[Paddlewise] Wierd Shoals or Beating Dumpy

Yesterday, five of us set off on a harbor to harbor paddle and return from
Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, CA to Ventura Harbor in Ventura, CA. As we
exited the Channel Islands Harbor, we went through an area of shoals that we
frequently like to play in. Yesterday, the water conditions were completely
different than anything I have everseen.

 

Fellow Paddlewiser Patrick Martin was several yards behind me in one of his
Valley Boats. I don't remember if it was his Pintail or Avocet. Anyway, out
of nowhere, a breaking wave hit both of us on our left side. I immediately
braced into it and was soon side surfing (as was Patrick). Out of the corner
of my eye, I caught a glimpse of something on my right and found there was a
breaking wave coming at me from that side too. Now my dilemma was "which
side do I brace and edge towards?" Somehow, I managed to switch sides just
as the other wave hit me.

 

A big "whoo hoo" and a couple of paddle strokes and I was out of it. Patrick
and I were both laughing and we both thought we heard Dumpy saying, "wait
'til next time."

 

Has anybody else ever been in ocean conditions where waves were breaking on
you from two directions at once?

 

Steve Holtzman
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