Gimme Shelter III - Shelter Cove - The Lost Coast (Swim Vid on Pg. 4)

Here's the rescue vid.  NCKA at its finest, and I only had to edit some scenes and cut others due to saying " F#*&in' " about 10 times.     I need rehab for potty mouth.   

Here's the rescue vid.  NCKA at its finest, and I only had to edit some scenes and cut others due to saying " F#*&in' " about 10 times.     I need rehab for potty mouth.   

Great vid! It seems much less stressful in the video than it felt at the time. Or maybe that's just me. Either way, strong work with the documentation.

(By my count you missed two " F#*&in' "'s  )

It seems much less stressful in the video than it felt at the time.

That was my impression too, but, to tell the very truth, I wasn't stressed that day once it was clear that the man in distress was being observed and the response was underway, which were instantaneous, really.  I was on the north end of the drift, so I was very aware of the fact that many of us with radios were in much closer proximity to Al, and that allowed for a somewhat leisurely response, it may seem, on my end.  Once I heard, "he's in the water...  capsized" I was on the move, and I turned the video off briefly because the gravity of the situation at that very second got me...  for a second.  I believe that documentation is too important to skip doing, and at the same time I'm aware of trampling someone else's feelings.  I tried to make sure the video was secondary to any part I'd play in the situation.  The radios proved to be soooooooooo important.  Anyone on the ocean MUST have a radio, in my book now.  Another "great job" to Al for radioing when he was having trouble.

The video was very appropriate, in that it confirmed all the previous posts about the communications between Danglin, the Coast Guard, the private boaters, and the kayakers on the scene. Everyone involved deserves a much-deserved "Well Done!!"

Howard

The video was very appropriate, in that it confirmed all the previous posts about the communications between Danglin, the Coast Guard, the private boaters, and the kayakers on the scene. Everyone involved deserves a much-deserved "Well Done!!"

Howard

Thanks, Howard.   

Here's the false alarm video...

hey if you ever see me in the water dont call a mayday

it probably just means I'm taking a shit

hey if you ever see me in the water dont call a mayday

it probably just means I'm taking a shit

Well, how appropriate - I think I just shit my pants laughing.   

Eric, I love the video!  That is just *AWESOME*!!!  I'm sure a lot of people will learn from this experience and its just too cool that its well documented!!!  Just love it!!!

When I reached Al he was in the water drifting close to the rocks. He wasnt frantic or paniced. A very cool customer.

He was doing his best I noticed keeping his yak between him and the rocks, I was hoping we didnt get one of those sets while we trying to get the hell out of there.

Way to keep your head in a bad situation. Sorry to hear about the faulty rod pod. 

I am also a first responder but I was so relieved when our Brothers arrived shortly as I am not too experienced with deep water rescues.

Time to give Hawk a visit!

Way to go Danglin for creating an instant Incident Command Center too! Too smooth!

Nice work everyone.

Domenic

Here's the false alarm video...

No worries man. An extra burst of adrenaline is good for you once in a while!

I'm only halfway thru this thread and need a break...  Epic indeed!!!

Gotta say, Andy: those shots of your cooking rig made me hungry, bro...  the van, the rig, the shirts...  you really know how do live life right!

And Al...  that video had me rollin...  I can't believe you took a vid while you were in the water...  and you were so calm!

And the scenery there....  unbelievable.

Here's the false alarm video...

Abking...So I click play and you start your 'hey, Hey, HEY, HEY, HEY!' and my dog starts running around the house and barking like a maniac. Master of the water and now master if canines!

Abking...So I click play and you start your 'hey, Hey, HEY, HEY, HEY!' and my dog starts running around the house and barking like a maniac. Master of the water and now master if canines!

Thank you, Eric.  It's my scare-a-bear-away voice.  I should've stuck with the deep guttural belching sound, then it would've just sounded like a sea lion. 

