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races:length_lake_washington_2014

Length of Lake Washington 2014

Length of the Lake(Washington)
Kevin Olney

11/26/14 #16575

I'm bringing a trailer to shuttle boats for the paddle this weekend and there are still a couple spots left. Be at the finish (TBD, but looks like Renton now) at 8:00 and you and your boat will be taxied to the start. Message me if interested, space is limited,

Kevin O

Reivers Dustin

11/26/14 #16576

Someone please report after. I can't go because anything called length of the lake will get my wife upset. But this event has real promise. Maybe if LG isn't there it will blow from the South.

rd

Michael Lampi
11/30/14 #16588

I can only report the first 5 miles, and a little about what I heard at the finish.

The snow stopped about an hour before the race start, and there was no e-mail from Ernie about canceling the race, so I took my wife and car with ice-encrusted boat to Kenmore. We found sunlit skies and 16 other boats spread on the grass at Logboom Park, and a couple of people standing around shivering in the 32 degree temperature.

I unloaded my boat and carted it over to the shore, and let my wife drive back home, figuring she could meet me at the finish or wherever I ended up. I had on multiple layers of clothing, fleece long sleeved Kokotat shirt, nylon long sleeved shirts, woolen leg warmers, thick woolen socks, acrylic breeches, PFD, a nylon overshell, woolen knit hat and nylon paddling hat on top of that, etc. I was pretty toasty.

There were mostly OC-1's, a couple of doubles, and a couple of surfskis in the race.

Ernie had a good pre-race meeting, and we all got on the water a bit later than originally planned. The race started at about 11 AM, with what felt like a moderate northerly breeze and flat water at the start.

As we passed the first point the waves started to build, and the racers slowly began to spread out. One of the OC-1's flipped, but after a couple of tries the paddler managed to get back aboard and continue on. (He eventually ended up at the end of the course and got shooed off the runway. What he was doing there is anyone's guess.)

As the waves grew I found my propeller kept hitting the bottom of the hull where I had mounted a metal protective plate. This was not good, and I then realized that I must have slightly bent the shaft when my wife and I took the boat off the car. At the time she told me the boat was stuck on something, and I didn't see what it could have been, but now it all made sense. I ended up having to hold the prop strut down with one hand to keep things more or less happy.

Approaching Sand Point the waves had built into sets of 2 to 3 feet (and climbing), and I decided that I had enough fun for the day. The boat wasn't surfing or steering well, and the waves would only get worse further down the lake. So, I started heading more westerly in an attempt to take out at Magnuson Park.

I understand that several OC-1's dropped out of the race at Sand Point, and others dropped out at other points along the course. A number of folks made it all the way to the finish, with some folks declaring it was the best downwinder ever!

You can stop here if you don't want to read a long-winded report of what happened to me. That's OK - I don't mind!

A couple of near misses had occurred prior to this, but finally the boat flipped. I was able to quickly right it again, and swam around to the upwind side to get back on board. Unfortunately, however in flipping I lost one bike sandal and in swimming I lost the other. I guess they weren't cinched as tightly as they should have been, and the plastic bags over the socks help lubricate their departure.

With all the wave action I found it rather difficult to get back aboard, at least with any sense that the boat would stay upright long enough for me to get under way with stocking feet on the pedals. So, I decided to use my cell phone and dial 911. Verizon automatically answered with “You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service.”. Yeah, right. So, I dialed again, this time it went through.

I explained my situation and location (due east of Sand Point/Magnuson Park), and the person on the phone said they would try to get someone to me ASAP and they would stay on the line with me. They asked several more times about my location, and I repeated the same thing as the phone, now dangling from my neck in its waterproof bag splashed in and out of the water on the other side of the boat.

My left arm was getting a bit tired from holding onto the handle of the boat, my chest was getting sore from the pressure on the upper edge of the hull, and my right leg definitely didn't like being pressed against the pedal unit mounting bracket. I tried to turn the cranks with my right arm to see if the combination of the wind pushing me south with some propeller action west would eventually get me to shore while I awaited rescue, but it was hard to see any progress being made. My left leg and butt were in the water as I couldn't get them out. They probably made for a moderately good sea anchor.

