Catalina Rescue

Some maybe wondering what and how and well all the deatils our here

 It was a nice day on the front side flat as can be and there were 26 kayakers planning on a trip to little harbor via the paddle over from Cat harbor. The guys that were loading all the gear as mentioned not too concerned of our safety and some didn’t even get there safety gear off (hence wear Sunburn gets his name.    )
We launched some where around noon. I was one of the 1st on the water tossing swim baits for the halibut and caught a few bass while at it. I was fully loaded with a crap load of gear yep I over packed. Bait tank and all. The front of the kayak had some extra gear as well. This shouldn’t have been there.
Either way as Anacapabob paddles up to my side I have been working my way to the end of the harbor and we start the paddle. We both agreed on turning off the radios to save the battery… HAHA we wont need them right.
Well we start the paddle all is going well and all I am looking at the FF/GPS saying wow this isn’t bad already 2 miles. By the way it was windy and swell was up. We had at least a 6ft swell and 20-30mph winds. I was taking waves over the bow and starboard the hole way down
Anacapa is doing a speed paddle at this time and is way in the distance I have Mike and his son near me. About 3 miles in I say wait a second my kayak is getting a little unstable… OHHHHHHH CRRRAAAAPPPP this is not going to be good im still a mile out from little harbor and nothing but sharp rocks for beaches…
I am sitting in the kayak and starting to notice that the foot wells have water in them and usually drain fast and it’s usually a really dry ride even with a semi blocked scupper on the right. So I take a peak inside OHHHHH NO its more then half full of water…
I get on the radio BOB,BOB,BOB,BOB,BOB,BOB GET BACK HERE I NEED YOUR PUMP. Bob now what im already over here u come to me… NOOOOO BOB BOB BOB BOB BOB get back here with ur pump and everyone else’s pump we need pumps mine is well in the worse spot possible the front hatch…
Well at this point I borrow mikes sons pump but its too late for a one pump job. So I hold on I see Bob and Scott, and the iceman coming. OK sweet well my kayak at this poing is really unstable and no longer able to hold me sitting on it normal so BYE BYE KAYAK… I fell in and started to lay my stomach across the center of my kayak and waited for bob and the crew to get here. The other 20 were on the beach and had no idea that anything was going on. I had 2 of my rods to Mikes son and then waited. The group showed up in 5 minutes and well for some reason BOB decides to javelin hit sabeki rod into the water. OHHH OK so that's how this is gonna work... I had been calling mayday for about 5 minutes now and not getting any response. A boat in cat harbor had to relay the message to the CG. So we had a sheriff and CG and Lifeguard en route to assist.
I lay across bobs and my kayak to stay out of the water while we come up with a plan. Bob keeps telling me that we need a plan.
Really Bob really really.
Plan A land on the beach right there. Bob r u flip nuts that beach is a cliff with shark tooth rocks at the base. How about a plan b
Plan B get on the back of his kayak and have him paddle the rest of the way. Sounds much more sain. But this is the thing we leave the kayak here ohhh no my semi new kayak is gone forever. But we our having an emergency here.
So i get to the back of his kayak and hang on for dear life. And he starts paddling not making much head way but then we tie his bowline to the back of scotts outback and we start making head way and it felt good now. BOB kept yelling kick. I am Bob gosh. just remember we our all being "Cool like the Fonzies" we as a group keep slowly make it towards little harbor about 1/6 of a mile from the point to turn the sheriff boat pulls up.
I swim over to it and jump on.
He asked me where do u want to go?
What I have an option.
Sweet how about right there.
He heads over to little harbor and I get on the radio and call for someone to bring me a kayak.
Bing jumps in a tandem and starts my way. Pulls up and I shake the sheriff officers hand and jump in the tandem and wave to the CG bird as we paddle to the beach.
Land in little harbor and greet everyone. The rest pulled in minutes later.
We all get dry and set up camp.
As for safety equipment I had my waders, winched down with the draw string and a paddle jacket over that tight at the waist kept all water out I was dry till I started to swim over to the boat but if I would have tightened the neck strap I probably would have been dry still. I also had a properly fitting pfd that kept me above water at all times. As well as a water proof submergable VHF. Only other thing I would have liked to have is a SPOT which for some reason I have not ordered and I have a free one waiting for me.   

The coast guard could not hear our calls from the back side of the island which has always been a concern for me with most of my fishing being in big sur which is 50+ miles from the nearest port. That being said if the boat in cat harbor message they would have never heard us. Does this mean we need to go and get better vhf radios... No talking to the sheriff he said they could not here him in LA and the coast guard helicopter had to relay the message to them. So i don't think it matters what portable vhf u get its not gonna reach LA from Catalina.

