Capsized Pro Angler 12

Self Rescue Doggystyle!

I've seen lots of capsized PAs down at LJKB and they are no more difficult to right or self rescue than any other yak. The first botched self rescue is a classic example of poor technique. Once your belly is on board you rotate to your butt then swing your legs on board. He tried to scramble on which works on a stern self rescue but not side.

bummer, they don't make a reverse feature on hobies yet?! Can't believe his net stayed in the holder after two swallows!

One other thing, when things go bad I paddle and peddle. It adds a little speed but more importantly allows me to brace.

Pedals are a life saver in this situation to get yourself out of harms way fast.  If you have to paddle, definitely need to adjust your blade angle to decrease the wind drag.  I am talking from experience.

However, you can brace with a paddle before you go all the way over, and the pedals don't offer that last ditch recovery option.

I was thinking the same.  Looks like he got sucked sideways in the trough, can't help but think you lose some hip mobility and bracing flexibility in a situation like that. 

Great video! Goes to show just how quickly conditions can change when out on the big blue. Same thing can happen at San Luis Reservoir too. Something very similar to this happened to me last year in Monterey Bay and lost two poles. Hit up a couple divers the next morning and they were able to recover the poles for me. I got lucky.  Thanks for sharing this video. Definitely something we can all learn from.

Ben

He sure had a lot of stuff.

My exact thought. I am convinced bigger boats just mean ppl take more OTW. The one time I have dumped it was similar -- rear quartering wind/waves/swell.

He looked quite a bit top heavy, seeing as that he rolled it again just trying to get back in. I can't tell you howany times I rolled my yak in the breakers at Lindamar last year. One time I caught a huge wave just as it was cresting and I stood straight up before being flipped on my back. Tie everything down always is my motto.

Glad this guy had his self rescue dialed. He lives another day.

His technique was poor.
He went straight to his knees the first time, which made him top heavy, and that's why he went immediately over.
He wasn't centered either.
Onto your belly, roll onto your butt, sit up, straighten out. This keeps you low and centered. It's pretty much one fluid motion but in essence it's really 4 important parts.
To his credit, I cringed when I saw how close his floating gear was, be he had the presence of mind to say eff that stuff and head straight in to safety. Know your limits.

I am glad that all he lost was gear, pretty cool of him on posting this so people that he will never meet get a chance to learn from it.

Practice is key to increasing your chances of successful self rescue.  As obvious as that is, how you practice is more often overlooked and can make all the difference. 

I practiced in Lake Natoma many times and thought I had it down.  The ocean taught me that I had more to learn.  Where I went wrong was to practice with just my wetsuit and PFD on.  I didn't have all my other gear on me and the boat.  I had an unscheduled dismount at Shelter Cove and learned that some of my gear I had attached to myself and on the boat was getting in the way.  My radio hooked on the side of the yak on the first attempt. I moved that and tried again.  Got part way up and got caught on my fish finder.  Back in I went.  I folded the fish finder and tried again.  I failed that one due to poor technique.  Lucky for me my partner got there to help and my next attempt was successful. 

I've probably been off an on that yak dozens of times in practice, but not with all my fishing gear.  Since then I've got a different PFD with a smooth front and I moved my radio.  I also know to fold my fishfinder down. 

I'm also a fan of floats instead of lanyards.  Too much to get tangled in.  It sucks to be in the water and tangled in your gear. 

guess I need to practice more. I've never rolled I'm not very big so being top heave really isn't a problem for me. I was in water like that off leffingwell last year. Never felt like i was in trouble. Just the paddling was harder. But we were smart like always we paddle up hill. So the wind will help us get back. All we had to do was to keep from being blown into the breakers. And keep the bow pointed to home. 

my 2 cents

I'll definitely start leashing more of my gear after seeing this!

I would do the opposite. More leashes can just wrap around you legs,arms or neck and create more problems. The only thing I leash is my paddle.

I kept thinking "stay low, stay low" while he was reboarding,

+1 and always keep your chin close to the deck when re-boarding

However, you can brace with a paddle before you go all the way over, and the pedals don't offer that last ditch recovery option.

+1 as you can see in the vid, he was not paying attention to the swells coming from behind him. Having paddle on hand and proper bracing tehniques could have kept his yak upright.

He sure had a lot of stuff.

+1

Know your limits.

+ 1

At 2:04 mins. during his first attempt to get back aboard, the FF was on the way.  Definitely did not help.

+1

I keep my FF and one rod holder right below where my feet rest - this gives me a lot room without dealing with any clutter that gets in the way when self rescuing.

IMO, learn to be a kayaker first and a fisherman second.

I'm glad you brought up Shelter Cove, Gabe, because the same scenario can easily play out there, and you'll be farther offshore or along a rocky shoreline where you cannot just beach it. 

That yak looked top heavy with the high seat.  I like my X-Factors, and I like being a paddler.

Eric,
When that happened I was just off the end of the jetty and got caught by colliding waves from behind.  I may have only been a short distance from shore, but if I hadn't been able to re-board my yak, the swim would have still have been a pain in the butt if not impossible with all that gear on.  It could prove fatal if you were by yourself in a remote area.  It would be ten times more dangerous anywhere out further. 

When Rich went in the water there a couple of years ago, his leashes were all wrapped around his legs.  That kept him from self rescuing.  He had to be cut free in order to get loose.  I had my rod leash around my legs when I went in two years ago.  Being tied up under water could be a real problem for a lone kayaker.  If I remember correctly, when zingthing went in last year, he had problems self rescuing because he was tangled.  I'm not a fan of leashes.  People may laugh at my rod floats, but I won't get wrapped up and I'll be able to paddle over and get my rods.  I don't bring much else out on the water.