BCU Foundation Safety (Paddle #4)

The last class in our BCU Foundation Safety Course/ 2 Star assessment. We met down at Aqua Adventures for our course. The class included Jane, Teresa, Mike, and Dave(?). After some work with throw bags, we headed down to the docks. We in three canoes and three kayaks. The plan was to take turns as leader of the group and deal with an incident. Since we had all had some training in this before, we really did not have any worries. I started off in a kayak, while Jane, Teresa and Jen were in canoes. It was a beautiful day to be on the water, as evident by the number of boats leaving Quivira Basin. I had never seen such a traffic jam there even in the summer.

Once we passed under the first bridge, our first incident occurred. Jane fell out of her canoe. We quickly managed the incident, although Jen was playing her part and started to wander away. We had some towing practice as we head to beach near the Bahia. We talked through the incident and then switch leaders. I tried my hand in canoe and acted as sweep. As we headed toward Ski beach, my pace in the canoe was a bit too slow, so we swapped me back into a kayak.

Our next incident was set up by Mike Brown, who told us of his heart condition and that he forgot his meds. As we neared the next bridge, Mike splashed over. Teresa was right near him and got him face up. As the sweep, I took charge. I had Dave come and stabilize Teresa in the canoe, while I assisted with Mike. Jane wrangled Mike's boat and paddle, and Jen told the fishermen on the shore we were practicing. I had the group 'radio' 911, and began working to get Mike out of the water and to the nearby shore. We got him into canoe and paddled the short distance to Ski Beach. I thought we rescue went fairly smoothly.

I hoped back into a canoe after the debrief, this time with a tow line for a little speed, but was starting to get the hang of the canoe and its dynamics. The winds were picking up slightly, and by the end all three canoes had to be towed.

All in all, it was great time on the water and a very useful time, to keep our rescue and leadership skills sharp.

BCU Pool session

Well had to take this class from the side of the pool thanks to a cold. Jen had the various members work with rescuing canoes, whitewater boats, and a rec boat with no floatation. Given my learning style, I think I got a lot out of watching the exercises. When I ran out of Kleenexes I knew it was time to head home. I am hopeful that I will be over the cold before next Saturday's class.

BCU 2 Star Training

Paddle #3 for the year was a BCU 2 Star training course, taught by Teresa Boli. We meet down at the Aqua-Adventures docks to learn how to paddle a canoe. As part of the revised BCU system, the earlier stars now include a wider introduction to various paddle craft. We teamed up into pairs and began playing. Teresa had us practicing keeping the canoe going straight. The biggest difference I found between a kayak and a canoe is almost every stroke in a canoe has a corrective component to it. After several fun hours playing in Quivira Basin.

Whale Hunting, Paddle #2

Under the threat of a high surf advisory, ten of launched from the Aqua-Adventures docks to head out to the open waters to try to spot the migrating whales. NOAA was predicting a good sized westward swell that could affect west facing basins. As we passed through the Mission Bay channel, we noted some minor swell action along the jetty, but other than that the entrance was very calm.



Our first impressive site was of a surf ski paddler drafting the wake of power boat. We think it was Chris Barlow, retired Olympic paddler and current San Diego Canoe Kayak Team coach. Once out of the channel, we grouped up at the bouy and surveyed the near flat waters. We took a bearing toward a waypoint where whales have been previously spotted.

Upon reaching the waypoint, we rafted into small groups and turned our eyes northward in hopes of spotting a spout. But alas, no whales were to been seen. However, we were witness to a pod of dolphin feeding. We paddled in closer to watch them. We got several great photos of them.



After waiting a bit longer, stomachs started to growl. So, we began to paddle back toward Mission Bay. We could see the surf crashing on Ocean Beach and Point Loma, but only felt the swell gently pass under us.



I was able to grab a couple of rides in the channel. All in all it was yet another wonderful day in the water in San Diego.

Quick reminder, SDKC meeting this Tuesday at Aqua Adventures.

Happy New Year! Paddle #1

One of my goals this year is to paddle my age. So, to start things off right I join several members of the San Diego Kayak Club at La Jolla Shores for an easy paddle along the coast. A total of seven paddlers launched into the cool and foggy Pacific Ocean. We estimated that we had about 50 feet of visibility. We successfully found the Scripps Pier and continued northward, guided by our compasses. After about an hour, my elbow was feeling a bit a tight, and there was not a lot of sight seeing to be had, so we turned back toward La Jolla. Mike and Pete opted to continue northward for a bit. As we turned southward, the fog slow started to lift.

We landed without incident. In fact some took the opportunity to play in the surf. I caught a nice wave into the shore. I had to head home to get ready to take the family up to Disneyland to celebrate the twins 8th birthday.

We learned later that Dom Lemarie had taped our launch. Here is the video on YouTube. I'm the first one launching.

Forty paddles to go....