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this all went down around 3pm and around 7 was on the beach talking to Rob and im sorry but forgot ur name and they said whats that shiny thing floating in the water. OHHHH crap thats my kayak. it had somehow came the close to a mile and around the point with no scratches on it. With the help of a few that were on the water helped pull it the rest of the way. My kayak came back to me. The kayak did not have any damage that we could see and i took all the crap    that i had in it.

The water was pumped out and the kayak was tested the next day and did not get any water in it. So the problem came from the center rod pod hatch. I think and a lot of other think the scupper in the front is a crappy idea the scuppers just could not drain fast enough for these conditions.

Ive added some spacers to the transducer as well as about 15 pool noodles. If this ever happens again at least the noodle will be there and should be enough to hold up the kayak even with the water. The hatch is as mentioned is very low and does not have a great seal it should have a better. OC has made a fishing machine but needs some adjustment and bad. I am sure I am not the first that this has happened too but hope i am the last.

Ohhh ya remember above all to
"Be cool like the Fonzies"
stay relaxed and dont panic which I dont like panicing and having some comedy in the whole thing helped out...
Everything will work out.

I may have forgot some of the key points of the rescue so guys that were out there please chime in and do a follow up.

damn rhyan, what an adventure, glad all worked out,and you are safe, and the yak came back, thanks for the report, always can learn something from someone elses mishaps, cameron

This may go down as an eye opener to lots of us who paddle T's. The weather would definetley have a role here. I would just ask OK about what condtions as far as water coming over the kayak from waves and cross swell is acceptable. Thanks for the report. Sounds like the conditions were iffy in the first place. Were the straps across the rod pod cover down tight? Sorry to hear about your misfortune but thanks again for letting us know Ryan.

Just glad you were OK Ryan. It was a very scary place and time to be in the water. Nice to see the waders worked. It's amazing that the yak came back to you. Definitely a ghost ship. I think extreme conditions can get anyone in trouble.

Video by Don
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I am glad  it all worked out ok, 

I'm glad you're OK Ryan, and thanks for posting this lesson for all of us.

On another topic, talked to my brother on his birthday. His 31' Uniflite is being launched in Avalon harbor next week, so perhaps we can do a mothership trip ..

Rich

That's hairy, glad you came through okay!

Damn RH - that is some scary stuff - glad you made it through OK - see you otw soon

S-K-E-T-C-H-Y!

Glad your safe!

Now that's a GREAT story...noddles, noddles, noddles...and some friends help.....I don't feel so bad now...

Your yak came back...Hell Yeah!!!  Good Karma...   Way to keep your $h^t together..,

I had water coming in my front hatch...tightend it down no more probs...Dr H had similar problem this last week end...his pump was buried where he couldn't get to it...but all was good...

Thanks for the journey!!!

One ?  I was told by the kid that worked @ Albion that if I were to of called CG, I would be responsible for the costs of a rescue...did u have to pay any $$$  and if u did!  U ask your self whats your life worth...$$$ doesn't play into it...

Ryan, thanks for sharing your story! That's some hairy looking water to transit with a lot of gear!  Glad it turned out the way it did, with you safe and your yak recovered!  Obviously you still had a great time that weekend, the report was awesome! 

Dude...

Very glad you are OK, AND that you managed to get your Yak back!!

Thanks for sharing so we can all learn and benefit.

Sincerely,

Jim

I have been seeing more and more yakkers keep the pump bungeed to the outside of the boat....Time to move mine

One ?  I was told by the kid that worked @ Albion that if I were to of called CG, I would be responsible for the costs of a rescue...did u have to pay any $$$  and if u did!  U ask your self whats your life worth...$$$ doesn't play into it...

I am not sure about that the kids may have mislead u. CG is a goverment run organization and its kinda like being charged if your car catches fire for them to come put it out. I guess if they trasported me to the hospital yes but as long as u dont go with them then they should not be able to charge.  But interesting to find out.

I have been seeing more and more yakkers keep the pump bungeed to the outside of the boat....Time to move mine

I moved mine. if needed u will not be getting to it if it is inside.

For starters, I'm glad all involved are okay. Even got the yak back. Outstanding!
Now my 2 cents. As for vhf radios, aren't they line of sight? I'm always doing radio checks while on the water and am pretty much disappointed with the results. I used to have a power boat and the rule there was to have the antenna as high in the air as possible. How high is your antenna when you're in the drink, and then add rough seas to that?
As for sketchy conditions, I've been out in scary stuff, and not even packing much of a load, and had lots of water coming in. Those times have been far apart and few. I know my limits, kayak included. I don't like that about my X13, water comes into the hull at will if it gets to the center hatch. Thing's a sieve. Good thing I scare easy.
As for pumps, many times you have to keep paddling just to keep things under control. I'd really dislike being in a situation where I have to offer myself up to the winds and seas just so's I could work the pump. That's not to say I'm not getting a pump soon anyway.
I can't imagine having to abandon my boat.
Glad to hear the waders worked alright.
Thanks for sharing, much appreciated.