X-OldHeader: From g_olesek@yahoo.com-DeleteThis.com Thu Jun 21 11:47:18 2001 Return-Path: <g_olesek@yahoo.com-DeleteThis.com> Received: from opus.labs.agilent.com (root@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com [130.29.244.179]) by jr.labs.agilent.com (8.9.3 (PHNE_18979)/8.9.3 AgilentLabs Workstation) with ESMTP id LAA01417 for <wind_talk_ls@jr.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com>; Thu, 21 Jun 2001 11:47:18 -0700 (PDT) Received: from msgbas1.cos.agilent.com (msgbas1.cos.agilent.com [130.29.152.58]) by opus.labs.agilent.com (8.9.3 (PHNE_18979)/8.9.3 AgilentLabs Workstation) with ESMTP id LAA22097 for <wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com>; Thu, 21 Jun 2001 11:47:17 -0700 (PDT) Received: from web14203.mail.yahoo.com (web14203.mail.yahoo.com [216.136.172.145]) by msgbas1.cos.agilent.com (Postfix) with SMTP id 0F5AA1BB7 for <wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com>; Thu, 21 Jun 2001 12:47:16 -0600 (MDT) Message-ID: <20010621184714.65948.qmail@web14203.mail.yahoo.com-DeleteThis.com> Received: from [63.203.238.250] by web14203.mail.yahoo.com; Thu, 21 Jun 2001 11:47:14 PDT Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 11:47:14 -0700 (PDT) From: g olesek <g_olesek@yahoo.com-DeleteThis.com> Subject: RE: Expect your gear to break! To: wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis.com
RE: The Coast Guard is not a taxi service (or how not
to ruin a good thing for everybody.)
I just wanted to strongly concur with Chilly's post on
this matter. Everyone who sails the SF Bay should BE
PREPARED for self-rescue, know their limits, and wear
a wetsuit that will take care of you on that 1-3 hour
swim in--
I am sometime amazed at what I have seen at HERD AVE
this year. Early this spring, when the air and water
temps were around 50 degrees and the wind was a solid
30kts, I saw someone going out with a 3/2 shorty! If
this person broke down and had to swim in they would
be hypo in less than 20 mins. On Wednesday of this
week I saw a guy go out, sans wetsuit. He launched
and immediately went to the backside of the channel,
about 3 miles out...not good... ;-(
It is inevitable that soon after the next big day, or
during the next big wind lull, the Wind_Talk community
will be all abuzz with stories about break downs,
along
with advice on what safety kits one should bring with
on each sailing excursion. I have read a lot of
information on Wind_Talk about safety equipment which
should be carried while sailing in the Bay and I agree
that it is a great idea to carry said equipment.
If you are interested in this information, please
review the last several year's spring/fall threads
that will review these matters at the Wind_Talk
archive URL.
http://www..hpl.hp.com/personal/Ken_Poulton/wind_talk/
As long as you NEVER ditch your board (It is your
life raft) you should be in good enough shape to
paddle in from wherever you are. If you do not think
that you can paddle in from way out in the channel,
then only sail inside until you ready for that paddle.
If your rig becomes separated from your board: Swim
to your board first. Always know that session's tide,
in direction and strength. This often helps with the
strategy of where to point while paddling and
approximate when you will get in so you can meter your
effort and pace yourself.
Bottom line: When you have to be rescued you are
putting someone else at risk for your own poor
judgment (not to mention inconvenience). Don't get in
the water unless you accept total responsibility for
getting yourself back where you started. If you don't
make it, there is no one else to blame. No one can or
should ever expect to be rescued. If you are, it's
your lucky day. If you're not you could pay the price
and it would be no one else's fault. Even the Coast
Guard makes mistakes. If you are injured, it may be
your only hope and chance, but otherwise, BE PREPARED.
Know your limitations and the limitations and
condition of your equipment.
Don't put yourself in situations that you don't have
the means to resolve or just don't go out any farther
than you can or want to swim/paddle/slog etc. The bay
and the ocean are not community swimming pools, there
are no lifeguards, and there is no safety net, real or
implied. Too many "incidents" will attract the
attention of various government regulatory agencies,
and our WS spots could be shut down...
If you are prepared for these inevitable breakdowns,
these occurrences will quickly become enduring
memories, ...shortly after you make it back to
shore... ;-)
>becalmed at the channel marker at 3rd is not and
>emergency. It IS a 2 hour swim back to the beach.
Actually if you push it, and are lucky with the tides,
you can make it in less time. Last time I broke my
mast in the channel (about 500m outside the 8a marker)
I was able to paddle my board to the launch (after
giving my boom, sail, base, and the rest of my mast to
my bros) in just under an hour, which I think is the
HERD AVE record for the swim in-- ;-)
Regards,
g.
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