[Paddlewise] Breezy day dumps kayaker

From: Mark Arnold <mjamja_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:44:06 -0600
> Gee, maybe it was the steady 25 mph wind, surely gusting in the
> 30s.  Air temperatures were upper 60s and into the 70s.

Glad you had such a nice paddle on such a day Natalie.  It was 25-30 mph
with gusts in the 40s down here. I was invited on a Corpus Christi bay
paddle but wound up just paddling a couple of laps inside the marina. About
the same time I was paddling, the fire department was rescuing a solo
kayaker who had come out of his kayak.  Luckily someone saw the empty kayak
and called for help.  News said he was in the water for about an hour. 
>From pictures it appeared that he did have a pfd but was only wearing rash
guard and water shorts. Luckily the bay had warmed up quite a bit in last
week or so (from 55 degf up to 65degf).  There was some conflicting info on
whether he was out in Corpus Christi Bay or in the very shallow and usually
calmer Oso Bay. Corpus Christi Bay in that area would have been a lee shore
with raised highway providing a nice protected wind shadow for about 20-30
yards out.   By the time you got out about 100 yards it looked pretty
nasty.  Those lee shores can be deceptive, dangerous traps.

Glad I stayed within my limits.
  
--- Mark Arnold
--- mjamja_at_earthlink.net





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Received on Mon Feb 24 2003 - 09:44:25 PST

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