Our Rescue Practice Session at Sasamat Lake, May 12: Notes and Tips

We had 22 people turn-out to our recent Rescue Practice and we had a great time on what turned out to be a warm sunny day. After most stayed for a late picnic lunch on the beach.

First we went over a several Assisted Rescues, demonstrating some important techniques that make the rescue simple, with less strain on the Rescuer. We then worked on Self Rescues, using a Paddle Float or doing a Cowboy or scramble into your seat. Some also practiced their rolls, which is the best Self Rescue of all.

You can never practice rescues too often. We are going to run another Rescue Practice soon, and I expect many to return from the last one, and some new faces showing up.

Here are some Key Tips to take away from the practice, followed by a brief description of the various steps.

TIPS SHORT LIST

- Have them flip their boat over so it is right side up.

- Have them follow the deck-lines as they move to your boat, always in contact with a boat.

- Don’t lift their boat to empty; it’s hard on you and unnecessary.

- You can get at least another 6” of additional height to dump that boat without ever having to lift it, when you edge away from their boat.

- Lean bodily on the Rescuee’s boat to stabilize it while they get in.

Have the Rescuee haul themselves up on the back of the boat just behind the cockpit, belly button on centre of boat, keeping their weight low.

Alternatively

have them hook their outer leg under the front of the cockpit using this leverage to roll their body right onto the back of their kayak, keeping their weight low.

- Get them to put their feet on the foot-pedals right away for stability.

Assisted Rescues Described:

T – Rescue

- After discerning that the person in the water is okay, have THEM flip the boat over so it is right side up. Have “the swimmer” follow their deck-lines to your boat and then follow along your deck lines to either a few feet in front of you or just behind your cockpit, always in contact with a boat.

  • Don’t have them hold on to that pointy end of your boat. That can result in bops to the head by a bouncy bow, keep them closer to you.
  • Its easy for them to “right” their boats. Hands on either side of the cockpit simply flip the boat over, and always hang on to it.
  • They follow along the deck-lines so that they are always in contact with a boat and can’t get separated from the boats

- Haul their boat up along your cockpit just until there is enough of the other boat out of the water to dump the water out of their cockpit, don’t lift their boat to empty, it’s hard on you and unnecessary.
- Turn their boat over in front of you, dipping the water out.
- Edge your boat away from the boat you are emptying. You can get at least another 6” of height to dump that boat without ever having to lift it, when you edge. You don’t have to lift a boat, just drag it partly over your boat, edge away, empty, and flip it right side up.
- Slide their boat back in the water and set-up so that the boats are opposing (bow to stern).
- Hold the Swimmer’s boat firmly, one hand on either side of their boat, lean bodily on the Rescuee’s boat to stabilize it while they get in.


  • When you have a hand on either side of the cockpit (or deck-lines), you can counter the other persons moves/weight changes when they get in, and move in an unexpected way.

 

(diagram credit:http://www.kask.org.nz/rescues)

Here are a couple of methods to get back in your boat in an Assisted Rescue:

- Have the Rescuee haul themselves up on the back of the boat just behind the cockpit, belly button on centre of boat, keeping their weight low. Then have them move so they are looking at the stern of the boat, their legs over the cockpit. They then slide into the cockpit face down, all the time keeping their weight low.

(diagram credit:http://www.kask.org.nz/rescues)

- When their butt is over the seat, have them roll around and sit in the seat, and get them to put their feet on the foot-pedals right away for stability. Have them bail any water (which will also warm), and have them put their skirt back on, don’t let go of their boat until the rescue is complete, hand them their paddle in a “paddle ready position” (right side up), smile, give them a hug.

Leg Hook:

An alternative method of getting the “swimmer” back in their boat. Empty their boat as above. Hold the Rescuee’s boat firmly, one hand on either side of their boat, lean bodily on the Rescuee’s boat to stabilize it while they get in. Have the Swimmer lie floating on the water with their

  • feet pointing to the bow,
  • hand on the cockpit,
  • parallel to their boat
  • have them hook their outer leg under the front of the cockpit using this leverage to roll their body right onto the back of their kayak.
  • They then slide into the cockpit fact down, all the time keeping their weight low.
  • When their butt is over the seat, have them roll around and sit in the seat, and get them to put their feet on the foot-pedals right away for stability. Have them bail any water (which will also warm), and have them put their skirt back on, don’t let go of their boat until the rescue is complete, hand them their paddle in a “paddle ready position” (right side up), smile, and give them a hug .

 

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