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races:tawhiti_rahi_2024 [2025/03/23 22:09] 127.0.0.1 external edit |
races:tawhiti_rahi_2024 [2025/09/26 14:03] (current) pstureavley |
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| ===== Tawhiti Rahi Ocean Challenge 2024 ===== | ===== Tawhiti Rahi Ocean Challenge 2024 ===== | ||
| - | **Paul Gillard** ([[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vanbEboLcNrzkuyT/|facebook report]])\\ | + | **Paul Gillard** (<del>[[https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vanbEboLcNrzkuyT/|facebook report ]]</del>online link gone)\\ |
| September 16, 2024\\ | September 16, 2024\\ | ||
| ·\\ | ·\\ | ||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
| **Reflections to consider:** | **Reflections to consider:** | ||
| - | - **Training** - although I was comfortable with what was a limited build up after a prolonged lay off I never actually practised remounts in choppy conditions (even though I hadn't needed to in the past) - think I would suggest to anyone to actually try this from time to time - even on the harbour because the more proficient you are the more energy you save when its needed. I am paddling a new Fenix Elite S which is obviously at the tippy end however my previous 2 boats were Elites - not sure if the cockpit in the new boat is slightly higher or my core strength has weakened after a few years of limited paddling but will do core specific work like Pilates to address this . | + | - **Training** - although I was comfortable with what was a limited build up after a prolonged lay off I never actually practised remounts in choppy conditions (even though I hadn't needed to in the past) - think I would suggest to anyone to actually try this from time to time - even on the harbour because the more proficient you are the more energy you save when its needed. I am paddling a new Fenix Elite S which is obviously at the tippy end however my previous 2 boats were Elites - not sure if the cockpit in the new boat is slightly higher or my core strength has weakened after a few years of limited paddling but will do core specific work like Pilates to address this . (Ed.// Amen to this, some of the best paddlers get the least remount practice and if they have gotten older, (er) heavier, etc. they may be in for a rude awakening when unexpectedly having to remount in rough conditions//) |
| - **Injuries** - when taking on a challenge like this you want to make sure you are injury free- I had a MTB accident in March and suspected ther might be a fracture in my wrist however by and large it settled . In the first swim the effort on your hand in remounting when you grab the side of the cockpit made me realise there still is an issue and my right hand strength wasn't right -that added with the paddle angle made life more difficult than it needed to be | - **Injuries** - when taking on a challenge like this you want to make sure you are injury free- I had a MTB accident in March and suspected ther might be a fracture in my wrist however by and large it settled . In the first swim the effort on your hand in remounting when you grab the side of the cockpit made me realise there still is an issue and my right hand strength wasn't right -that added with the paddle angle made life more difficult than it needed to be | ||
| - | - **Safety devices** - firstly I would never rely on a leash with a Velcro attachment again even though it had a double over lap. Either get one with a carabiner or a loop that goes through your attachment point and back on it self-… Ask Marchand for expert advice but also don't think they will last forever either - always replace before they break. | + | - **Safety devices** - firstly I would never rely on a leash with a Velcro attachment again even though it had a double over lap. Either get one with a carabiner or a loop that goes through your attachment point and back on it self-… Ask Marchand for expert advice but also don't think they will last forever either - always replace before they break. (Ed. //Yes! velcro gets weaker with age just like everything else (and everybody) see [[:safety_leashes#velcro|safety leashes]]// ) |
| - **Portable EPIRB** I did not have one and although I will be buying one in this situation I don't think I would have activated it straight away as this would then be a National Search and Rescue with it probably being about 30 mins before a helicopter would appear from Whangarei plus this would totally over ride the support boats from the event . I considered my best chance of pickup being the support boats that would come past my way at some stage even though I was always going to be a small target . I think if I had an **EPIRB** in those conditions I would wait approx 15 mins before activating though that is something specific to each set of circumstances and certainly you need to know you can hang out that long . I may well ring up and find what time they consider it would have taken as that is critical information to have when assessing your options. | - **Portable EPIRB** I did not have one and although I will be buying one in this situation I don't think I would have activated it straight away as this would then be a National Search and Rescue with it probably being about 30 mins before a helicopter would appear from Whangarei plus this would totally over ride the support boats from the event . I considered my best chance of pickup being the support boats that would come past my way at some stage even though I was always going to be a small target . I think if I had an **EPIRB** in those conditions I would wait approx 15 mins before activating though that is something specific to each set of circumstances and certainly you need to know you can hang out that long . I may well ring up and find what time they consider it would have taken as that is critical information to have when assessing your options. | ||
| - **Cell phone vs Portable VHF** I believe if I had a floating waterproof VHF I would have been able to get a call out straight away (on the channel being monitored by the support boats)as opposed to not feeling the same way about the phone.Although it is a bulkier item to carry I am going to see if I can find one that stows in the back pocket of the vest with a lead attached so it can be pulled out when/if needed. | - **Cell phone vs Portable VHF** I believe if I had a floating waterproof VHF I would have been able to get a call out straight away (on the channel being monitored by the support boats)as opposed to not feeling the same way about the phone.Although it is a bulkier item to carry I am going to see if I can find one that stows in the back pocket of the vest with a lead attached so it can be pulled out when/if needed. | ||
| - | - **Flare** I had a flare in my back pocket however in this particular circumstance it would have required me to take off my buoyancy jacket to access it as it was lying right at the bottom of the back and I wouldn't have been able to reach. It would have been extremely risky to do this when you have no boat to hold to support you although if the Jet ski skipper hadn't seen my paddle that would have been my next step. | + | - **Flare** I had a flare in my back pocket however in this particular circumstance it would have required me to take off my buoyancy jacket to access it as it was lying right at the bottom of the back and I wouldn't have been able to reach. It would have been extremely risky to do this when you have no boat to hold to support you although if the Jet ski skipper hadn't seen my paddle that would have been my next step. (Ed. //Yep, not much use if you can't safely get to it, but having it accessible and using it could easily have made the difference in being seen or not//) |
| Finally I just want to say that the event is an awesome event and the vibe from the other paddlers make it special - I hope that despite the above anyone considering it for the future is not put off and hopefully can maybe get some pointers from above . I certainly intend doing another one of Tim's events in the future despite my family saying I am getting too old for this stuff! Ha | Finally I just want to say that the event is an awesome event and the vibe from the other paddlers make it special - I hope that despite the above anyone considering it for the future is not put off and hopefully can maybe get some pointers from above . I certainly intend doing another one of Tim's events in the future despite my family saying I am getting too old for this stuff! Ha | ||
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