I was starting to shiver quite strongly and began to be concerned as to whether or not I could hang on for much longer. I asked the 911 folks where the boat was, and they said they were still looking for me, and asked again how many people were on the boat and where I was located. Weird.

It seemed like forever before the patrol boat and a Coast Guard helicopter arrived simultaneously on the scene, but it was only about 45 minutes since I capsized. It turned out they were searching in another area having been given some apparently different instructions 3rd hand. It was a little dicey getting to me, with the waves pushing things about and them not wanting to destroy my boat in the process. I was taken aboard, stripped of my wet garments, wrapped in blankets, given two big catheters in my arms and a couple of liters of warm saline. While doing this they measured my body temperature at 82 degrees F, and I was truly shivering uncontrollably. I just kept trying to make sure my teeth chattering wasn't going to cause any chipping.

They asked me the usual questions, such as my name, birthday, and I gave them my home phone number and wife's name. We transferred from the boat to the shore and into an aid car where we cruised on over to Harborview Medical. I was whisked into the emergency ward, placed under a nice heated pneumatic warming blanket, and spent the next hour or two recovering. My phone, however, appeared to have died due to water entry in the cell phone bag.

My wife arrived with fresh clothes, and with her phone we found Ernie's phone number. We left a message for Ernie saying that I was still alive and was a DNF, but currently at the hospital.

By 3:30 PM I was back to normal, and was discharged. We picked up my boat from the Seattle Harbor Patrol - a really nice bunch of guys. It's too bad we had to meet under these circumstances. Anyway, they said they went back to pick up my boat and couldn't find it at first. It turned out that the wind had pushed it to shore and some cyclists passing by picked it up out of the surf. The Patrol guys were happy that it was so light (my boat?!?) because they had to carry it a ways to the dock. It appeared to be in great shape, so we thanked them, loaded it onto the car and went on our way.

I think I know of some more folks who are going to be getting Christmas presents this year.

Michael Lampi

Reivers Dustin
11/30/14 #16589

Well written, well managed situation, Michael. My typical radio-rant is largely about speaking directly with the rescue vessel once they are on mission. A long time buddy of mine has a daughter who works 911 dispatch in that area. Over the years RC has told me stories about that operation. It would be cheap shots to make much of their problems, because they do their best.

I really love this sport. I guess it's an extreme sport. But, thank goodness we are permitted to try situations. My respect to all of you guys that tried the event, and also to those who decided to pass on it.

We are doing something that places us highly dependent on our equipment, judgement and skill (sort of in that order). This concept was explained to me with great force by many of my Army parachute instructors. Even though I've lost hearing from their efforts, I still get little life lessons on the topic.

rd

Kimberly Reeves
11/30/14 #16590

Michael
Everyone in Bellingham is very glad you are safe and sound. Thank you for such a well written report of the incident…
We all can learn from your experience….
Kim

Brandon Nelson
11/30/14 #16591

Holy freaking COLD core temp, Michael!!!! Glad you're alive, bro. That is a frightening tale. Again, so glad you're still with us. Another couple degrees, and…

Brandon Nelson

John Rybczyk
11/30/14 #16592

I'm glad you're ok Michael. Your good deeds and service over the years have earned you a rescue or two. Karma.

John Rybczyk

Kevin Olney
11/30/14 #16593

Glad to hear you are okay Michael. My experience was less dramatic but still very humbling. As Michael stated, conditions were flat at the start but built quickly as we moved down the lake. By 1 mile south of Sand Point it was 4-5 footers and moving fast! I was having a blast and flying down the lake until I realized I was off course by a few degrees from the east rise of the 520 bridge. As soon as I began to correct my course and cut across the waves I started feeling extremely challenged. Of course the waves were only getting bigger and the wind seemed to be gusting harder than before.

It's amazing how quickly confidence can disappear. I took a swim just off of Hunts Point which is a little north of 520. I remounted quickly and paused to consider my situation. Less than halfway through the race I was already feeling challenged by conditions and hadn't even dealt with the inevitable rebound off the bridges and Mercer I. While I still felt strong, how would I be after another hour and potentially more swims? I decided to retire at that point and found a small boat launch on Yarrow Point where I called my ride come pick me up.

