[Paddlewise] 2006, A year in review

Another great read. Keep this up and you'll get more than your pictures in
SKM.

And, oddly enough, I actually *did* discover a body off the California
coast; but it was farther north than where you are. Two guys left Pillar
Point in a skiff just before some big swells started coming in. A Newport
Beach friend in a 50-ft Alaskan Trawler found the swamped skiff and one body
in the water and pulled the body aboard and took it to Pillar Pt. He told me
about it (in my 32-foot cutter) on VHF. So, somewhere between the Golden
Gate and Monterrey Bay where - just in case anyone wonders - the VHF service
to the USCG here was nonexistant in 1981 - there was a swamped skiff on the
12-fathom curve. We found the skiff (with the second guy inside it althought
we didn't find that out til later) and had to sail 10 miles south to report
it and then sail 10 miles back to stand by it until someone could get to it
and tow it back to Pillar Pt.

You would be amazed at how difficult it is to find a swamped skiff with just
the bow sticking up out of the water before the days of GPS. Twice.

Maybe if the body had been wearing that cool helmet it would have been
easier.

There are some lessons in this (besides the helmet):

1. A depth sounder is a handy navigational tool;

2. Don't leave port in a 14-foot skiff without checking the weather;

3. Actually wearing your PFD helps... but the water temp will get ya.


Craig Jungers
Royal City, WA


On 12/25/06, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote:
>
> I know Santa just left and there's still a week to go in the year, but
> I've
> already created a page to recap my kayaking year. For me, it's been a
> great
> one. I've thrown in a few pictures to break up the monotony for those who
> will brave reading about my exploits for the year.
>
> I also have a page on my website of pictures of some of the people I've
> paddled with this year in the O.C. (that's the World Famous Orange
> County!)
>
> Thanks to all the on the water and online folks who have made this a great
> year.
>
>
> http://www.sandmarks.net/YearReview.html
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************