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| - | ==== Unexpected Consequences, Big Ships, DCS, Cold water and Me ==== | + | <<races:length_lake_washington_2014|Previous Story^stories:bellingham_stories|Story List^stories:surfers_at_post_point|Next Story>> |
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| + | ===== Unexpected Consequences, Big Ships, DSC, Cold Water and Me ===== | ||
| **bill** \\ | **bill** \\ | ||
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| Yesterday (Saturday) I was involved in a paddling incident that I would rather forget, or at least wish never happened. As part of the grater paddling community I feel I should write up what happened so people can gather what they can from my experience ( as embarrassing as it may be) and hopefully be a little safer on the water. | Yesterday (Saturday) I was involved in a paddling incident that I would rather forget, or at least wish never happened. As part of the grater paddling community I feel I should write up what happened so people can gather what they can from my experience ( as embarrassing as it may be) and hopefully be a little safer on the water. | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| This is going to be wordy and very long, brace yourself. I don't have enough distance from the event to write it any other way…. This is somewhat cathartic for me. | This is going to be wordy and very long, brace yourself. I don't have enough distance from the event to write it any other way…. This is somewhat cathartic for me. | ||
| Pay no attention to the spelling, I can't be bothered at the moment. | Pay no attention to the spelling, I can't be bothered at the moment. | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| So what happened?…\\ | So what happened?…\\ | ||
| Basically, I fell out of my ski (V10 2gen) on a moderate ( at best) downwind, couldn't remount, called the Coast Guard and was rescued by a powerboat responding to the CG's request for assistance. | Basically, I fell out of my ski (V10 2gen) on a moderate ( at best) downwind, couldn't remount, called the Coast Guard and was rescued by a powerboat responding to the CG's request for assistance. | ||
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| So what happened?….\\ | So what happened?….\\ | ||
| - | I hooked up with Jim Schulz and Dean Jordaan for a downwind from Shilshole to Edmonds. I have done this run a number of times before and in stronger wind. I was wearing NRS 2mm bottoms and a O'neill 1.5 mm top, a Think PFD ( super bright) and a day glow yellow/green hat. I also had a Standard Horizon HX851 DCS/GPS VHF radio with me. My leash set up is one recommended to me for the gorge. It's a long leash attached to the stern handle and running to a belt around my wast (this will become important later) | + | I hooked up with Jim Schulz and Dean Jordaan for a downwind from Shilshole to Edmonds. I have done this run a number of times before and in stronger wind. I was wearing NRS 2mm bottoms and a O'neill 1.5 mm top, a Think PFD ( super bright) and a day glow yellow/green hat. I also had a Standard Horizon HX851 [[:emergency_signal_devices#dsc|DSC]]/GPS VHF radio with me. My leash set up is one recommended to me for the gorge. It's a long leash attached to the stern handle and running to a belt around my wast (this will become important later) |
| Since both Jim and Dean are faster than I am Dean asked if I would like a 10 min head start, mostly for safety reasons I suspect. I said I was fine bringing up the rear and that was that. I wasn't sure how far to head out into the sound before turning downwind and suspected we would actually be closer if I followed rather than have them guessing where I turned north but I didn't say that, no particular reason, just didn't. (this decision is my first mistake). At that point the conditions were 10-12 mph and expected to increase. So we paddled out and turned north about a mile or so out. As expected they took off and made distance on me quickly as they both have a lot more time and skill downwind and I'm a notoriously slow starter. There were a few messy bumps left from earlier wind. The wind began to pick up a bit and was blowing about 20 while I was going threw that mile or two section of messy refractory waves about a third of the way threw the run. I felt fine in the messy water and well within my abilities, just slow and trying to figure how best to paddle in this stuff without spending too much energy. Out the other side of the messy stuff things were beginning to develop nicely and I was finally starting to link some good runs. Dean was out of sight and Jim was about 400 yards ahead. After a mile or so I was feeling good, warmed up, surfing and having a fun stress free paddle and sitting on the face of a nice 3 foot wave feeling goo……. Splash! …I was in the water. | Since both Jim and Dean are faster than I am Dean asked if I would like a 10 min head start, mostly for safety reasons I suspect. I said I was fine bringing up the rear and that was that. I wasn't sure how far to head out into the sound before turning downwind and suspected we would