Mayday Recovery

Read this story on Coastside website. Anyone know if he's a member of the NCKA family.

Mayday recovery + Local RF report
4 of us were out for rockfish today and it was slow for us. So we are doing a drift out between #2 and #3 and we hear a Mayday on 16. It's a kayaker in the water next to his flipped kayak. We pull everything up and start searching for him. After a tense 20 minutes we determine he's out near what us locals call Peek a boo Rock. Only problem is, it's low tide and kinda rocky and shallow near Peek a boo Rock. We bring the outboards up to shallow drive and slowly motor Jigmaster to the guy. At one point we were in a measly 4' of water. Anyway we get the guy in our boat and removed his wetsuit and soaked him with hot water then dried him off. Dr. Bob Mazzetti checked his vital signs and we motored back to the harbor at high speed. The guy (named Neil) was hypothermic and in shock.

Dan Wolford on the Nancy H appeared out of nowhere and helped retrieve the guy's kayak. Thanks Dan for this and all you do for the Club!

So in the end, Neil was lucky today and will maybe next time stay away from Peek a Boo Rock at low tide....

Doesn't sound like an NCKA member to me.  It'll be interesting to see what else comes out on this story...

Wow, scary stuff.  Glad he made it out alive.

Look for a kayak for sell  on craig's list ---reeeeeeeal cheap.

The HMB reefs are not to be messed with.  This can not be stressed enough.  I'm still shaking my head at the reports of at least 3 kayak fishermen in the water at HMB this weekend, and then I hear this report.   

-Allen 

The HMB reefs are not to be messed with.  This can not be stressed enough.  I'm still shaking my head at the reports of at least 3 kayak fishermen in the water at HMB this weekend, and then I hear this report.   

-Allen

this x 10^23!!!! 

whats up with ppls going in the drink this weekend?  Nice job on the rescue but get it together to avoid the need.   

There were several non ncka kayakers at OC today, out in JUNK! One guy, no pfd, I even offered him one on the beach. He was happy in his ten foot sit inside tub.  Cody even said "we better keep an eye on him dad" he didnt stay out long. Big blue isnt forgiving when the cards are dealt. It will be interesting to hear more about this one.

We should have a sticky somewhere where we post certain locations and the dangers or restrictions (MLPA etc) associated with them all n one page. HMB for example. Not a lot of people (especially the newbies) knows about the pinnacles/shallow reef west of the harbor mouth that produce some steep, gnarly, sleeper waves from time to time specially on low tide. They might see it as a good fishing spot instead when they see it on their sonars. I always try to warn others of that area when I see new guys posting a HMB hookup asking for advises. I don't know, just a thought.

I was out on my powerboat on Saturday, and noticed a guy at the launch who was heading out in a Hobie. He wasn't anyone I recognize, no NCKA stuff visible, and we didn't speak. But I did watch him for a minute, because something struck me as odd, in the way he was sitting in his boat. Maybe listing just a touch? Anyways, my impression was that he wasn't proficient, and this was in protected water. So, out I go, through a mixed, lumpy swell, and up toward the lighthouse, and ten minutes later I hear on the radio that someone needs help 500 yards out from the harbor. Further radio traffic confirmed that it was a kayaker who had "swamped his kayak". Lots of boats were close by, and a helpful guy was there quickly, and brought him back to the harbor.

Nobody hurt, but it definitely made me shake my head, imagining a fellow willing to get out on the ocean (alone) who doesn't have the skill or strength to climb back out on his boat. Kinda gives kayakers a bad reputation. And not in a "badass" kinda way.

Ya know, people have been underestimating the danger of the ocean forever. This is just a couple current events. Fuckin people man. What ya gonna do?

I fished out of Timber Cove toady in a zodiac and as I was going out there was a guy paddling back in yelling to the is friends on the beach to put more logs on the fire and to start the car because their friends has flipped their tandem yak. I managed to met Kayak Jack and Kahuna. It was nice meeting you two. Fishing was a bit slow but we caught fish. A 33 inch ling, a nice cab along with 3 keeper Rockies

Hopefully not NCKA, our peeps should know better!

That being said, everyone is a newbie at one time or another.  That's why I do my best to educate any kayakers I see going out without the appropriate gear.  Most are thankful and appreciative about the information about what we consider mandatory, and why.

My greatest fear is restrictions that may be put on kayakers because of all these numb nuts who need to be rescued.

It's not just newbie yakers whom get in trouble. Last year a guy in a new tracker bass boat went Salmon fishing out of Morro Bay. It was foggy he had no radar or GPS. He misjudged the entrance and took that new boat into the surf flipping the boat. lucky no one was killed.
The Coast Guard may make us take some safety classes. But other restrictions I doubt it. 

Kinda gives kayakers a bad reputation. And not in a "badass" kinda way.

THIS ^