Rescued a flipped kayak at HMB today 9/18

Wind today was rough at BH. It was fine until 8ish, then picked up. I have a special leash to hook my self to my kayak in case the wind blows it away from me, and I put it on today. I decided to head closer to the launch, and eventually landed.

I think it was surprisingly rough today because the wind was blowing from the south. It seems like the wind blowing 90 degrees to the swell is a recipe for confused seas.

I think it was surprisingly rough today because the wind was blowing from the south. It seems like the wind blowing 90 degrees to the swell is a recipe for confused seas.

Brah!  Suckin' south wind has ruined many a fishing opportunity all summah', and da bite. Still can geetum though so we keep going...good work steppin' up and dealing with real life boating...

yah, the waves sucked out there, just constant deep chop - had to really stay alert.
I heard the call and rescue on the radio - called in by another kayaker - he called the coast guard, and sounded like you called them back and cancelled after he was back on his yak, the guy calling it in seemed really shaken buy it.  After that call, Joe and I looked around and we were the only Yakers left, we fished til a littler after noon and headed in.

Thanks for helping that guy out,
Brian.

H.Y.S.T. New Yacronym.
Have
Your
Shit
Together

Doesn't matter if you go out alone or in a group. Expect the best, be prepared for the worst.
If you cannot get back on your kayak, learn before you go out.
Be dressed properly.
Have emergency communication at hand at all time.
Be responsible for yourself.
Bottom line HYST!

Why do so many people go out alone?

Going out alone is fine if you're also prepared and an experienced mariner.  I do a lot of solo trips.  I say my PLB is my "buddy" and my hundreds of thousands of miles on the water gives me enough experience to know when it's not good to go out or it's time to head in early.

I think a better question is why do so many people skip self-rescue practice until it's an emergency?

Hundreds of thousand miles on a kayak?

Circumnavconflation

Bouché

Just to be clear, I think brother Tedski is logging his CG boat miles in his experience...

What Eddie said.  Hundreds of thousands of miles of total experience as a mariner... I'm quite new to kayaking.  Apologies for the confusion.

I think it was surprisingly rough today because the wind was blowing from the south. It seems like the wind blowing 90 degrees to the swell is a recipe for confused seas.

I was out near Pacifica and we got hit with the same wind.  It made for sporty conditions until we held in the lee behind a point and the bite turned on.  Off the water by 11, though.  Heard the camo kayak description over the radio, but due to my location it was broken and unreadable beyond that.  Glad to hear everything worked out great for all involved.

I also go out solo a lot, since most of my friends are pretty lazy these days    But I go with all the safety equipment to self rescue, or rescue someone else.  The first piece of gear you should have after a PFD and wetsuit/drysuit is a whistle to call for help with.  Yelling for help is going to wear you out quickly. 

FYI I'm bringing a bag full of whistles with lanyards to the MBK event free to anyone that wants one 

He was well prepared with the dry suit, at least. Didn't see if he had a radio, but if he did, I guess it wasn't attached to him when he flipped. That would have been helpful. Lucky I had the motor off and was able to hear him. He said to me "you saved my life", but I doubt that. He could have lasted a long time in that dry suit, and there were many other boats and kayaks around. If I wasn't there, someone else would have noticed him before long. He was not far from the jaws. I bet he could have swum to the jetty and climbed up on the rocks.

I didn't get a chance to ask him if he tried to flip the kayak back over. He was kind of freaked out and took off before much conversation could take place.

Kudos to you for saving the guy, and make no mistake, you DID save the guy! 

We can't assume that he was dressed for immersion just because of the drysuit... he might not have been wearing an insulation layer underneath. 

Additionally, all those boats/kayakers around him might have thought the same, "Someone else will help him..." which may or may not occur (at all or in time) to actually help the guy.

Lastly, if he was panicked (which it sounds like he was), he wasn't thinking clearly enough to save himself or swim to safety.

You saved him; he even told you so.  If he had been adequately trained/prepared to be on the ocean, we either wouldn't have heard this story, or we'd be reading an autobiographical, cautionary tale about how he went swimming at HMB. 

Crabbing season is around the corner... we're going to hear a lot more stories like this. 

Crabbing season is around the corner...

