Lessons Learned from a Prepared Paddlers Misfortune
Posted: 23 Dec 2017, 19:43
This was posted a few days ago from TSV/Boating Safety News.
Here is the conclusions from a near fatal incident, back in October, from a seasoned paddler traveling from Stony Point to French Island.
Although this paddler had the safety gear, knowledge, experience and current weather info, things didn't quite go right for him.
He is a lucky person to be alive today.
Please read and reassess your preparation and safety equipment.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Lessons Learnt: How a routine commute led to capsize
In October, a well-prepared paddler was undertaking his regular 4.5km commute home by sea-kayak from Stony Point to French Island when his vessel capsized.
The wind was gusting to 29 knots from the WSW. Twenty minutes into his trip the sea-kayak was capsized by a wave and he was unable to roll back upright.
The regular ferry service passed within 300m of his position while he was in the water, however he was unable to gain their attention.
He was unable to get back on, so attempted to swim the kayak to land – he only activated his personal locator beacon (PLB) when he thought that he might not make it.
Timeline
5:48pm: Departed Stony Point (pictured), paddling SE in lee of the land
6:00pm: Turned to the East in following seas
6:09pm: Fell out halfway to French Island - stayed with sea-kayak kicking it towards French Island at slow speed until he thought he might succumb to the cold.
6:31pm: Beacon Alert Received in Canberra- emergency contact information gathered while position was determined.
6:40pm: Position determined by satelltie & emergency contact advised of situation.
6:44pm Water Police contacted by Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra.
6:55pm Air Ambulance requested by Water Police to attend.
7:09pm Air Ambulance airborne and enroute to last known location.
Two Marine Seach & Rescue boats were tasked by the Water Police and a resident of the island also launched his own boat to assist with the search.
7:43pm the Air Ambulance located the paddler in the shallows of French Island. Body temperature 30.5 deg. Having spent more than an hour in the cold water until he was seen near shore by a helicopter crew, he was taken to hospital with hypothermia.
We spoke to the man after the ordeal about what went wrong despite his usual precautions.
Trip preparation
He had practised self rescue techniques including eskimo rolls and deep water re-entries.
He wears a lifejacket and carries a phone in a waterproof pouch, PLB and radar reflector on his kayak.
He had recently purchased a portable VHF radio, but it was not on board because the battery was flat.
He always lets his partner know his trip plans, and she was able to track the journey by his phone’s GPS.
He had considered an up to date forecast, and wind conditions matched the expected 25-28 knots W/SW. However, the weather and sea conditions were beyond his capability.
After capsize
His lifejacket supported him in the water both while he attempted to re-enter the sea-kayak and while kicking towards the shore.
His waterproof phone pouch failed because it had degraded over time.
The regular ferry passed him by without sighting him in the water and he had no means to gain their attention.
The PLB signal failed intermittently, either when the satellite was in a poor position or the PLB antenna was under water.
Conclusions from Event
Know your limits and be prepared.
When in an emergency situation you should call for help as early as possible. Any delay may result in a less than favourable outcome.
Having multiple ways of calling for help will cover more than one situation. Sometimes alerting those in the near vicinity provides a quicker outcome than waiting for a rescue to be coordinated from afar.
A PLB is not buoyant like an EPIRB and needs to maintain visual contact with the satellite. A PLB will not float with the aerial above the water and will most likely need to be held above the water. An attachment to the shoulder of your lifejacket may assist.
A ‘pea less’ whistle may be effective in raising the attention of people who are nearby. There are personal rocket flares as well as rocket flares and smoke flares that can be used by paddlers if there are other boaters, planes or land based people within visual range.
A paddle float adds to the stability of your craft if you are having trouble getting back on board or back inside in choppy conditions.
High-vis hats and high-vis lifejackets or flags will assist in collision avoidance – but will also assist searchers if they are looking for a person or kayak in difficult conditions.
Here is the conclusions from a near fatal incident, back in October, from a seasoned paddler traveling from Stony Point to French Island.
Although this paddler had the safety gear, knowledge, experience and current weather info, things didn't quite go right for him.
He is a lucky person to be alive today.
Please read and reassess your preparation and safety equipment.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Lessons Learnt: How a routine commute led to capsize
In October, a well-prepared paddler was undertaking his regular 4.5km commute home by sea-kayak from Stony Point to French Island when his vessel capsized.
The wind was gusting to 29 knots from the WSW. Twenty minutes into his trip the sea-kayak was capsized by a wave and he was unable to roll back upright.
The regular ferry service passed within 300m of his position while he was in the water, however he was unable to gain their attention.
He was unable to get back on, so attempted to swim the kayak to land – he only activated his personal locator beacon (PLB) when he thought that he might not make it.
Timeline
5:48pm: Departed Stony Point (pictured), paddling SE in lee of the land
6:00pm: Turned to the East in following seas
6:09pm: Fell out halfway to French Island - stayed with sea-kayak kicking it towards French Island at slow speed until he thought he might succumb to the cold.
6:31pm: Beacon Alert Received in Canberra- emergency contact information gathered while position was determined.
6:40pm: Position determined by satelltie & emergency contact advised of situation.
6:44pm Water Police contacted by Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra.
6:55pm Air Ambulance requested by Water Police to attend.
7:09pm Air Ambulance airborne and enroute to last known location.
Two Marine Seach & Rescue boats were tasked by the Water Police and a resident of the island also launched his own boat to assist with the search.
7:43pm the Air Ambulance located the paddler in the shallows of French Island. Body temperature 30.5 deg. Having spent more than an hour in the cold water until he was seen near shore by a helicopter crew, he was taken to hospital with hypothermia.
We spoke to the man after the ordeal about what went wrong despite his usual precautions.
Trip preparation
He had practised self rescue techniques including eskimo rolls and deep water re-entries.
He wears a lifejacket and carries a phone in a waterproof pouch, PLB and radar reflector on his kayak.
He had recently purchased a portable VHF radio, but it was not on board because the battery was flat.
He always lets his partner know his trip plans, and she was able to track the journey by his phone’s GPS.
He had considered an up to date forecast, and wind conditions matched the expected 25-28 knots W/SW. However, the weather and sea conditions were beyond his capability.
After capsize
His lifejacket supported him in the water both while he attempted to re-enter the sea-kayak and while kicking towards the shore.
His waterproof phone pouch failed because it had degraded over time.
The regular ferry passed him by without sighting him in the water and he had no means to gain their attention.
The PLB signal failed intermittently, either when the satellite was in a poor position or the PLB antenna was under water.
Conclusions from Event
Know your limits and be prepared.
When in an emergency situation you should call for help as early as possible. Any delay may result in a less than favourable outcome.
Having multiple ways of calling for help will cover more than one situation. Sometimes alerting those in the near vicinity provides a quicker outcome than waiting for a rescue to be coordinated from afar.
A PLB is not buoyant like an EPIRB and needs to maintain visual contact with the satellite. A PLB will not float with the aerial above the water and will most likely need to be held above the water. An attachment to the shoulder of your lifejacket may assist.
A ‘pea less’ whistle may be effective in raising the attention of people who are nearby. There are personal rocket flares as well as rocket flares and smoke flares that can be used by paddlers if there are other boaters, planes or land based people within visual range.
A paddle float adds to the stability of your craft if you are having trouble getting back on board or back inside in choppy conditions.
High-vis hats and high-vis lifejackets or flags will assist in collision avoidance – but will also assist searchers if they are looking for a person or kayak in difficult conditions.