Kayaker found boatless

WHAT A DUMBASS !!!

Maybe this thread should read " Kayaker Found Brainless".

Not sure how well prepared the guy was or wasn't but I'm sure he'll be better prepared next time....he's just lucky there is a next time.

We need to hear from the man.

Sir, I cordially invite you to this site to tell your story.  If you have faltered regarding proper safety procedures you may suffer some level of reproof here, but you'll surely experience ten times that level of welcome and good advice going forward.  We're glad you're OK - mostly for you, but also for the fact that we do this sport with a level of awareness and care that we hope will always earn the trust and acceptance of both the general public and our significant others who have some say in our activities!  It is for this and other reasons that we are very interested in your story and the repercussions of it. 

Im just glad that wasn't my friend Levi (Steele_Leader)...

Facts:
   Man began paddling at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.
   Kayak takes on water at 6 or 7:00 p.m. – far off shore (doesn't say how far off shore.)

Total Time: 9 hours  That’s a really LONG time to be paddling or fishing. He had to be exhausted if he was paddling for nine hours. If he paddled for 9 hours, how did he have the energy to swim/ float for 9 hours afterwards?  If he was fishing, he most likely had a SOT, but that isn't conclusive.

Facts:
   Man was rescued Thursday morning about four to six miles away from where he launched.

If he was paddling  for 9 hours at a 3 m.p.h. pace he would have been a lot further away than four to six miles, unless he was on his way back to where he launched from. It doesn't stipulate 4 to 6 miles off shore - just away from the launch which could mean further north or south along the shore.

Facts:
   The kayak started taking on water and quickly sank despite his efforts to bail it out, after being on the water for 9 hours.


What kinds of things cause a kayak to suddenly take on water and sink after being sea worthy for 9 hours?  A shark attack?  He hits a buoy? He hits a rock? He gets hits by a boat?  It’s a home made kayak and it sprung a leak?  The hatches took on water from big waves, but then how could he swim back if the waves were unruly?

Facts:
   After being on the water for nine hours, the kayak quickly sank at 7:00 p.m., “He thinks he made it to shore about 4 or 5 a.m.” Lerma said.

This man must be in incredible shape to tread water/ swim from 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.   Nine hours.  Chances are being hypothermic made him lose track of time. 

Total time between paddling and swimming 18 hours.  

"We need to hear from the man. Sir, I cordially invite you to this site to tell your story."  Abking

Conclusion:  There’s a lot to this story that doesn’t add up, but I doubt the man would be willing to share what happen to a handful of people who call him a bunch of unpleasant names.  

It makes more sense to me now why Dan was so tight lipped about saying anything about the shark attack on NORCAL- perhaps he didn't want to be attacked a second time by  people. Not only does Dan appear to be extremely physically able to rescue himself from a shark attack,  he appears to be extremely bright  too and knows how to ward off a people attack.

" See, this is why I wanted to remain The Lurker, a reader not a writer"  Dan  http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=2516.270

I am sure everyone has done something that wasn't too bright.   but is  name calling really necessary or productive?

It makes me kind-of wonder if that's the reason why only 50 to 70 of the 900 registered NORCAL members ever write a post on NORCAL.

Maybe they want to remain a Lurker, like Dan because they want to avoid being attacked.  

I guess that either makes me really brave for not staying in the shadows, or really stupid for sticking my neck out. Perhaps its a little of both.
 

Absent facts, this is all supposition. Some of it is ill-informed and lacking understanding of the San Diego coast.

If he launched from Marine St. and then drifted south, he could well have missed most of the armada fishing LJ.  The morning crew would have gone in, and he would have been well south of where the afternoon crew would have fished.  With the fishing so good offshore (paddies and chasing tuna) the boats that normally fish LJ probably wouldn't be out in LJ on a weekday.

I agree with Nate. Also, given the reported put-in, this was no rental. The schedule and location argues kayak fisherman, but we don't know at this point.

At La Jolla the area we know as the corner is roughly 3 miles from La Jolla Shores and maybe 1.5 to 2 miles from Marine St. There's little reason to venture farther offshore (unless you're looking for paddies - not a common happenstance and nothing to be taken lightly).

Skygreen writes that 9 hours on the water would leave someone exhausted.

Total Time: 9 hours   That’s a really LONG time to be paddling or fishing. He had to be exhausted if he was paddling for nine hours.

