Surfski Knowledge Base

(Going solo in extreme conditions?)

(Ed: the original surfski.info article that started the discussion seems to be gone, but this last post was still worthwhile)

Jeff Hegedus <jhegedus@…>
03/04/10 #7938

Rob Mousley wrote an interesting response to a question regarding this report; it is worth posting because we have been having the exact same discussion here. We're not the only group asking these questions:

“Is it ok to go downwind solo in extreme conditions?”

I'd say it depends on who you are and the conditions. One point is that in extreme conditions you are almost always paddling “solo” anyway. Example: In the big wind on Monday I did a Miller's Run with a visitor from the UK (Chloe Bunnett, current UK womens surfski champ). Because it was hectic we compromised and launched at the north ramp at Miller's Pt which is much safer. We stuck together - but about a kilometre outside Fish Hoek I was maybe 100m to her left, caught a run, looked up and she was gone. I stopped but could not see her and, although I tried, I could not turn into the wind. I waited for (a long) five minutes and eventually figured that even if she had goofed and couldn't get back in her boat, she'd only take about 20mins to drift in anyway. So I went into FH & she appeared about two mins later having taken, as I thought, a long swim. The point is, although we were paddling “together” we were each effectively on our own because you usually can't assist another paddler in extreme conditions. So you have to be prepared to self-rescue.

However - I did know roughly where she was; I knew that she had leashes and a cell phone. If she hadn't arrived within ten minutes I'd first have called her, then I'd have alerted the NSRI (who were already aware that we were on the water). We'd taken precautions and reduced the risk to an acceptable level. But… what's great about the Miller's Run is that it is inside False Bay - and even if you come off your ski, you will end up on shore - eventually. And False Bay is on the warm side - the water is generally about 5C warmer than on the Atlantic side.

I have sometimes done a Miller's Run on my own - the last time I did it, the Beloved watched me (at least the first half) from shore, and I was carrying all my gear - body leash, paddle leash, flares, cellphone, handheld VHF(!) (I'm not called Gadgetman for nothing.)

I would not have done the run on my own on Monday - but then I'm not an elite paddler like the Wildman. Another of our treasured downwind courses is from Milnerton to Melkbos. But:

- it's on the cold side - water temp of 11-13C.
- The wind is along, and often slightly off-shore.
- I don't know it nearly as well as the Miller's Run.

So to me it's much more dangerous, and I would never do it on my own.

In my book it's all about reducing the risks to an acceptable, sensible level. Life without some risk is not life. But by making sure the NSRI knows what I'm doing, and by making sure that I can communicate with them if I do have to call on them, I'm reducing the hassle, cost and risks for them if I do screw up.

When racing in Hout Bay, where there's a rescue boat lurking about, I usually dispense with body leash (unless we go offshore), radio & cellphone. But I still use the PFD and paddle leash and my pencil flare kit is so small I don't even notice it; it sits in the front pocket of the PFD permanently.

So - go downwind by yourself? I say probably yes, if you know yourself and your route; you have the gear; others know where you are and can contact you and, perhaps most important, you're not going to put others in danger if you screw up.