actually be closer if I followed rather than have them guessing where I turned north but I didn't say that, no particular reason, just didn't. (this decision is my first mistake). At that point the conditions were 10-12 mph and expected to increase. So we paddled out and turned north about a mile or so out. As expected they took off and made distance on me quickly as they both have a lot more time and skill downwind and I'm a notoriously slow starter. There were a few messy bumps left from earlier wind. The wind began to pick up a bit and was blowing about 20 while I was going threw that mile or two section of messy refractory waves about a third of the way threw the run. I felt fine in the messy water and well within my abilities, just slow and trying to figure how best to paddle in this stuff without spending too much energy. Out the other side of the messy stuff things were beginning to develop nicely and I was finally starting to link some good runs. Dean was out of sight and Jim was about 400 yards ahead. After a mile or so I was feeling good, warmed up, surfing and having a fun stress free paddle and sitting on the face of a nice 3 foot wave feeling goo……. Splash! …I was in the water. | ||
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| "Mayday, mayday mayday, … I'm a kayaker in the water unable to get back into my boat and in need of assistance" . The CG responded within seconds loud and clear, and as everyone seems to say in this circumstance… It's a lovely sound. | "Mayday, mayday mayday, … I'm a kayaker in the water unable to get back into my boat and in need of assistance" . The CG responded within seconds loud and clear, and as everyone seems to say in this circumstance… It's a lovely sound. | ||
| - | They asked me my position and number of people involved. I told them just one person and that I was approximately two miles off the east shoreline and two miles south of Point Wells. I also asked if I should push the DCS distress button for my location. After a longish pause they asked me to confirm my location of 2 miles south of "Westpoint" and number of people involved. I corrected them by spelling Wells and asked again about the DCS…. I waited what seemed like a long time ( a minute ?) and they called back confirming it was just one person in the water and I was 2 miles south of Point Wells. I said yes that is correct and waited. After a few minuets I called the CG again and asked very clearly if I should push the DCS button for my exact location and waited. About 30 seconds later they said go ahead and push it. | + | They asked me my position and number of people involved. I told them just one person and that I was approximately two miles off the east shoreline and two miles south of Point Wells. I also asked if I should push the DSC distress button for my location. After a longish pause they asked me to confirm my location of 2 miles south of "Westpoint" and number of people involved. I corrected them by spelling Wells and asked again about the DSC…. I waited what seemed like a long time ( a minute ?) and they called back confirming it was just one person in the water and I was 2 miles south of Point Wells. I said yes that is correct and waited. After a few minuets I called the CG again and asked very clearly if I should push the [[:emergency_signal_devices#dsc|DSC]] button for my exact location and waited. About 30 seconds later they said go ahead and push it. |
| The radio shifted mode and made some loud tones, the screen changed and said it was sending my distress and my location. After about a minute It said it was successful and about a 30 seconds later the CG confirmed they received the information. A few minutes passed and the CG put out an all stations Pan pan, requesting vessel assistance in the vicinity of Point Wells to assist in the rescue of a kayaker out of his boat. This was repeated again in about 3 min. I watched the two boats that had gone buy me and were now about a mile away … They just kept going. | The radio shifted mode and made some loud tones, the screen changed and said it was sending my distress and my location. After about a minute It said it was successful and about a 30 seconds later the CG confirmed they received the information. A few minutes passed and the CG put out an all stations Pan pan, requesting vessel assistance in the vicinity of Point Wells to assist in the rescue of a kayaker out of his boat. This was repeated again in about 3 min. I watched the two boats that had gone buy me and were now about a mile away … They just kept going. | ||
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| Props to all who helped. The Hanjin who came looking in a HUGE ship and helped guide people in. The fishing boat, first there! and would have had me on board soon enough …and all others on there way. I saw at least two other boats that would have been there within 10 min.. And as always …. The Coast Guard, and they know what for. | Props to all who helped. The Hanjin who came looking in a HUGE ship and helped guide people in. The fishing boat, first there! and would have had me on board soon enough …and all others on there way. I saw at least two other boats that would have been there within 10 min.. And as always …. The Coast Guard, and they know what for. | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| Some thoughts on what worked….. | Some thoughts on what worked….. | ||
