----- Original Message ----- From: Steven A. Holtzman To: ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au ; PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Sent: February 18, 2002 1:31 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] So Calif Whale Watch Paddle & Lessons Learned Peter, Foot pumps are an excellent idea. My pump was not stripped from my deck. I don't carry anything on my front deck except my chart case if I'm using a map. I keep my pump between my seat and the hull. It fits in there pretty tightly, but not tight enough as I found out. I am on my way to the store to buy more bungie cord to tether to the seat ;-) I usually tether my paddle to me when the wind is really strong, and I feel that there is a chance of losing the paddle. This capsize came out of the blue--remember, I've never had a deepwater capsize that wasn't something planned for practice. The group spread wasn't too bad. Again, these are all very experienced paddlers and everybody buddies up in groups of two and three. This has not been a problem in the past because when someone in front of you capsizes it's just a few strokes and you're there. The problem was that with only two of us as the sweep and 8 foot swells mixed with some whitecaps and breaking wind waves--when I went over my buddy immediately turned to start a rescue. The others could not see us because it was difficult to be looking backwards while still controlling your boat, and there were these 6-8 foot waves between us. My thinking now is that it is best to buddy up in groups of three rather than two. Peter Treby wrote: I have seen a few hand pumps washed off decks here. Surf will strip away anything loosely held under bungies. The lesson I take from that is to use a pump fitted to the boat.......... A hands free pump gets rid of another problem you mention, not wanting to stop paddling to pump. You paddle and pump. A tether from paddle to boat when there is wind helps. If you can hold on to either boat or paddle, you have the other...... ........Was there a problem here of group spread? I'm starting to think that small groups of say 6 maximum are best, and everyone should continually check on everyone else. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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