Surfski Knowledge Base

12/3/16 Sat run report
Reivers Dustin
12/03/16 #20310

pretty hefty turnout this morning. Lots of OC boats willing to be seen with us rascally surfskis. I'll breakdown the news:

gossip: I tried on two different full wetsuits this morning, but just couldn't make it work. So went with usual NRS rodeo pants and mysterioso top. I think David S. wore the outfit better. Probably because his assemle' included that sexy Think Evo. The Larrys were quite dashing in their S1-R's today. They both clearly thought my S1-X was a social gaffe. Peter just went renagade with his OC - completely broke all the fashion rules.

conditions: fairly steady wind from SW. Tide started to ebb when we put in. The beach at MP was a little bouncy since waves were coming from SW. Wind seemed to build while we were out there. It switched to dead South and seemed to ease when I got off. I struggled to keep the sunny side up this morning. Especially off Post Point and further South.

route: most of us headed for the point by the tunnel. I had trouble taking the waves full broadside and headed more towards Eliza. LG hung with me out there while we waited a bit for the tough guys to turn out from the tunnel. From there we turned North with a loose plan to go to Cornwall Beach. The waves were kinda pushing towards MP.

juicy bits: the run North was strange. plenty of mixed chop that kind of tossed the nose of your boat around. But also some deeper runners underneath the chop. Once in a while I would almost accidently catch one of these deeps and get a slingshot ride. When I kept the power on, these rides would carry through the chop. So I would get one of those boat spanking screamer rides. But often something would grab me and felt like I just had to brace. Boom: ride over. I headed back in to get my S1-R because I'm such a fashion plate. And also was worried about staying upright.

One of us ended up swimming a bit. It was a pretty good clinic for rough water handling of a person and a boat. An OC-2 hauled our buddy to shore and with VHF radio and power boat help we collected the surfski. Several OC-1's were trying to tow the 'ski, but a good method was elusive. I don't think a surfski would be much good for towing another rider-less 'ski. And without a tie-point on the nose the loose 'ski wants to be towed sideways or worse. Something to think about.

rd

anaturalresource <anaturalresource@…>
12/03/16 #20314

hey reivers,

a grand thanks for helping me look for my keys last week. your last words were charmers as I did as you suggested in re-tracing my steps and lo and behold, found them, probably saving a grand towing bill…..thanks– oh–was there a location for the holiday gathering next week for those who are still newbees…. thanks again. cheers.

David Scherrer
12/03/16 #20316

Rescue and recovery….Hey, everyone who participated in the group effort to get our fellow paddler back on his craft. Interesting isn't it when one tries to exercise rescue technique, you realize that conditions are much more challenging and many unexpected issues come into play, so it goes. Getting freezing water logged paddler back to shore was beautifully done on the back of an OC-2. Congrats to Ol Bob and Kim. Staying behind with some determined OC-1ers, Mike, Eric, and Lance, I could see that they tried gallantly to recover the ski after it was left behind in the middle of Bellingham Bay. Many attempts were made, including what I thought was a solution of placing the ski between the alma and hull, but that proved too problematic. It was kinda cool to see the Fenn ski skipping over the waves like a creature in flight. As it rolled over and over, one had the opportunity to appreciate the pure aesthetics of these nimble craft.

Just as I was thinking I might place a foot in the other boats footwell and see it if that works….with a great deal of crashing about, the Coast Guard shows. Time to head for shore.

So we did a great job of rescue…Lets brain storm on recovery.

D.

Dale McKinnon
12/03/16 #20317

Well done! Glad to hear good news!

David Hooper

12/03/16 #20318

I’m nursing a shoulder injury, and so was sitting at home warm and cozy this morning about 10:30 am when I saw the Coast Guard helicopter flying low toward the Bay. Uh-oh, thought I, guessing it might be paddling related. Glad to hear everything worked out ok.

Dave H.

Reivers Dustin

12/03/16 #20321

You could tell it was a slow day for the CG. They were quick with coverage and helicopter kept going over. I think they were hoping somebody else would go for a dunk. Helicopter looked like it wanted to come down and give us all some rotor blast.

I'm curious how the radio's worked. I heard from LB that he thought they could hear him, but didn't seem to get a direct response. I know LG was on the air as well, I could hear a lot of talking back and forth. I think that it was a regular public powerboat that got on station first. He was swarmed by all the OC and surfski boats involved. Good thing the paddlers didn't storm the ship and drink all their beer.

For myself, I needed both hands including the opposable thumbs to keep myself organized. It was somewhat like it gets with a steady Westerly: rebound city, baby. If you look at Locust Beach wind graph you'll see a slot there at about 10 where there's a slight westerly.

Main thing is that this idea of rescuing someone from a surfski reminds me of something Agustus McCrea says. “What's good for me is not necessarily good for the weak minded.”

I was a little weak minded today.
rd

Michael Lee
12/03/16 #20322

Yes, the pleasure boat was the first non-paddle craft on scene. I'm sure she got word of a kayak in trouble via marine radio.

Great work Bob and Kim getting our cold friend ashore!