| - | 1..The radio! It worked very well and was easy to use and hear. While conditions were moderate at best, people could hear me well and I was in communication the whole time with various parties. Being able to direct them to my location most likely helped speed things up and was mentally calming for me to be engaged and informed on what was going on. I'm not sure what help the DCS was for me. Im surprised it took so long to get permission to use it, not that I need permission but I thought I would ask as I was in direct contact with the CG. It is suppose to broadcast my location to everyone with an enabled radio and even direct you there if you know how to use the function. Im unclear on who if any had an enabled radio. On second thought one of the people on the boat that picked me up had the same radio as I do on them. | + | 1..The radio! It worked very well and was easy to use and hear. While conditions were moderate at best, people could hear me well and I was in communication the whole time with various parties. Being able to direct them to my location most likely helped speed things up and was mentally calming for me to be engaged and informed on what was going on. I'm not sure what help the DSC was for me. Im surprised it took so long to get permission to use it, not that I need permission but I thought I would ask as I was in direct contact with the CG. It is suppose to broadcast my location to everyone with an enabled radio and even direct you there if you know how to use the function. Im unclear on who if any had an enabled radio. On second thought one of the people on the boat that picked me up had the same radio as I do on them. |
| 2.. Leashes, Well one of them. My paddle leash was invaluable.\\ | 2.. Leashes, Well one of them. My paddle leash was invaluable.\\ | ||
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| I made a series of bad decisions, pick and chose where you like. Decisions and assumptions small on there own but they added up. In an unforgiving environment it ended with me being on a first name bases with the Coast Guard and causing a lot of people a lot of trouble looking for me. | I made a series of bad decisions, pick and chose where you like. Decisions and assumptions small on there own but they added up. In an unforgiving environment it ended with me being on a first name bases with the Coast Guard and causing a lot of people a lot of trouble looking for me. | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| Things I don't understand. | Things I don't understand. | ||
| - | 1… The DCS thing did it help me? Don't get me wrong on the DCS, it clearly worked like a charm. The CG revived the info very quickly and the radio worked as advertised. I'm just not sure In the end it helped anybody actually get to me quicker. I could well be wrong. Maybe because I was talking people in to my location people didn't use it? A lot of questions I have now I wasn't really thinking about while shivering next to the heater…. It was more, how did this happen? | + | 1… The [[:emergency_signal_devices#dsc|DSC]] thing did it help me? Don't get me wrong on the DSC, it clearly worked like a charm. The CG revived the info very quickly and the radio worked as advertised. I'm just not sure In the end it helped anybody actually get to me quicker. I could well be wrong. Maybe because I was talking people in to my location people didn't use it? A lot of questions I have now I wasn't really thinking about while shivering next to the heater…. It was more, how did this happen? |
| 2… I'm unclear if the CG ever sent out a fast boat to find me or did they just rely on local vessels to assist. I never heard them say they were sending anything, boat or helicopter. I'm not saying they should have, just curious why or if they did. | 2… I'm unclear if the CG ever sent out a fast boat to find me or did they just rely on local vessels to assist. I never heard them say they were sending anything, boat or helicopter. I'm not saying they should have, just curious why or if they did. | ||
| - | 3… Once I pressed the DCS button on the VHS the screen went into a mode where I could no longer see the GPS coordinates. There might be a way to bring them back but I'm not sure. When one of the vessels asked for the coordinates I realized I couldn't give any if I had too. If someone doesn't have a DCS comparable radio but can here me on the radio, I have no way to tell them the coordinates. I might be wrong on that, I will look into it. When in the DCS mode I could still use the radio and continued to use ch16. I was never asked to change the cannel by the CG. | + | 3… Once I pressed the [[:emergency_signal_devices#dsc|DSC]] button on the VHS the screen went into a mode where I could no longer see the GPS coordinates. There might be a way to bring them back but I'm not sure. When one of the vessels asked for the coordinates I realized I couldn't give any if I had too. If someone doesn't have a DSC comparable radio but can here me on the radio, I have no way to tell them the coordinates. I might be wrong on that, I will look into it. When in the DSC mode I could still use the radio and continued to use ch16. I was never asked to change the cannel by the CG. |