It didn't feel good quitting like that, a pretty heavy ego blow actually, but it's probably one of the most sensible paddling decisions I've made. There will be more windy days, more races, more chances to get into wild hairy situations. It just wasn't my day.

For the record, I don't know who finished first. Jim Schulz and Brenden Donahue were the other skis and they finished around 2:40 with the top OCs. Thanks to Ernie and the support crew and all the paddlers involved.

Kevin O

debbie natelson

12/01/14 #16596

Wow Mike, what an adventure! If you/you boat flipped, it must have been pretty crazy out there. So glad you're Ok and had the good sense to 'dress for immersion,' even though I bet you did not anticipate testing the efficacy of your gear. So glad you were able to call for assistance and had the skillful folks come to your rescue. Here's another situation confirming that a gps with tracking capability is a must for those stormy or north wind conditions. Seems to 911 operators (super heroes that they are) can still get pretty confused with water locations. They are more adept at on land addresses.

Thanks or sharing your experience Michael. So relieved you are safe, warm, and able to do so!

A Thanksgiving weekend with much to be thankful for.

Debbie

Michael Lampi
12/01/14 #16597

While I didn't feel like I was in a panic at any time during the event, I will certainly agree that my brain wasn't fully functioning. I probably could have climbed on the rear deck and straddled it, and maybe closed the front of my PFD and/or jacket, and taken the canoe paddle I always have with me and tried to paddle to shore while awaiting rescue. I also totally forgot about the flares I keep in the pocket of my PFD.

Oh, well.

I'm looking at how I might attach platforms to one side of the pedals so I can use non-cycling shoes or just my feet as alternatives, too.

Reivers Dustin
12/02/14 #16598

reminds me of a paddle with Dennis and LB long ago. From the Marina we headed South into a growing wind. LB and I were on Valhallas and Dennis in a Phantom. I didn't know about neoprene and no one around here used leashes back then. I dumped first somewhere near the outfall buoy. LB and Dennis hung with me, then Dennis dumped. He climbed back into his cockpit from underneath then did a roll back up. We foolishly kept going. I might have been the first to beg off, don't remember. I think I dumped a dozen times. I remember getting pissed off the last couple of dumps. After that last time I concentrated fiercly on staying in the middle of the boat no matter what.

We decided to go to Tony's Coffee after, which was the normal hangout back then. It took me a long time to get my gear in order. The drive was strange. I didn't notice a motorcycle in my path (I rode a bike for years and tend to be alert to them). Also, I took a few wrong turns getting to Tony's. Over coffee I told the guys I had seen God. At the last dump I was thinking, “this is about all you're going to be able to handle.”

It was only as I saw the looks on their faces that it occured to me I might be hypothermic. Or I might normally be that dopey. Sure was good coffee.

rd

Michael Gregory
12/02/14 #16599

RD, you make up this story or . . . did you really fall in that many times? Teasing ya mate;) You know, soo many very good paddle athletes have stories about epic “swims”. Yep, world champs included. Please, don't think I'm being pollyanna-ish here, we all know of tragic outcomes but, far more often, these unscheduled “swims” make us better safer paddlers.

Go fall off you ski! Do it!! Do it with good company!!! Test your gear. Test your remount skills. When the s__t hits the fan, and it will, if you paddle long enough, you will be ready.

C'mon you guys give us some stories. Yeah, those “Knockin on Heavens Door” stories. We need to hear about it! MG

James Schulz

12/02/14 #16600

I know they sell commuter pedals, clipins on one side and a normal flat pedal on the other.. Good for short trips where one doesn't have to wear cycling shoes, and also for start and stop commuting where one would start pedaling on the flat side, then once moving one could clip in. I remember once looking for something that would be flat and clipin to one side of a existing clipin pedal.

Michael Lampi

12/02/14 #16601

I know about SPD's and similar pedals with platforms on one side, but those pedals also have external moving parts that are prone to corrosion. The Speedplay Frog pedals I like so much have no moving parts, and they offer a lot of float as well.

With a little bit of drilling, tapping and some customization I think I can get the Frogs to work.

Michael Lampi