He was well prepared with the dry suit, at least. Didn't see if he had a radio, but if he did, I guess it wasn't attached to him when he flipped. That would have been helpful. Lucky I had the motor off and was able to hear him. He said to me "you saved my life", but I doubt that. He could have lasted a long time in that dry suit, and there were many other boats and kayaks around. If I wasn't there, someone else would have noticed him before long. He was not far from the jaws. I bet he could have swum to the jetty and climbed up on the rocks.

I didn't get a chance to ask him if he tried to flip the kayak back over. He was kind of freaked out and took off before much conversation could take place.

Kudos to you for saving the guy, and make no mistake, you DID save the guy! 

We can't assume that he was dressed for immersion just because of the drysuit... he might not have been wearing an insulation layer underneath. 

Additionally, all those boats/kayakers around him might have thought the same, "Someone else will help him..." which may or may not occur (at all or in time) to actually help the guy.

Lastly, if he was panicked (which it sounds like he was), he wasn't thinking clearly enough to save himself or swim to safety.

You saved him; he even told you so.  If he had been adequately trained/prepared to be on the ocean, we either wouldn't have heard this story, or we'd be reading an autobiographical, cautionary tale about how he went swimming at HMB. 

Crabbing season is around the corner... we're going to hear a lot more stories like this.

I speak with coast guard and the harbor patrol when I'm at hmb. The frequency for assisted rescue is far greater than what is reported on these forums or online. Most people who are unprepared and get in trouble are pretty embarrassed and will just scurry away for fear if getting called out or being judged.

Been preaching safety for over 15 years. Nothing has changed much. I still see plenty of people without pfd, wearing shorts and sandals, and completely unprepared. Yelling and telling people to get their sht together aint gonna change the scenario either. I  try to lead by example and that is as much as I can do. Sooner or later it's gonna be mandated and enforces with tickets. We can have the freedom for now but those who are unprepared will lead us all to mandated safety gear and probably fees to implement these programs in the future. 

He was well prepared with the dry suit, at least. Didn't see if he had a radio, but if he did, I guess it wasn't attached to him when he flipped. That would have been helpful. Lucky I had the motor off and was able to hear him. He said to me "you saved my life", but I doubt that. He could have lasted a long time in that dry suit, and there were many other boats and kayaks around. If I wasn't there, someone else would have noticed him before long. He was not far from the jaws. I bet he could have swum to the jetty and climbed up on the rocks.

I didn't get a chance to ask him if he tried to flip the kayak back over. He was kind of freaked out and took off before much conversation could take place.

Kudos to you for saving the guy, and make no mistake, you DID save the guy! 

We can't assume that he was dressed for immersion just because of the drysuit... he might not have been wearing an insulation layer underneath. 

Additionally, all those boats/kayakers around him might have thought the same, "Someone else will help him..." which may or may not occur (at all or in time) to actually help the guy.

Lastly, if he was panicked (which it sounds like he was), he wasn't thinking clearly enough to save himself or swim to safety.

You saved him; he even told you so.  If he had been adequately trained/prepared to be on the ocean, we either wouldn't have heard this story, or we'd be reading an autobiographical, cautionary tale about how he went swimming at HMB. 

Crabbing season is around the corner... we're going to hear a lot more stories like this.

I speak with coast guard and the harbor patrol when I'm at hmb. The frequency for assisted rescue is far greater than what is reported on these forums or online. Most people who are unprepared and get in trouble are pretty embarrassed and will just scurry away for fear if getting called out or being judged.

Been preaching safety for over 15 years. Nothing has changed much. I still see plenty of people without pfd, wearing shorts and sandals, and completely unprepared. Yelling and telling people to get their sht together aint gonna change the scenario either. I  try to lead by example and that is as much as I can do. Sooner or later it's gonna be mandated and enforces with tickets. We can have the freedom for now but those who are unprepared will lead us all to mandated safety gear and probably fees to implement these programs in the future.

Keep in mind we already have mandated safety equipment requirements that are enforced with tickets.  Luckily, the USCG takes an "education over enforcement" angle and so even when you get a "ticket" it's easily turned into a no-fee fix-it ticket by providing photo proof you've remedied the situation.  That said, if your lack of safety equipment puts you in considerable danger to yourself or others, your voyage may be terminated and it would be a felony to get back on the water without remedying the problems outlined in the paperwork.  No PFD on board would be an example of a terminable offense... or no fire extinguisher with a gas powered motor hanging off your AI... etc.