Re: [Paddlewise] How long would you wait - Summary of responses

On Mon, Jul 6, 2009 at 6:21 AM, rebyl_kayak <rebyl_kayak_at_energysustained.com
> wrote:

>
> The following summarises some ideas five of us had on coping with a paddler
> lost on a night paddle (see earlier email). I've tried to summarise the
> responses of the five Paddlewisers: Bob Carter, Paul Hayward, Craig Jungers
> and Doug' Lloyd. Thank you all for taking the time to give your thoughtful
> and
> knowledgeable inputs.


I think that does cover it pretty well. Bound to be things that come up in
the moment but it certainly gives one room for thought and planning. Night
paddles can be very difficult and open water night paddles need to be very
carefully planned.

There is, actually, a route out of San Francisco Bay that corresponds well
to Peter's scenario. It's a southerly paddle from the Golden Gate to Pillar
Point (the northernmost limit of Monterrey Bay). The last time I covered
this route was in a sailboat however the circumstances were bizarre.  Ended
up helping to recover a half-sunken outboard skiff from which one body had
already been recovered (by a friend who had passed by earlier).

In the days before widespread use of electronic navigation equipment we
often used our depth sounders as navigational aids. When I found the skiff
there was no VHF contact with USCG so I jotted down the fathom line we were
on and sailed back north until we could raise them. Then I gave the
approximate position to the USCG who asked us to take it in tow (never try
to tow a half-sunken skiff!) and wait for Pillar Point Marina staff to come.

We then sailed back in until we were at the same depth indication and
followed that fathom-line south until we could again see the glint of
sunlight reflected off the triangle of the aluminum bow (the only thing
sticking up above the water). Tried to take it in tow (wondering if there
was yet another body inside) but failed. Ended up standing by until the
Pillar Point patrol boat arrived and took over. We anchored that night in
the small cover right next to the famous Pismo Beach Golf Club where Bing
Crosby played in his invitational. Aboard the 50-footer who had found the
skiff first we toasted the fishermen who had died when they over-estimated
the ability of their little boat to survive the ocean and bid them RIP. A
16-foot aluminum outboard boat is no match for the ocean on a bad day. Hard
way to learn a lesson.

When Peter mentioned cliffs and no landings, spotty VHF and possible poor
weather I thought back to this particular route even though it's
consdierably longer. This was 30 years ago so maybe there is VHF now. But
maybe not. Never rely on just one thing.

I would never take paddlers along that route without a safety vessel or
intimate local knowledge. Certainly never at night. But then, I'm an ol' guy
and starting to think I might make it to 70. There's a shock!


Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA

   - www.nwkayaking.net
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