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From: <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Losing contact with the boat
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:24:10 +0000
Nick wrote:
>If the conditions are severe enough that your roll is not
>enough, then chances are quite good that they are also
>severe enough that you may not be able to maintain
>contact with your boat. 

G'day Nick,

The times I've seen good rollers have to leave the boat are usually in the kind of conditions you've described, while landing through surf. I wasn't clear if thats what you mean't because if the conditions you described weren't in surf that could push a kayaker to land, swimming across rips of course, then the idea of unintentionally losing contact with the boat really bothers me. 

If judgement fails and a kayaker is likely to be caught in the conditions you describe in a location where they can't be blown or pushed to the shore by waves, then surely there's going to be some advance preparation possible to avoid losing contact with the boat. In such a situation this might be a personal tether, or at least the training to hang on to a paddle that is securely tethered to the boat.

BTW I'm not advocating using a tether while landing through surf, but suggesting that its an option at least as important as training for a long swim, when preparing to paddle alone off shore or with a risk of bad conditions off shore.

All the best, PeterO
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Losing contact with the boat
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:48:42 -0800
rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com wrote:
> Nick wrote:
>> If the conditions are severe enough that your roll is not
>> enough, then chances are quite good that they are also
>> severe enough that you may not be able to maintain
>> contact with your boat. 

> If judgment fails and a kayaker is likely to be caught in the 
> conditions you describe in a location where they can't be blown or 
> pushed to the shore by waves, then surely there's going to be some 
> advance preparation possible to avoid losing contact with the boat. In 
> such a situation this might be a personal tether, or at least the 
> training to hang on to a paddle that is securely tethered to the boat.
> 
> BTW I'm not advocating using a tether while landing through surf, but 
> suggesting that its an option at least as important as training for a 
> long swim, when preparing to paddle alone off shore or with a risk of 
> bad conditions off shore.

Peter, I suspect this is one of the devil's choices we face:

1. no tether and you may lose the boat
2. tether and the boat may beat you up [severe overfalls and tide rips can 
do this, not just surf]

Whichever choice you make, there is risk attendant.  Not only is this a wet 
sport, it is a sport with some inherent risk.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Nick Schade <nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Losing contact with the boat
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:41:02 -0500
I would be worried about entanglement with any tether. Again,  
assuming you are a reliable roller, the conditions that would lead  
your roll to be insufficient, further leading to a swim, are likely  
to be rather turbulent. Now you are attached to a water filled boat  
weighing several hundred pounds that is being thrown about in white  
water, while you are also being thrown around. I think chances are  
very good that you would end up with at least one wrap around your  
body. And of course there is the pummeling you may take from the boat  
itself.

The other scenario where good rollers exit the boat is while playing  
in rock gardens. There can be situations where overhead rocks make  
upright an untenable situation or where there just isn't the ability  
to navigate the boat out and the only recourse is to exit and swim  
out. Swimming in these conditions may be relatively safe depending on  
the size of the seas. It may make sense to swim out to a rescuer,  
then swim back in with a rope so the rescuer can pull the boat out  
from a safe distance. Or you just swim out and hope the boat gets  
puked out on its own.
Nick


On Nov 12, 2007, at 4:24 AM, rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com wrote:
>
> If judgement fails and a kayaker is likely to be caught in the  
> conditions you describe in a location where they can't be blown or  
> pushed to the shore by waves, then surely there's going to be some  
> advance preparation possible to avoid losing contact with the boat.  
> In such a situation this might be a personal tether, or at least  
> the training to hang on to a paddle that is securely tethered to  
> the boat.
Nick Schade

Guillemot Kayaks
824 Thompson St
Glastonbury, CT 06033
USA
Ph/Fx: (860) 659-8847
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/
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