[Paddlewise] Spot Lesson-From the home front

Kayakers,

Three friends of mine postponed an Anacapa Island crossing trip last weekend due to bad weather. Due to bad weather forecasts, it sounded like they were going to postpone again this weekend.

At about 11:30 a.m. today I checked my email and read a Spot report, indicating all is well in the middle of the 11 NM channel. I check the time of the Spot report, and it's at around 8:30 a.m. I thought to myself that the channel only takes 3-4 hours to cross, so why don't I have another sport report for them arriving at the island. They should've arrived at least an hour ago. 

I check the weather forecast and become shocked they didn't postpone the trip again. The weather forecast as of 8:42 a.m. was 15-20 knot winds, with frequent gusts to 25 in the afternoon, 3 foot wind waves and a 3-5 swell.

Then I check a buoy report, which shows 15 knot winds at 8:50, 17 and gusting 21 at 9:50, and 19 and gusting 21 at 10:50. Those are miserable crossing conditions where things can easily go wrong.

I have two of the guys' cell phone numbers, call them, and leave messages. Some cell phones work at the island, some don't.

So what do I do? Knowing the predicament they could be in and being their friend, I feel a certain responsibility to check on them.

I called the National Park Service dispatcher, who tells me they don't have anyone at the island to see if they arrived.

Then I call the club President, Steve Holtzman. We agree that considering the group has at least two VHF radios and two Spots, it's too early to call the Coast Guard. Steve called Paula Chavez, who used to work for the ferry service, Island Packers, and recommends he call them. Steve called Island Packers, and they were going to have a boat arrive at the island soon, would check for the kayakers, and call back. Not long afterwards, Steve calls me back saying that Island Packers told him they saw the kayakers on the pier at the island.

At the same time, I'm relieved and angry.

Finally at 1:12 p.m. I get another Spot report saying all is well from the island.

So the lesson to all of you Spot users is if you are going to Spot, you better do it consistently and knowing that the people on your Spot list may be keeping an eye out for you, which is the whole idea behind the Spot in the first place.

Duane Strosaker
www.rollordrown.com
Southern California
Considering whether to be on Spot lists!
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