| 4… Seeing how long (short) being in the water took me to have issues remounting with what I was wearing is an eye opener. How do i dress for paddling in the sound in the summer? The water is almost the same temperature as winter. If I was dressed the same as this Saturday in August I would die of hyperthermia! With my normal summer NRS hydroskin top and shorts on I'd better get back on the first time! Zero margin for error…… | 4… Seeing how long (short) being in the water took me to have issues remounting with what I was wearing is an eye opener. How do i dress for paddling in the sound in the summer? The water is almost the same temperature as winter. If I was dressed the same as this Saturday in August I would die of hyperthermia! With my normal summer NRS hydroskin top and shorts on I'd better get back on the first time! Zero margin for error…… | ||
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| ps: I would like to hear what Jim and Dean's take is on event if they feel like sharing. What could have been different and what would have been useful too them, and useful when at the takeout when not knowing what had happened to me. | ps: I would like to hear what Jim and Dean's take is on event if they feel like sharing. What could have been different and what would have been useful too them, and useful when at the takeout when not knowing what had happened to me. | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| **zach** \\ | **zach** \\ | ||
| 12/08/14 #16616 | 12/08/14 #16616 | ||
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| Thanks Ken.. | Thanks Ken.. | ||
| - | You bring up some interesting points. I had though about the DCS button cover being kind of tight and wondered if I could easily open it with cold hands and gloves but did nothing about it. When actually using it it wasn't an issue, but I was wearing NRS hydroskin gloves and they are thin. If you push hard your nail sort of pokes threw. I don't even remember opening the flap so I will say it wasn't an issue. I suspect if i had on any thicker gloves i most likely would have needed to take one off… Not good. Your 'flap mod' is an excellent idea. | + | You bring up some interesting points. I had though about the DSC button cover being kind of tight and wondered if I could easily open it with cold hands and gloves but did nothing about it. When actually using it it wasn't an issue, but I was wearing NRS hydroskin gloves and they are thin. If you push hard your nail sort of pokes threw. I don't even remember opening the flap so I will say it wasn't an issue. I suspect if i had on any thicker gloves i most likely would have needed to take one off… Not good. Your 'flap mod' is an excellent idea. |
| I agree about leashes, I think all the standard coil leashes are rubbish, flimsy and poorly made. Velcro has no place on a critical attachment point, especially around saltwater and sand. I have been working on a number of leash designs and testing them out now and then hoping to come up with something that works well… Believe me, the irony of a guy designing leashes and getting tripped up by his own leash is not wasted on me! | I agree about leashes, I think all the standard coil leashes are rubbish, flimsy and poorly made. Velcro has no place on a critical attachment point, especially around saltwater and sand. I have been working on a number of leash designs and testing them out now and then hoping to come up with something that works well… Believe me, the irony of a guy designing leashes and getting tripped up by his own leash is not wasted on me! | ||
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| 12/08/14 #16624 | 12/08/14 #16624 | ||
| - | \\ | ||
| I use a K-1 Olympic Sprint Kayak with questionable stability even on a calm lake. My solution is to attach removable foam floats to each side of the kayak for training.\\ | I use a K-1 Olympic Sprint Kayak with questionable stability even on a calm lake. My solution is to attach removable foam floats to each side of the kayak for training.\\ | ||
| I wonder if a set of inflatable tubes on both sides of a surfski (with pressurized inflators) that could be triggered in an emergency should be developed.\\ | I wonder if a set of inflatable tubes on both sides of a surfski (with pressurized inflators) that could be triggered in an emergency should be developed.\\ | ||
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| Do we need yet more boat or boats to add to our quiver? | Do we need yet more boat or boats to add to our quiver? | ||
| - | Tim Niemier\\ | + | Tim Niemier |
| - | 360.220.2757\\ | + | |
| - | tim@…\\ | + | |
| - | onwaterdesigns@… | + | |
| **Michael Gregory** \\ | **Michael Gregory** \\ | ||
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