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stories:vancouver_isle_big_water_11_09_2018 [2020/08/21 03:59] preavley created |
stories:vancouver_isle_big_water_11_09_2018 [2026/03/10 13:15] (current) pstureavley |
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| + | <<stories:new_zealand_death_8_11_2018|Previous Story^stories:bellingham_stories|Story List^glassy_rollers_at_dp_4_22_2019|Next Story>> | ||
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| ===== Downwind Report from Carl T. (BIG) ===== | ===== Downwind Report from Carl T. (BIG) ===== | ||
| **Reivers Dustin** \\ | **Reivers Dustin** \\ | ||
| - | 11/09/18 #23993 | + | 11/09/18 #23993 |
| + | |||
| + | [[https://youtu.be/8v9esIp6e5c|video]] | ||
| We had 25+ knots gusting to 38knots for our run on Saturday on an ebb tide, which kicked the waves up pretty high. We put in at the Powell River Ferry and took out at Pacific Playgrounds at the south end of Saratoga beach for a 22k run. It started unassuming – as we were getting changed for the paddle the readings were around 18-22 knots, which makes for a really fun run out there. I almost decided to forgo the drysuit and just paddle in my V-Cold top and bottoms. Once we got out though, conditions kicked up fast and readings showed that we were in 25knots gusting to 38. I would have been in trouble in lighter clothing. | We had 25+ knots gusting to 38knots for our run on Saturday on an ebb tide, which kicked the waves up pretty high. We put in at the Powell River Ferry and took out at Pacific Playgrounds at the south end of Saratoga beach for a 22k run. It started unassuming – as we were getting changed for the paddle the readings were around 18-22 knots, which makes for a really fun run out there. I almost decided to forgo the drysuit and just paddle in my V-Cold top and bottoms. Once we got out though, conditions kicked up fast and readings showed that we were in 25knots gusting to 38. I would have been in trouble in lighter clothing. | ||
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| * Panic comes fast and really inhibits your abilities, so active practice in keeping objective stock of your situation helps. I flipped so many times because my urgency to get back on the boat was taking over. I had time to calm myself, wait for the big sets to pass and remount when I had a better chance of sticking it the first time. When I was closer to shore and in a safer place, remounting was no problem. Fear and panic can make a situation way worse than it is. | * Panic comes fast and really inhibits your abilities, so active practice in keeping objective stock of your situation helps. I flipped so many times because my urgency to get back on the boat was taking over. I had time to calm myself, wait for the big sets to pass and remount when I had a better chance of sticking it the first time. When I was closer to shore and in a safer place, remounting was no problem. Fear and panic can make a situation way worse than it is. | ||
| - | * Communication is key. I really believe that everyone in a group should have a good marine radio and be in regular contact. It’s easy to get separated and lose sight of your buddies in big conditions. I use a Standard Horizon HX-870 with a submersible Speaker/Mic adapter that can clip to my PFD shoulder so I don’t have to pull the radio out of my pocket to use it. This unit has integrated GPS. You register an MI number with cost guard and if you are in trouble, it sends a distress call with your GPS location via satellite (DSC) to coast guard. It also has a group monitoring feature that can apparently track the position of up to 9 vessels (haven’t played with this option yet). I believe most DSC enabled units can do this. | + | * Communication is key. I really believe that everyone in a group should have a good marine radio and be in regular contact. It’s easy to get separated and lose sight of your buddies in big conditions. I use a Standard Horizon HX-870 with a submersible Speaker/Mic adapter that can clip to my PFD shoulder so I don’t have to pull the radio out of my pocket to use it. This unit has integrated GPS. You register an MI number with cost guard and if you are in trouble, it sends a distress call with your GPS location via satellite (DSC) to coast guard. It also has a group monitoring feature that can apparently track the position of up to 9 vessels (haven’t played with this option yet). I believe most DSC enabled units can do this. |
| - | * http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&DivisionID=3&ProdCatID=85&ProdID=1791 | + | * [[http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&DivisionID=3&ProdCatID=85&ProdID=1791|http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&DivisionID=3&ProdCatID=85&ProdID=1791]] |
| - | * https://www.amazon.ca/Standard-Horizon-CMP460-Speaker-Handheld/dp/B000SMP9QK | + | * [[https://www.amazon.ca/Standard-Horizon-CMP460-Speaker-Handheld/dp/B000SMP9QK|https://www.amazon.ca/Standard-Horizon-CMP460-Speaker-Handheld/dp/B000SMP9QK]] |
| * We did a really good job of staying close and keeping tabs on each other. If someone fell behind, we waited and regrouped. | * We did a really good job of staying close and keeping tabs on each other. If someone fell behind, we waited and regrouped. | ||
| * Paddling with OC’s is awesome in those conditions. On my surfski, I doubt I would have been able to turn and help anyone when it is that big, but both OC’s were able to come back towards me when they realized I might be in trouble. | * Paddling with OC’s is awesome in those conditions. On my surfski, I doubt I would have been able to turn and help anyone when it is that big, but both OC’s were able to come back towards me when they realized I might be in trouble. | ||
