Surfski Knowledge Base

Tuesday…Bruised boat and ego
Larry Goolsby
04/06/05 #170

On Tuesday at 10:30 AM, Mike H. and I met at FBW a little early for our weekly nooner. The wind was blowing from the SW 10-15 as I untied my boat from the rack on my truck. While I was slipping on my boots, a very powerful gust of wind suddenly slammed the doors of my truck shut and picked my Huki up out of the rack on my roof and dropped it on Mike's SUV before landing it on the ground. The gust was just the beginning of an increase that more than doubled the current wind speed. Mike and I quickly checked out my Huki and found two slightly dented and cracked areas on the deck and 2 puncture holes on the side of the hull but everything was intact and working. Why waste a good windy day worrying about a couple of bruises? I can go see Sterling later in the week and see what he can do to secure these areas.

I couldn't find my paddle leash so I dug through my truck and found a short section of nylon rope that would do the trick (definitely a leash kinda day). Meanwhile, Mike and I paddled out to Post Point pressing against this wind that was suddenly blowing from the SE and was sustained at nearly 25 knts and gusting well over 30. We were experiencing some of the same problems that we found a couple of weeks earlier when we went out in big wind. However, the waves had not had a chance to build up as big yet since the wind had just increased. Going past Post Point became a task because you had the wind hit you head-on and as the nose of your boat poked up over a wave, the wind wanted to grab it and push it off to the side. We also had the previous storm surge coming in from the SW while new waves were forming from the SE and the SW waves were echoing off the shore.

We went less than a 1/4 mile past Post Point before we made the decision to turn and surf. The surfing was awful. The echoing waves and the high gusts made it impossible to enjoy the ride. I got blown out of my saddle just before we passed the Point and quickly tried to aim the nose of the boat into the wind before climbing aboard, but this was obviously not going to happen. I got in side saddle and got my legs over the boat but now my new short paddle leash was under my left leg and it was too short to either get past my foot or to paddle with. Back in I went to re-situate everything and Mike pulled up and grabbed the nose of my boat while I got back aboard with the leash between my legs.

Our boats were now copulating together and the wind was not allowing us to separate them. We finally got our boats apart and quickly found that the surfing was awesome and the wind decreased once we passed Post Point on our way northwest. However, this route was taking us towards Portage and Lummi islands and once we got further out in the bay we had a 25 knt tailwind that was still gusting well over 30. We agreed to turn around there before we got to a point of no return and paddled right back to Post Point to start another round of surfing. On the way there we both experienced this sensation of getting the wind pushing against our bows and not being able to turn our boats until the wind subsided slightly. We had maybe a 1/2 mile stretch that was big wide waves and not a ton of wind.

This second ride was soon interrupted with a 50 foot boat bearing down on us at high speed. Mike dropped his legs into the water and started waving his paddle so that maybe this guy could see us and steer away from a collision course. Turned out to be the Coast Guard and they pulled their small ship up to Mike nearly knocking him into the bay. I sat idle on the opposite side of the boat wondering why they felt the need to chat with Mike (asking directions?) right in the middle of a perfectly good set of waves. They were only there about 1 minute before they quickly shot off and headed back towards the Harbor, not without almost dumping Mike a second time. I went and asked Mike what they wanted and he said to me:

“They wanted to know if you were OK”.
I was perplexed “Why didn't they ask me that”.
Mike replied “I was wondering that myself”.

This raised a couple of questions in my head. First, since I was obviously enjoying a nice ride at the time of their interruption, my physical wellness was not an issue. Were they referring to my mental condition when they questioned Mike? Since when did Mike become a good character reference? He was obviously the more insane out of the two of us since he was paddling in this stuff with a Findiesin (couldn't they see that a Huki paddler would have the most sense?). We continued with our 1/2 mile rotations and after 4 total laps we headed back to FBW so that I could go to work.

After we beached I checked my GPS and the top speed on the sphincter meter was only 10.3 mph while we had traveled a total of 6.8 miles. I went to lift my boat out of the water and found that it was a bit heavier than usual. From the damage I had sustained when it was blown off my truck, I managed to bring back a half gallon of water with me. It was then that I realized that Mike never did fall in while we were out there. He may be crazy but he is getting good at handing the rough stuff.

Larry G.

Reivers Dustin
04/07/05 #171

This brings up a point I was planning to get out some time ago. There are some spectators along the bluffs that call the CG when they see a boater in the water.

On one of our storm paddles I pulled out early and was watching the fun from the Marine Park. A fella next to me was in a high state of anxiety about the whole show. About then Mike G. took a cool-off swim and this guy was reaching for his cell-phone. I didn't want to come across as putting him down, so I told him calmly about Mike's San Fransisco story. The one where he gets dumped out of the ocean standing on his feet next to a dumbfounded fisherman. The guy calmed down. (Mike's story: Paddler from Another Planet)

Seems like a lot of folks yearn for tragedy and excitement. I keep hoping that soon they will get bored once they see that it's a sit-on-top. I guess the next time you go in, look up at the bluff and blow a kiss to the old women looking at you through their spotting scopes.

I bet the Coast Guard crews get tired of the calls. If any of you know someone in that crew, maybe we should try to make a connection. This whole deal could get a lot worse. All it would take is a couple more touring kayak deaths in the Bay. We should try to let them know more about Surfski's and Outrigger boats.

rd

Michael Hammer <michaelhammer62@…>
04/07/05 #174

Being in the rescue business as a Firefighter, I know it can be good to have someone there on occasion. There may come a day, for one of us, when the proverbial feces hits the rotating steel. I, for one, am glad to know those crews are there, ready to go at a moments notice.

I telephoned our local Coast Guard station and thanked the crew for the speedy response Tuesday.

The public is another matter. I agree, there are many drama kings and queens out there with a cell phone. Crisis is in the eye of the beholder. Education is the key. We respond to those BS calls frequently, but with the same professional enthusiasm.