Re: [Paddlewise] Cowboy Scramble Rescue

Paddlewisers,

Last February, I had to do the only rough water reentry that was not for
practice that I have done. At the end of a 10 mile paddle, we were seeing
swells of 6-8 foot plus 2 foot breaking wind waves coming from a different
direction. The winds were 25-30 knots. All of a sudden, I felt my boat
stating to broach from one of the large swells coming from my starboard rear
quarter. I quickly leaned into it and started a rear rudder stroke to
straighten the boat out. Just as this happened, I was hit by a breaking wind
wave from the port rear quarter. Before I could even shift my paddle to the
other side and brace, I was upside down and out of air.

Another paddlewiser who is an extremely good paddler and one who has
practiced re-entries and rescues with me a lot, came over to start a T
rescue. We got my boat emptied, and then found it was extremely difficult
for me to get onto my back deck. There was a lot of glass against glass and
things weren't working. We then took my paddlefloat and I used that as an
assist to get onto my deck and back in the boat.

Although my partner and I not only practice together frequently, we also
help others--but rough water (when you need these skills) is a totally
different story.

I don't know of anyone who could have done a cowboy scramble in these
conditions. By the time I got my skirt on, my boat had 2 inches of water in
the bilge and it was feeling really shaky. Normally, I would have pumped
with my skirt on, but since I was only about 1/2 mile from the harbor
breakwater, I opted to just paddle there and then rest.

Trying a for real rescue in these conditions was a real eye opener.

Steve Holtzman


----- Original Message -----
From: "Shawn Baker" <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>

> I would say it's only as unreliable as your level of practice in the
> rescue.  It is, however, impeded by short cockpits, tall back decks,
> tight hip pads, stiff hips, or really sloshy water.  I've done it in 2'
> waves and winds to Force 5 or 6 with no problem.



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