand while the other hand is trying to hold onto their own boat).  What 
makes an assisted rescue so easy is that the rescuer can keep the victims 
boat quite stable for the reentry.  I assisted someone that had never been 
in a kayak before and had capsized 50' from the put-in this 
summer.  Obviously he had never tried any rescue techniques before so I 
attempted to talk him through it.  I got his boat emptied fairly quickly 
and had him onto his boat, facing the stern on his belly.  When I told him 
to turn over he actually stood up in the cockpit rather than just 
twisting.  Because I was able to keep his boat stable he was still able to 
get in successfully (albeit temporarily; he paddled 10' before he capsized 
again).  In Steve's scenario the "B" paddler can be a novice but the "A" 
paddler better have pretty good balance.

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