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| * Not all leashes are created equal. Richard had a brand new leash when he got tossed off the back of the OC2, which stretched out completely and broke. | * Not all leashes are created equal. Richard had a brand new leash when he got tossed off the back of the OC2, which stretched out completely and broke. | ||
| * I think that on longer runs like that in open water we should choose boat combinations that are matched evenly. A double OC and a strong surfski can keep reasonable pace with each other, but too much waiting kills momentum and for me was very difficult on my ski. If there is to be a big spread in speed and ability, we should stick to inside Union Bay-Courtenay runs where it is safer. | * I think that on longer runs like that in open water we should choose boat combinations that are matched evenly. A double OC and a strong surfski can keep reasonable pace with each other, but too much waiting kills momentum and for me was very difficult on my ski. If there is to be a big spread in speed and ability, we should stick to inside Union Bay-Courtenay runs where it is safer. | ||
| - | * Despite weather reports that clearly pointed to potential for heavy conditions, we based our assumption of conditions on what we saw happening when we launched. The forecasts (and Allan’s predictions at OC practice that morning) pointed towards the fact that it was going to pick up hard around mid-late afternoon, but we didn’t really heed that. I think I got used to forecasts being bigger than reality and expected the conditions to be well short of what was predicted. We would probably have gone regardless, but I think the conditions surprised us when they shouldn’t have. | + | * Despite weather reports that clearly pointed to potential for heavy conditions, we based our assumption of conditions on what we saw happening when we launched. The forecasts (and Allan’s predictions at OC practice that morning) pointed towards the fact that it was going to pick up hard around mid-late afternoon, but we didn’t really heed that. I think I got used to forecasts being bigger than reality and expected the conditions to be well short of what was predicted. We would probably have gone regardless, but I think the conditions surprised us when they shouldn’t have. |
| * Some of us in the group were a bit under-dressed – had things gone worse and we spent more time in the water, someone might have been in trouble. Maybe we need to remember that it’s better to be hot than dead. | * Some of us in the group were a bit under-dressed – had things gone worse and we spent more time in the water, someone might have been in trouble. Maybe we need to remember that it’s better to be hot than dead. | ||
| * Make sure your boat is appropriate for the conditions. Big conditions might warrant a more stable boat. I was at the edge of my abilities in my Uno Max. | * Make sure your boat is appropriate for the conditions. Big conditions might warrant a more stable boat. I was at the edge of my abilities in my Uno Max. | ||
| * Any other points we should discuss?? | * Any other points we should discuss?? | ||
| - | Paul Reavley | + | **Paul Reavley** \\ 11/10/18 #23994 |
| - | + | ||
| - | 11/10/18 #23994 | + | |
| DR, \\ \\ Thank you for relaying this trip report to us. Carl mentions the radio that he likes to carry. But my impression from his account is that on this trip he was only carrying it for its emergency distress signal capability. I wonder if Carl has any more to say about how easy it was for him and his trip mates to find each other after he went through his remount struggle - was that pretty lucky? (I would also like to hear his results when he is trying to use the group tracking function in the future). And does he have any observations about how usable his radio is for communication with group members in those kind of conditions? \\ \\ Thanks, \\ Paul | DR, \\ \\ Thank you for relaying this trip report to us. Carl mentions the radio that he likes to carry. But my impression from his account is that on this trip he was only carrying it for its emergency distress signal capability. I wonder if Carl has any more to say about how easy it was for him and his trip mates to find each other after he went through his remount struggle - was that pretty lucky? (I would also like to hear his results when he is trying to use the group tracking function in the future). And does he have any observations about how usable his radio is for communication with group members in those kind of conditions? \\ \\ Thanks, \\ Paul | ||
| - | **Reivers Dustin** \\ 11/10/18 #23996 | + | **Reivers Dustin** \\ 11/10/18 #23996 |
| - | In my experience emergency distress is the only value of the VHF. I've tried to use tracking functions and to communicate with other paddlers with no luck. rd | + | In my experience emergency distress is the only value of the VHF. I've tried to use tracking functions and to communicate with other paddlers with no luck. rd |
| - | **Carl Tessmann** \\ 11/13/18 #24009 | + | **Carl Tessmann** \\ 11/13/18 #24009 |
| Hey Paul! | Hey Paul! | ||
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| I’m sure you have all been over this stuff a million times. | I’m sure you have all been over this stuff a million times. | ||
| - | Crappy wind season so far up here – had two days of good wind so far. Today was supposed to be 20-30kts, but glassy flat. Maybe it will turn up this afternoon. Hope you’re getting more of the good stuff down there! | + | Crappy wind season so far up here – had two days of good wind so far. Today was supposed to be 20-30kts, but glassy flat. Maybe it will turn up this afternoon. Hope you’re getting more of the good stuff down there! |
| Carl | Carl | ||
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