Scary story
Posted: 13 May 2017, 20:57
So i launched inverloch boat ramp just after dawn and had decided to try and get offshore. A decent swell was running in against the out going tide. Covering water quickly i soon realised there was no deep path thru the surf and id have to go thru it. Two waves caught me harr on the chest with a wall of white and third one had me swimming.
Around now i realised id fuked up pretty hard. Long thick jacket under my life jacket immediately became a hinderance as did mysplash proof pants and trakkies.
Righted the yak between waves and remounted for a few breaths before next wave had me swimming again.
Now i realised i needed to be oh so careful and smart or id probably drown. Dont let go whatever happens if i lose the yak im stuffed here i thoughr. Managed to ditch pants in the water between my many remounts. My effort to remove a jacket from under the life jacket was crazy and at one time life jacket was undone while i was dumped. I focused and did life jacket up deciding this was safer.
Probably ten minutes in the surf zone geting absolutely smashed and finally i was back on top and seemed to be past the break.
I decided best to just keep on paddling out wide as i wanted zero part of the bar. I ditched my jacket and tshirt and paddled to flat rocks in my jocks. Some early morning sunshine warmed the body only slightly but kept paddling and stayed warm enough.
A nice couple on their walk offered a lift back to mr tangles and we went and recovered my kayak after a warm shower and dry clothes.
Lessons learnt include dont be a dickhead i mean what was i thinking tackling invy bar solo, needing proper water appropriate clothing, making sure my life jacket is done up tighter as this became obvious it was too loose.
More respect was needed in general and it did scare the S#!^ out of me a bit.
Staying calm relaxed and focused was what i did in my own favour as well as the surf training day helped my skill level and confidence that id manage thru it.
Im sore all over, arms especially from just holding onto my kayak.
Hope my mistakes and story can help others
Around now i realised id fuked up pretty hard. Long thick jacket under my life jacket immediately became a hinderance as did mysplash proof pants and trakkies.
Righted the yak between waves and remounted for a few breaths before next wave had me swimming again.
Now i realised i needed to be oh so careful and smart or id probably drown. Dont let go whatever happens if i lose the yak im stuffed here i thoughr. Managed to ditch pants in the water between my many remounts. My effort to remove a jacket from under the life jacket was crazy and at one time life jacket was undone while i was dumped. I focused and did life jacket up deciding this was safer.
Probably ten minutes in the surf zone geting absolutely smashed and finally i was back on top and seemed to be past the break.
I decided best to just keep on paddling out wide as i wanted zero part of the bar. I ditched my jacket and tshirt and paddled to flat rocks in my jocks. Some early morning sunshine warmed the body only slightly but kept paddling and stayed warm enough.
A nice couple on their walk offered a lift back to mr tangles and we went and recovered my kayak after a warm shower and dry clothes.
Lessons learnt include dont be a dickhead i mean what was i thinking tackling invy bar solo, needing proper water appropriate clothing, making sure my life jacket is done up tighter as this became obvious it was too loose.
More respect was needed in general and it did scare the S#!^ out of me a bit.
Staying calm relaxed and focused was what i did in my own favour as well as the surf training day helped my skill level and confidence that id manage thru it.
Im sore all over, arms especially from just holding onto my kayak.
Hope my mistakes and story can help others