Crash at Mavericks (HMB)

After fishing about six hours with one nice cabby to show for the great weather, I thought I'd cut the corner and return from Mavericks along the getty wall vs. going to the green can and back.  The waves coming in were almost non-existent.  I saw some slow 3 ft. swells coming in and thought it would be cool to try and catch the wave on my Hobie PA14.  Yeah, don't do this. 

I knew I was in trouble when a wave from the South surprised me.  Catching it wasn't an issue; it crested  on me and I was thrown forward as my 300lb. kayak full of stuff nose dived into the bottom of the wave.  Yep, head over heels into the ocean.  I thought my kayak was going to crush me as it flipped, but I popped up in my PFD to see my kayak now moving away from me.  I swam like mad to catch it and now realized how hard it is to flip back full of water and with more waves coming in. 

Complete yard sale.  Broke my big net, lost one rod/reel and even my siphon pump was torn off the kayak (the strap under the seat wasn't enough).  I made it back in one piece, minus the cut on my face. 

Glad you're okay! Losing gear hurts, hopefully it wasn't a super nice setup.

Your username is perfect for this post .

holy crap glad you were safe!! yes never take the shortcut... there is a reason why surfer like that area!!  Last time I was there, I cut the corner a little somewhat but I had speed and was scanning for waves. There are 2 green can in that area...one we all know about and the other one is west of the entrance. On Navi it is "1" and the other green can near the red is "3"


did you get rescue from a boat? so the PA didn't flip over?  anyways glad you are back on land safe

That’s the reason I watch the surf for 20 minutes before launching , sneakers will get ya every time. Glad you weren’t left adrift while your micro yacht drifted away. Take the scenic route next time.

That’s crazy thanks for sharing.

That's crazy... glad you're okay...

Glad you're alright, thanks for the info, never been out past the JAWS myself.

That’s crazy thanks for sharing.

+1. Thanks for sharing and I’m glad you’re ok.

    I'm sure you're well aware by now about the reef.   Glad you made it out ok. 

   That's a knarly  reef area  there...  the green can designates the safe passage route / side. ( Red -right ,,,returning. )    That area's a bitch.  I was fishing a bit too close there myself a few yrs back.  Had a close call @ low tide.   It's those sneaker waves that can form suddenly.

      Same goes for the exit at SC harbor if you get too close to the Jetty.

Glad you didn't suffer an injury or worse gear loss.

Thanks for sharing this - it should help others for sure.

Shelter Cove has a similar area of reef between the outer waters and the breakwater where crusher sets will show up periodically.  Even though on super flat days you can get away with cutting that corner, I just never do.  Everyone who goes out with me at the Cove is given the same instruction on this.

I was in Humboldt all day.

Glad you are ok.

Thanks for sharing...glad you are ok.

Glad your ok brotha!

Thanks for sharing...glad you are ok.

+1

Gotta be scary going head over heals in that beast of a kayak...

I remember paddling out there for a HMB contest.  Headed to the point and took the shorter route alongside the jetty.  It;'s all humps and rocks out there.  It was "Cain't see" foggy.  Man o man a lot of full-on zig zag paddling!  I was pretty stupid, but I made it (and won 2d place, a new set of wheeleze beach cart).

So. let me get this right......  You "thought it would be cool to try and catch the wave on my Hobie PA14.?"  If you ever decide to change your name on the board, I suggest just dropping "Trialand."

Welcome to the club.  Baptism by yard sale and relentless verbal hazing.

Bouché