For a kayak angler, 9 hours is a full day but it doesn't take an ironman and its certainly not exhausting for regular kayakers. That's barely longer than an average outing, which might run from 6 am to 1 or even 2. Anglers don't paddle all the time, and when we do, it is usually at an easy pace. 8 hours on a kayak does not equate to exhaustion. Now, spending 10+ hours in the water in just a pair of shorts? Mind-boggling. I doubt most of us would survive it.

If he wasn't fishing but just paddling, not much changes. Although rec paddlers rarely make it to the outer edge of the kelp.

Too much supposing and assuming to say much more than PFDs and VHFs are potential life-savers. I hope we do hear the full story.

It makes me kind-of wonder if that's the reason why only 50 to 70 of the 900 registered NORCAL members ever write a post on NORCAL.

Maybe they want to remain a Lurker, like Dan because they want to avoid being attacked.  

I guess that either makes me really brave for not staying in the shadows, or really stupid for sticking my neck out. Perhaps its a little of both.
 

You know, we never write junk like this unless it's totally ridiculous.. And this story IS. And even still, we're more than happy to help these unfortunate people.. it's all in good fun. How can you not get that after being here for a while? Your posts are always only halfway relating to us (paddling info etc.). I guess it's not too difficult to see why you don't get us but even after all the crap that went on before we're still polite to you. If you're gonna hang out here stop badmouthing NCKA!! And if you don't like how we are, like the Oaktown fisherman said, "paddle on." No hard feelings.

Z

P.S. I'm not looking to get into some debate, just my opinion. Out.

Facts:

Total Time: 9 hours  That’s a really LONG time to be paddling or fishing. He had to be exhausted if he was paddling for nine hours. If he paddled for 9 hours, how did he have the energy to swim/ float for 9 hours afterwards?  If he was fishing, he most likely had a SOT, but that isn't conclusive.

PAL I wrote if he was paddling for 9 hours he would have to be pretty exhausted - not if he was fishing for nine hours.  There's a big difference between the two.  My point was how did  he have the energy to swim/ tread water for 9 hours afterwards?

2 down 6 to go....

I've got entertainment for the Day!!! ....

  How does seal69 say " See what I Mean? " ........ Danglin

It makes me kind-of wonder if that's the reason why only 50 to 70 of the 900 registered NORCAL members ever write a post on NORCAL.

Maybe they want to remain a Lurker, like Dan because they want to avoid being attacked.  

I guess that either makes me really brave for not staying in the shadows, or really stupid for sticking my neck out. Perhaps its a little of both.
 

You know, we never write junk like this unless it's totally ridiculous.. And this story IS. And even still, we're more than happy to help these unfortunate people.. it's all in good fun. How can you not get that after being here for a while? Your posts are always only halfway relating to us (paddling info etc.). I guess it's not too difficult to see why you don't get us but even after all the crap that went on before we're still polite to you. If you're gonna hang out here stop badmouthing NCKA!! And if you don't like how we are, like the Oaktown fisherman said, "paddle on." No hard feelings.

Z

P.S. I'm not looking to get into some debate, just my opinion. Out.

Well said Z 

Maybe they want to remain a Lurker, like Dan because they want to avoid being attacked. 

Do you know Dan personally?

4 down 2 more to go - actually I miscounted 6 to go -

some things  are so perdicatable!  

 "How does seal69 say " See what I Mean? "  ........ Danglin"

DITTO

I spoke to the reporter a few minutes ago. We had a long discussion about the types of things inquiring minds want to know.  She got off of the phone and said she was going to try to contact him again.

She said she would let me know when/if she is able to interview him.

I left a message with the lifeguard service down there, asking for more details. I'll post anything they have to say about it.

Stu,
why are  you reading SD newspapers? 

Nate

Nate,
Just checking out jobs and housing  Man, you live in PARADISE!!!!

There’s a lot to this story that doesn’t add up, but I doubt the man would be willing to share what happen to a handful of people who call him a bunch of unpleasant names.

That's ok, I don't need his input. I choose folks like Amundsen to be my role models, not this guy.

“It's a real story of survival”

No, it's a real story of stupidity.

Regards,
Scott

P.S. - I swear, the next time I read/hear that "My VHF purchase was the best $XXX I spent", I'm going to poke a finger down my throat and induce vomiting. Having your rescue toolkit consist solely of a wetsuit, PFD and VHF is NOT taking the requisite amount of responsibility for your personal safety. Better that first $$$ you spend after obtaining a kayak go to rescue instruction, supplemental flotation, a compass etc...  Expedition kayakers do not rely on VHF, neither should you. Remember, marine electronics fail on a constant basis. Knowing how to keep yourself out of trouble, or how to get yourself out of trouble is much more valuable than a relatively delicate mechanical device.