[Paddlewise] The Not So Perfect Storm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgHjVxflX7M

Yesterday Ken and I were a couple of those "silly" people Duane 
mentioned paddling out in the mucky water! But as I said to Duane, the 
problem is if you want to play in the more challenging condition around 
here, you have to contend with the dirty water. So we paddled trying to 
hold our breath the whole time!

I had loaded up the car wearing my paddling jacket because of the rain, 
so I couldn't believe it when we got to the SB and found the sun 
shining. I wanted to paddle out through the wind and driving sheets of 
rain into Douglloydian surf and we seemed to be launching on a normal 
day, except maybe for the rather brown water. Even the waves hitting the 
jetty didn't look too impressive, although when we got closer, there was 
enough to keep you on your toes.

Before we left, the Dana Point buoy had the swell pegged at 9 feet, but 
when I checked it when I got home, it was up to twelve. I'm afraid my 
video doesn't seem to portray it as big as it looked from inside the 
cockpit, but perhaps it will suffice. The swells coming into the harbor 
would loom up looking like they were about to break, but would mostly 
keep rolling down the channel. I hate to say it, but I felt like my GP 
wasn't giving me the kind of response I expect from my Onno, so I had to 
work a bit harder to stay out of harms way. I did get knocked over once 
though and rolled up easily and quickly before any microbe had a chance 
hop on!

I don't like using bad words in public, but there are times alone in my 
car where a few may pass my lips, and one set of waves seemed to evoke 
such a response in my video, so I apologize before hand. We got a bit of 
rain and wind and some nice swells to play in and so far I haven't grown 
a third eye, so perhaps we dodged a bullet!

Mark Sanders
www.sandmarks.net

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