Niels >>Sorry if this sounds harsh,<< >As long as I have the last word. Niels.< Niels, There's a great spot here on the west coast of Vancouver Island at Port Renfrew, right at the Gordon River. Huge North Pacific swell sloshes up the bay, dumping violently on Gordon's Beach by the First Nation's camp site. A steady winter deluge (106 inches annually) of rain ensures a fast runoff out the mouth of the river, only meters away from the prime dumping grounds. While one normally should avoid landing and launching in severe dumping surf, the proactive paddler may want to acquire the ability to handle this surf phenomenon, adding it to their skill set. I've been able to utilize this area over the decades to that end. I've lost acquaintances in runabouts on the bar there, so it can be very dangerous, but the properly attired, helmeted, PFD wearing kayaker should be able to weather the awesome power of an area like this, as long as they don't get in over their head too soon during the skill development phase - pun intended. Overhead dumping waves, tricky currents from river discharge and alongshore currents add to the quintessential west coast ultimatum that stares you down once you decide to get your feet wet. A stout kayak is highly recommended, as well as proper bulkhead placement to minimize cockpit volumes. The solo paddler must also consider the consequences of any mistakes. Typical winter scenarios are evidenced with total isolation and aloneness on many a damp day when I play out there, but the concentration afforded is invaluable for honing surf skills. I also know of one folding kayak paddler who swims his kayak in. Along our wet, west coast, there are a number of steep, small pebbled beaches that are often the only place to land for miles for a given section, and always seem to have mild to moderate dumping surf. As far as launching, I'll use the river current a Gordon's Beach to get me out, though the bar often makes for an even worse situation -- especially if you come out of your kayak (breaking swell vs. current). I have tried swimming back in through dumping surf at this spot a few times. The key ingredients are an appropriately short bow line, easily deployed but securable when not needed, as well as a diameter of cordage that will not cut through your hands. Finesse IS important, but strong, stable shoulders and elbows kept close are of prime importance. I can usually clear the first wave (surf zone is usually short in a dumping zone) coming in, then capsize at the last second and let the wave pass over top taking the kayak into shore. I then run up the shoreline with rope in hand, just as the kayak is sucked back out. I have been stalled on my exit when the force and commotion has pinned me against the back deck, such that a full exit wasn't possible. I have been forcefully pulverized at odd, twisted positions, and it really hurts -- pulling and straining back muscles. These days, if I'm in doubt I'll hug the front deck, crash, then bail out. All in all, a very risky procedure, but one I'm glad to have become somewhat familiar with in case I ever need to land large dumping surf. As with most dumping surf situations, seeing the foreshore beyond the dumpers, while out at sea, is entirely frustrating. I know the Gordon Beach fairly well. A remote, unknown shoreline, in dumping surf of sufficient magnitude to throw up a further smoke screen of fine mist...well, these days I prefer to just read about it. Now, how can I get my hands on Chris Duff's new book? Doug Lloyd Victoria BC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said clearly should not be said at all." Ludwig Wittgenstein ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 07 2003 - 22:43:56 PDT
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