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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: You Are Alone Out There!
Posted By: Ian Johnston In Response To: Re: There is room on the sea for all of us. (FBC)
Date: Tuesday, 21 November 2000, at 2:04 a.m.
Hi Fred,
: All that said, I agree with Jed that a roll is truly not essential. If you
: don't have a roll, however, you need to practice a number of other
: entries. Paddle float, two person rescues, and ways to keep a lot of body
: out of the water while you rest, sponsons, whatever. It probably limits
: the conditions you are comfortable in.The rescues you have mentioned here all have major weaknesses;
Paddle float rescues- You have to pump out the boat and if you couldn't stay upright with an empty kayak how will you do this with one full of water while you try to pump it out with both hands? Paddle float rescues are very hard in really rough conditions.
Buddy rescues- FORGET IT! In severe conditions do you really expect to bring two kayaks together with one person in the water? What happens when 2, 300 lb.+ kayaks collide? What happens when a hull is holed? What happens when the person in the water is between the two kayaks? What happens when the conditions make it impossible for your partner to turn around? What happens when your partner is out to save his own skin while you are waiting for an assist?
Keeping your body out of the water- Good idea but it only prolongs the inevitable.
Sponsons- don't work in severe conditions as has been explained and demonstrated here and on other bulletin boards.
When you are out on the water in severe conditions always prepare with the knowledge that you are ALONE when things go bad. A reliable roll is the primary defense because it eliminates all the weaknesses of the other self rescues. All the other rescues were meant as backups to the roll.
Ian

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