I've been reading the thread and paying particular close attention to the capsize and ensuing rescue. I have mixed feelings on it because I'm looking at it through the lens of a professional guide who has been right there in this same scenario many times now in my career. As well as being a guide/outfitter, I represent recreational boating on the Humboldt Harbor Safety commission. Our jurisdiction as I found out in our monthly meeting this week includes Shelter cove and the number of incidents NCKA had over the weekend did not go unnoticed by the Safety commission or Coast Guard.I've been tasked with going back down to Shelter cove and training their fire department on kayak rescue procedure and incident response. There is already enough back slapping and Kudos done so I'll refrain and just be the downer with a critical look at what happened. Al I have to say that it wasn't the best judgment to be out there Sunday after Saturdays incident. What happened is your boat failed you, your radio failed you, your personal rescue knowledge failed you and your NCKA brothers were not able to rescue you without aid of a powerboat. I'm watching Abkings video ad trying to tell myself "it's no big deal, everything worked out, no one died. Had you been alone Al this story would be a more tragic one. Rule #1- Never ever fish alone on any body of water but most especially the Ocean without rock solid redundant safety precautions and a wealth in Knowledge of Self Rescue/recovery. Al's boat was taking on water but did not appear to be totally swamped. I was near shouting at my computer screen as I watched Al's boat being towed away from him while he was still neck deep in the water clutching an albeit super stable X-factor. Rule #2 Get the swimmer out of the water asap. I don't care how much immersion wear or natural insulation they have, get them out of the water! Rule #3-Be sure your kayak has redundant flotation on the inside be it either rigid foam, pool noddles, or inflatable air bags (my choice), and know how to pump out your kayak. It can be easier said then done to climb back or assist someone back into a sit-on-top after a few minutes of being in the water. We are not cold water creatures and when we find ourselves all the sudden immersed into it our brains go into survival mode and limit our movement capabilities. It's common that a swimmer in cold water even insulted will need assistance getting back onto a kayak. Watching the video you can see Al struggled even getting into the PB with help. Rule#4-"personal responsibility", know how to rescue yourself and no how to assist someone else back into their  kayak. I was not there Sunday and am just armchair analysis here but I would have done one of two rescues, 1) scoop-n-slide- after removing a majority of water from the yak tilt it on it's side and and have the swimmer bear hug with hand and feet then tilt it right side up and tow em in like that. 2) Stirrup rescue sling- You take a 12-15 ft piece of webbing tied in a loop and fix it to the swimmers paddle(not yours). Lay the paddle across the most stable part of the yak and run the free end underneath the kayak to the other side where you wrap it several times around the paddle shaft.This will leave you with a loop a foot or two long that that the tired/cold swimmer can slip a foot in and stand up giving greater leverage for climbing back aboard a kayak. I have used this rescue effectively for big guys many times, it works and should be in your repertoire and part of your kit.
I'm hearing a lot of talk about radios but none on taking some kayaking lessons from certified professionals. As you can see from this thread radios fail. Stoggie radio went out, Als radio crapped out and most were not even tuned to the emergency channel 16 used by rescue services. What you all don't know is that once the mayday call was sent out to the coast guard a button was pushed and every swinging coastie around was mobilized. Choppers were fueled and in the air,two 47 foot motorlife boats were manned and on their way The cutter Baracuda was recalled from training on on standby. This was a big deal for the coast guard and it's what they exist for. I'm good good friends with the masterchief in charge of operations and he let me know in the nicest way that kayak fisherman are a new and constant source of worry for them because most kayak fisherman consider themselves fishermen and not kayakers so they forgo the training and learning that that the rest of the kayak world undergoes to enjoy their sport safely. Your radio is essential but it is at best unreliable. It is not your answer to safe kayaking. We had a great weekend and in the big picture view there was  no serious danger but it should serve as a wake up call to kayak fisherman that the ocean especially north of Pt Arena is no joke and requires a higher skillset to be totally safe. We have wives, children, and loved ones who depend on us to be conservative and not risk takers. I've seen the lifeless corpse of a kayaker and am haunted by many experiences where I've witnessed things escalate beyond control. I strongly urge all of you in the NCKA to work on rescues and recorvery. I will volunteer my time if need be and put on a safety class this summer (organized by ABKING). I run classes at my shop on Humboldt Bay come up for a one on one if you have the time or seek out professionals in your area and get dialed in. The life you save may be your own or that of a dear fishing buddy. I wasn't there during these incidents at shelter cove and I apologize if I got it wrong but I sincerely love my NCKA brothers and recognize that we fish in some of the most treacherous waters on the planet, please be safe and come home everytime