Landing in surf

Hi all,
         I was wondering if anyone can give me some pointers on landing in surf.  I can't find any old threads on this, so I figured I would start one.  My issue is that anytime whitewater catches me from a breaker, it gets one side of my stern fin and I start to turn.  This is ok in shallow water when I can jump out quickly, but in water deeper than 3 feet I am worried about flipping (which has happened twice, this weekend when I was landing at Muir beach I lost all my crabs and my baitcaster got full of sand!).  I have been good at timing it to avoid being in the break, its just the damn white churning devil that catches up to me, even in 2-3 foot days.  Any tips would be greatly appreciated, as I want to avoid the hours spent dismantling my reel to clean it (with no crab to enjoy afterwards  ).  Thanks!! 

First off, have to suggest that if you want to get better at landing in the surf, try taking a basic skills class in surf exits, launches, and self rescue.  But the one tip that I'd say helped me the most is, stop trying to surf the wave. You can back paddle as soon as a wave starts to lift the back of your yak, let the wave pass, then forward paddle as soon as it passes your bow and come in behind that wave.  Lot more too it that that, such as timing the waves, looking for the lull in a set, etc.   If a wave does overtake your yak, you will need to know how to brace with your paddle to safely ride that wave in.  But all of this requires practice, so I'd still say go for the skills class.  It is worth every penny, and I've taken it four times now. 

If we can get a group of NCKA members to sign up for a class, perhaps with Half Moon Bay Kayak co, I'd be interested. Maybe we can get a group discount or something. I took a class for beginners there last year and it was very useful.

Beach/surf landing can get hairy if you're landing on an open beach. Even the smallest waves and a slight adjustment of your COG can get you dumped. It's even harder when your yak is rigged up to max with gear. 

Learn to side surf in the whitewater. Works almost every time. Kayak is turned parallel to the beach, and you lean into the wave with a paddle brace as it pushes the kayak onto the sand. The tricky part is to not roll or put your hand down when the kayak hits terra firma.

As Al suggested, a surf class/clinic is totally worth the money.

I would sign up for a surf class

If landing in medium to heavy surf you need to stow all your gear and catch well. Sometimes no mater what you do you are going to land ugly. You don't want a lot of tethers that you can become snagged in. Always pick a beach area where there are no kids playing. If the wave has already broken  and the white water is only a couple of feet tall you can be sideways and lean heavily into the white water while bracing with your paddle over the white water (side surfing). I'ts hard to surf strait without a rudder but if you do have a rudder deployed you are likely to tear it off when things go bad.  Sit outside and count the waves in the set. Usually three then a lull. You usually want to paddle in on the back of that third wave just before it breaks. When it does you need to paddle like hell to get out of the impact zone. You should be able the handle the white water of an 6 to 8' face or so more than that I don't want to come in there. On wide open beaches there will be areas where surf and currents are coming in and areas where more water is going out. Riding the incoming is helpful and will get you clear of the impact zone more quickly.
You should really go practice with a buddy.

I agree with Al on the back-paddling.

The few times I've been crushed in the surf were always when I tried to either outrun or surf a wave in.

Now back-paddling over the break, if possible, is my first choice and has saved me on many an occasion.

It's a timing thing. Stay close enough to the break that you have to back paddle as the wave roles under you. When the set of waves is over and you don't see any more, paddle like hell but keep looking over your shoulder and jump out when you get to knee deep water. Turn around and check for incoming waves.  If the coast is clear grab the bow and quickly pull the yak up the beach. If there is an incoming wave push the kayak in front of you and grab the stern and brace for impact. When the wave passes grab the bow and pull it up the beach. The wipe out you want to avoid is the wave hitting the kayak and the kayak hitting you. You really should take a class. 

My one last ditch effort to avoid swimming when waves come up behind me on the way in is to drop my feet and lay back. Sometimes that little bit lower center of gravity can save me. I have actually unhooked my seat back before to lay back. Dropping my feet when I get pitched sideways helps if I'm bracing or not.

I'm really glad Falcorking brought this topic up. I've been out on the bay a lot, and I've done some very mellow beach launch/landings down in Baja, but I'm eager to get out to the big blue this summer.

Where might one find a class to take?

JW

Practice practice practice. If you come in one day and don't feel super comfortable on your landing, unload all your gear and go back out. Launch and land as many times as you can. Once you feel like you are picking good lines and have good timing start going at the wrong time or picking a bigger swell. Expect to get wet and watch out if you dump in front of your kayak.
There is no substitute for repetition. Personally I'm not a fan of classes but if you are have at it. But no instructor can hand you a golden ticket that makes you good at surf landings.

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i dont know if anyone has already talked about this or if this is common knowledge... but those drift socks shaped like a cone that you can throw out the back... if you were to go into shore with one of those hanging out the back quite a ways wouldnt that help keep your butt end from twisting ... as it would have to pull the sock with it? or am i just way off here by saying that?

Deploying a drift chute while landing in surf sounds like worlds worst idea. Would keep you in an impact zone longer and just the kind of thing to wrap around your neck while being tumbled in the surf. It's a little like oiling the highway so you could slide around the corners easier.

   When I first started kayaking it was all about surfing.  They were sit in's and designed for whitewater.   At some point  the SOT's came onto the scene.     Fishing kayaks do not  surf well.      It's not easy, so don't feel bad, just got to practice.    What Al said is best advice.  "Time it so you approach the breaking waves, just behind it".   Then paddle like hell until the next one catches up and relax, try to balance.  If you find yourself going sideways, stick your paddle into the wave and brace against it.   Bracing is a technique you will have to learn.     ( something those pedal boat boys don't understand )              Also a low center of gravity is important.  Those lawn chair style seats are great out on the lakes, not in the surf zone.
    I tether my paddle to a leash connected to the bow eye.  That way when I jump out  I can quickly pull my kayak up the beach.       Stow everything, and have situational awareness, you don't want to get tangled in leash lines.




   

I've done it successfully time after time, but in my old scupper pro.  That boat made it pretty simple because of its speed.  Timing is key.  Take your time and observe the sets coming in before charging to the beach.  If possible, always stow away rods, ff, gaff, etc. i

I still havent tried to land my t13, but i'm not feeling as confident as with the scupper.  Good luck man.