NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing Zone => Safety First => Topic started by: lorikay2 on November 05, 2016, 03:44:01 PM

Title: crab rescue
Post by: lorikay2 on November 05, 2016, 03:44:01 PM
   Crab season started off bad but at least everyone went home safe.  In a last minute decision, I decided to load the crab pots in the truck and head down to the Santa Cruz Harbor.  The weather was cooperating and heard it was nice once you got out of the harbor.  My boat "Lorikay2" is more than well equipped to handle the situation so off I went. 
   Waited in the harbor channel for a lull in the swell that was breaking clear across, and made it through without any problems.  My initial plane was to drop my pots in 200' and fish for sand dabs while the pots soaked.  The wind was already blowing about 7-10kts but the swell wasn't bad.  Just big and roll'y
   As I'm heading out, and 3/4 of a mile from the harbor, I pass what I thought was a solo kayaker.  I made sure to stay far away, not wanting to hit him with any wake on an already challenging day.  I pass him and after a few seconds look back and make sure I didn't get too close, even though he was a few hundred yards off to the side.
   As I spot him again, I notice this time he's holding his paddle straight up in the air.  I figure he could be signaling so I slow down.  He and I both rise up on top of a large set and this time I see he's waving his paddle back and forth.  I throttle back up and race over to find an elderly man sitting in his kayak while holding onto an empty kayak with and old women in the water hanging off the side.   
   I instantly call the coast guard and ask for assistance, EMS, and support from Santa Cruz harbor patrol.  I gave them location, quick situation, and number of people involved.
   
    (On a side note. USCG records everything that is said over channel 16.  If you can quickly and clearly report information, they can at least get things started while you deal with your situation and play back the information you've sent out.)

   I pull the boat just up wind of them so that they sat in the lee of my boat.  The man in the kayak held onto the boat while I grabbed onto both of the woman's hands.  She's hypothermic and weak and obviously been in the water for a while.  But at least she had on a PFD.  No wetsuit of course.  So I hold her hands and walk her to the back of the boat.  Have her hold onto the motor as I shut it off.  Once I get back to her, I have her hold one of my hands as she holds onto the motor with her other.  I reach around the motor and trim the motor up so that it lifted her in as I pulled her up. 
   I left the guy who was safe and told him I'd send help or come back to get him and the empty kayak.  Reported back to the coast guard and they had arranged everything for us back at the fuel dock.
   EMS took her and she seemed fine.  Apparently she had gotten dizzy and fell into the water. Not sure how long she had been in the water.  I didn't really stick around since my boat was getting beat against the fuel dock from the swell coming in the mouth.
   So be safe out there.  Know your limitations and always be equipped for the worst.  Know how to self rescue.  Even if it means knowing how to get into a boat from the water.  I've heard several stories about boaters not being able to get people out of the water and into their boat.  But often times, we're your best bet :smt003
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Sailfish on November 05, 2016, 04:00:14 PM
Thanks for doing a good deed and sharing the story lorikay2  :smt001
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Papa Al on November 05, 2016, 04:01:43 PM
Good job on the rescue!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Tote on November 05, 2016, 04:58:28 PM
Karma!
It will pay you back in spades.
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: SOMA on November 05, 2016, 05:01:04 PM
Excellent!!!  Great post.  But did you get a chance to drop your pots or was she your only catch of the day?
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: eelkram on November 05, 2016, 05:04:36 PM
Yeah, where's the crabbing/fishing report?   And of course, nice save, etc etc.  :smt005
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: lorikay2 on November 05, 2016, 05:15:43 PM
No fishing report. :( i was by myself and by the time i had given a statement and talked to the coast guard the wind had picked up and everyone was running in.  decided i better wait till tomorrow. But they'll be a report soon!!!

Steve
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: batt on November 05, 2016, 05:39:27 PM
I've never heard of lifting someone up with the motor trim .  God thinking MacGyver.
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: DG on November 05, 2016, 06:00:14 PM
Man this has been your year of being in the right place at bad times for others. 
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: SOMA on November 05, 2016, 06:32:04 PM
No fishing report. :( i was by myself and by the time i had given a statement and talked to the coast guard the wind had picked up and everyone was running in.  decided i better wait till tomorrow. But they'll be a report soon!!!

Steve

I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to crab, but at least you know you enabled a kayaker the ability to go home safe. 
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: sonoramike on November 05, 2016, 07:08:05 PM
Wow great job!!!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: fisheducator on November 05, 2016, 08:00:55 PM
Kudos, good karma being sent your way....
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: NowhereMan on November 05, 2016, 09:07:24 PM
Glad to hear that they're OK 

I was in SC yesterday, just passing thru, and the harbor mouth looked intimidating, and surf was breaking in places where I'd never seen it before.
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: yakyakyak on November 05, 2016, 09:24:24 PM

Thanks for the report and I hope you get your good deeds paid back a thousand times!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: zilla on November 05, 2016, 09:43:04 PM
steve,way to trust your instincts on a questionable encounter. most people would have never given it a second thought. they were lucky you were there.  good job!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: wormguy on November 05, 2016, 09:58:44 PM
Good job Steve!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: bioman on November 05, 2016, 10:18:10 PM
Awesome response Lorikay.Beers on me if and when we meet.
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Martianfish on November 06, 2016, 02:53:55 PM
another NCKA member rescue :smt006
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: rockfish on November 07, 2016, 09:15:10 PM
Wow, great job!!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Sin Coast on November 11, 2016, 12:28:15 PM
Right on Steve, nice work! And thanks!
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Vermillion on November 11, 2016, 12:49:02 PM
Awesome job.
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: Bushy on November 11, 2016, 02:18:42 PM
Wow.   Way to go.  Good job keeping your head and covering all the bases.  Especially getting her out of the water and in to the dock.

She probly got dizzy because there was no horizon with that swell.  Maybe.

Did the guy and the empty kayak make it in while you were still there?

Kudos to you my friend.

Bushy
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: LapuLapu on November 11, 2016, 04:11:05 PM
Wow great rescue. 
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: SmokeOnTheWater on November 21, 2016, 09:33:59 AM
Nice work on saving the day!  Way to keep your head on a swivel out there and keeping a look out for everything.  I'm sure you saved a life that day.
Title: Re: crab rescue
Post by: FisHunter on November 21, 2016, 10:08:57 AM
good job.....that could have gone the other way very fast. Way to take that extra look back!  most would have just kept going without noticing there might be a problem.

again, GOOD JOB!!  :smt008