RE: [Paddlewise] long tow lines was ... Australian state etc

Craig wrote:
> Throw lines are important in white water paddling where a paddler - either
> in his kayak or already exited - can be trapped in hydraulics and unable to
> swim out.

Rich wrote
>True, and there are other [similar] circumstances in which they're useful,
>like snagging someone who's being flushed downstream.

G'Day,

The question came up quite a while ago and I think it related to whether a
long throwrope or towline would be useful in a sea kayaking situation. An
often quoted reason for using such a line is to aid towing in long period
swell. But I think there are other circumstances where its handy. A friend
recently helped carried out a rescue of two kayakers at the mouth of a
cave/slot with quite tricky swell and breaking waves. If I interpret the
rescue correctly it seems as if the length of the rope let him enter the
danger zone, hook up and get out quickly before the rope took up the full load
to tow the rescuee away.

I've recently started using thick tow lines instead of sashcords, which have
been assessed informally by some of my mates as dangerous. The problen with
sash cord is that in a rough sea it might be pulled hard and damage an
entangled limb or finger. Unfortunately the safer thicker cord won't fit in a
pocket and its pointless having a tow line stowed in a hatch so its one of the
few items I'll tolerate on the deck. But it takes up space and even more if I
have both a 15 meter and a 5 metre line. So a friend showed me how to loosely
braid the line to shorten it from 15 to 5 metres and then I fitted a quick
release between the last two loops and a shackle on the deck. I can tow with 5
metres or extend to 15 metres depending on the circumstances. So far its
worked well in practise rescues out at sea, though it took a couple of tries
to learn how to braid loosely and avoid the line snagging when it was
released..

I've yet to test the arrangement in a real rescue - has anyone else used a
similar arrangement in a real rescue?

All the best, PeterO
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