[Paddlewise] Realistic Recovery

From: PJ Rattenbury <ratten_at_uow.edu.au>
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 08:32:57 +1000
Alluding to the discussion by Shawn and others,  I would add my 0.02c worth
to the argument that you need to practice your rescue technique in REALISTIC
conditions.
My friend Dr Spock reminds me of the logic that  I am likely to need rescue
techniques when the weather and sea conditions are ROUGH, not swimming pool
smooth.
Fellow Klepper owner Peter Osman and I have practiced our rescue techniques,
including towing,  at sea, in admittedly only mildly rough conditions.
But oh, what a difference a wave makes!  Clambering back into a pitching and
rolling kayak,  even a Klepper,  is a whole different ball game.
I learned [ before I really needed it ] that after about five or six cowboy
recoveries [ the only practicable  technique for large cockpit boats like
Kleppers ]  I was beat.  And seasick.
So I know my limits.  This was in water which was mild [ probably 18 degrees
C ] , little wind, and a sea-state probably three.  A salutary lesson.
We had a friend standing by in a runabout as a backup.
Extending Dr Spock's logic, you don't have a bombproof roll until you can
roll in conditions which put you over in the first place.

Cheers, PeterR

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Received on Tue Jul 30 2002 - 15:33:15 PDT

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