Sea Kayaking Incident - July 2007

A photographic timeline of the events that unfolded around Granite Island at Victor Harbor in July

ALWAYS HAVE A SUPPORT CREW

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Sea
• Kayaking
• Inccident
• Survival
• Rescue
• Victor
• Harbour
• Granite
• Island

[nakedbullwinkle]

in book deep trouble, a story is told and the lessons of the incident are learned..what was learned here other than the shit hitting the fan?????????? questions, did all of you have wet suits or dry suits and pfds including everyone having bilge pumps, paddle floats, tow lines, and radios including flares and distress signals???? if you could break down what equipment you all had would be nice and if you checked the wind before leaving and maybe why you were caught off guard?????

[TezzaMcJ]

firstly, the strong wind warning was only issued after we hit the water, we were perfectly capable of paddling in the wind forecasted earlier that morning and we only got into trouple once the stronger front hit.

we had all the right equipment, tow lines, bilge pumps, float paddles, pfd's, spray decks, wetsuits, sprayjackets, and also eprbs, thats all i can think of off the top of my head, but we were well equipped and skilled for emergency scenarios.

[TezzaMcJ]

oh yeah, your question;

yes, the main thing that was learned for future trips was to have a staff member stay behind for land support in case of this kind of emergency scenario.

[nakedbullwinkle]

Outstanding comments.....you were all prepared and in the small percentage of those who are and are all alive because of it...kudos to you respecting the sea and not being cocky or ignorant....nicely done....hello again from alaska.....

[TezzaMcJ]

just to clear this up cos i wasnt quite sure what it meant; "small percentage of those who are and are all alive..."

yes, everybody survived and nobody needed more than a check up at the local hospitol,

thanks for your comment.

[L8NN8L]

Wow, sounds like a freak accident... what were the winds forecast for?? and what did they reach, any idea?

[TezzaMcJ]

although the forecast was for wind, it wasnt forecast to be that windy, the severe weather warning only came out after we were on the water, apparently it got up to around 50 knots, it was so windy that it was almost impossible to paddle without having the paddles torn out of our hands, when it happened, it only felt like a really strong gust, we thought it would die down after a minute or two but it stayed that strong for the rest of the afeternoon.

[chieffreakydeaky]

Good job documenting this...

Things can change in a moments notice...mad props for sticking together.

[Paddle2See]

Interesting story...I'm so glad you all made it back safely. I can't even imagine paddling in 50 kts...I've been out in 30 and it was really hard. Thanks for sharing.

[Alexmcgruer3]

Thank you for posting this.

WE have had the odd mishap: They happen!

[athom50]

Being in and from Chicago, I can't really relate. That;s way more water than I can drink! Facinating story. I'm glad everyone was able to return to land - where THIS human belongs! lol

[clamcrabber]

My wife and I got into a simular situation on the chestpeke bay. We were following the coast 6 miles to another campsite. A storm rolled in without warning, and we dug in on the beach. we sat in a two foot deep hole with the boats over top of us until the storm passed. I have never had to use my bail out bag before, but I was glad I had it with me.

[nakedbullwinkle]

small percentage meaning you did it all right while many do it wrong...up here in alaska, it amazes me how many people go out in the sea without dry suit even where there are glaciers....yes,,,amazingly dumb and happens..i REFUSED to go out ever until I bought a dry suit..I heard they are so expensive by a gal once, I told her that when her ass hit that water, she would write me a check for any amount of money..well, she fell into blackstone bay and almost bit it..thanks again

[nakedbullwinkle]

missed this, sorry