Re: [Paddlewise] Ferry Crew Rescues Seattle Kayaker - Update

Some other thoughts on this. He went upwind in heavy seas to do his
paddle-float rescue. I've never tried one of these in high winds/seas but I
can see some negatives about going upwind not downwind and only two
positives.

First the positives:

1. Going upwind means your kayak will not drift onto you.

2. Breaking seas don't break in your face.

Negatives:

1. If you're upwind your body will move with the current while your kayak
(mostly empty) will be pushed by the wind. Better hold on tight.

2. Upwind means that the paddle float is extended into the area of steepest
water (wave face). This would increase the capsize moment requiring you to
keep more of your body weight upwind.

3. If the upwind paddle float gets too high it could be caught by the wind
to greatly increase capsize moment requiring even more weight on upwind side
of the kayak.

4. Wind force on your body tends to also increase capsize moment (away from
the stabilizing influence of the paddle float).

The way I see it going upwind to start your paddle float rescue makes it
much more likely that it will fail in a capsize downwind versus a paddle
float extended downwind. The good Doctor tried three times and failed. Each
time he successfully managed to get back aboard his kayak but was face down
with his feet in the cockpit facing aft. He capsized each time as he tried
to maneuver himself back into the cockpit. This appears to me to be a
foregone conclusion if you extend the paddle float upwind rather than
downwind.

I know there are lots more people here more experienced in paddle float
technique than I am. Any comments? Am I thinking through this wrong?


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
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