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===== Thank You Simon: Wed Nite Alternate =====

**duncanhowat** \\
07/10/13 #14575

First I'ed like to thank Simon who self volunteered to be sweeper tonight, and made sure everyone made it home.I know he gave up some of his favorite kind of water. Those last in owe him a beer at least.2 That was a memorable run, 26+on the wind, flood tide, warm, then warmer water from marine on in, Bellingham may not get much better than that, although the weeds killed me in the first half.But there were Gorge type runs to be had most of the way,a little bumpy 1/2 mile out, but definately kept your attention all the way. Good way to forget about other things for a hour or so. Back tomorrow. It may still be pushing in. Was there 17 total? D

**dnjacobson79** \\
07/10/13 #14576

Duncan -Thanks again for organizing the run & shuttle! Hard pressed to say that I've ever had a better summer run in Bham, great crew on the water, plenty of fun sloppy waves! Awesome to have so many boats out!

DJ

Dean Bumstead

07/10/13 #14577

Thanks Beau and Duncan for running shuttle. That’s the best summer downwind run I’ve ever done. Keep it coming.\\
Dean

**Sean** \\
07/10/13 #14578

Thank you Simon for hanging with me and for the advice. That was my longest and biggest run yet. A great time and very challenging. A good test. Makes me hungry for more.

Sean

**Larry <lbussinger@…>**

07/11/13 #14579

It was interesting water, but frankly, I wonder where everyones survival instinct went. Who had a safety plan in place before they went out? Who teamed up before they left? Who was looking out for the new guy before we left shore? He was already out with the group before I got in the water and I never saw him. We certainly didn't teach him the proper way to group up and have a plan in place. As far as I know, Duncan, Kim, and I were the only ones who grouped up and stayed together. So thank you Simon. Larry B

**fennmako** \\
07/11/13 #14580

You are most welcome Sean, and you did great! Kudos for hanging tough in some tricky water at times. As a general comment, I would like to see us pay a little more attention to our fellow paddlers than our own speed aspirations?

**Downwind\\
Michael Gregory** \\
07/11/13 #14582

Wind is still up. Maybe we should try another downwind run today. This time with safety features as recommended by Larry and Simon:)\\
\\
A short list of safety recommendations:\\
\\
- #1) PFD and leash!\\
\\
- Start together.\\
\\
- Pick partner(s) and keep them within hailing distance.\\
\\
- Meet up and head count at pre-arranged way point(s).\\
\\
- Have lot's of fun!\\
\\
Mike.

**Tom Swetish** \\
07/11/13 #14583

I'm in if the wind holds. Can shuttle 3 boats and could go earlier if interest.

I like your list Mike - would add Marine radio or at least waterproof cell. Dress for immersion.

**Reivers Dustin** \\
07/11/13 #14585

We know about time in the boat to stay upright, same goes for learning waves & rough water. If your learning, its really hard to know what you are getting yourself into with a downwinder. Great comment from Duncan, great acknowledgement from Shawn, about what the cost was for Simon.

I've mentioned to some of you: I hurt myself in that last house move. Surgery is Friday 7/19. I'll have a month of recovery after. Should be on the water in September. Probably need training wheels for a month.

Back on group safety - if you paddle off from a weaker paddler when it's dicey, you are the one looking in a mirror later if something bad happened. If you are learning about rough water, you got to know that even a Simon will have a tough time doing rescues. It's just never a sure thing. Maybe its enough just to be able to keep watch rather than try heroic rescues. This whole thing is kind of a catch 22: you have to stretch to grow, but you want to always carry your own shit out of the crapper.

Wish I coulda been there. Just hearing you guys has me jones'in.

rd

**Jim Buchanan <pharm_man001@…>** \\
07/11/13 #14587

Ditto that. As one that has already been plucked out of the water by the Coast Guard on one of my first down winders I can attest to what RD is saying. Things can seem great one minute, then go to hell the next paddle stroke. The train tunnel is my nemesis.

I have heard LGs story about a rescue that ended up not being any fun, and I am sure that we all remember reading about the tragedy in Minnesota. Even though we can look back or stay close sometimes it won't be enough…there is only so much you can do on an inherently unstable surf ski. Thank goodness for radios, alert friends, and a quick Coast Guard response.

The one thing that sticks in my mind, as important as the PFD and the radio. is what I have read it again and again from Duncan and DJ. Bring skills! Hopefully I can eventually hone mine enough to be back out there on the big days.

Cheers\\
\\
Jim

**joanandthom** \\
07/11/13 #14588

I did not go with the group on the downwinder becuase I feel I need more work in my boat,so I went out and did laps at Marine Park and was able to get myself into some pretty good size water and it was great. Starting to feel confident. But it occurred to me what would happen if I fell out of my boat in 4ft choppy waves with 25mph winds. Could I get back on my boat. We have all practice remounts on calm days. I guess my question would be, how do you set the boat up for remount, are you on the downwind side ,do you put the boat parrallel to the waves or what? I would like to hear some discussion on remounting in rough water.\\
Thom

**Larry Goolsby** \\
07/11/13 #14589

Thom….It's best to direct the nose of the boat into the same direction that the wind and waves are going. Nothing worse than remounting and then having to turn the boat around. If the boat is perpendicular to the wind and you are on the downwind side, the boat will try to push over you and not allow a remount. If the boat is perpendicular to the waves, you'll have a lot better luck if you are on the upwind side. In the old days before we leashed, it was easy to duck under the boat to switch places. I hope we are smarter now.

Once the boat is pointed downwind and you are on the left side (and no paddle leash), reach across with your right hand (with paddle) and grab the gunwale on the side of the seat. Your left hand should be on gunwale closest to you. If you are on the boat's right side, then switch hands. Then in one motion, and using both arms with all your remaining strength, launch your ass up over the gunwale and into the seat. Leave your legs dangling on one side (boat is at maxiumum stability) and wait until that precious half-second when you are between waves before pulling both feet up and planting them into the footwell. Then paddle like crazy. Don't attempt a cowboy style remount (straddling the boat) in big conditions because the multiple remounts will wear you down and we'll have to call Joan.\\
The lake is warm and the wind still blows there - go practice. I was up there on Saturday making sure that I could remount with my eyes closed.\\
LG

**John Rybczyk** \\
07/11/13 #14590

Here's a topic where I can brag a bit since, in a typical week, I'll fall out of my boat more than Larry will fall out in a year, or DJ will fall out in decade. So, from a guy with lots of recent practice, here's a tip to save some energy. When you're out of the boat, upwind, and hanging onto the gunwales (exactly as Larry describes), float your legs up behind you. If the wind is blowing hard and you're hanging on to the boat, this will kind of happen anyway as you get dragged along. Then, you don't have to launch yourself from the vertical (which IS energy intensive). Instead you can kick you legs a bit, pull with your arms, and slide yourself up onto the ski from the horizontal.

johnr

**Larry <lbussinger@…>** \\
07/12/13 #14592

I agree with Larry on positioning the boat and John with floating your legs on the surface to slide into the seat. But I found that grabing the opposite gunnel with both hands keeps the boat from tipping on its side because of the weight on my near hand when I grab opposite gunnels. Once over the seat, then I reposition my hands, take the 1/2 second for timing and then putting my butt deep into the seat (as opposed to being a bit off center). It also helps to put the paddle vertical in the water as soon as you're in the seat to add stability while you swing your legs in.

Larry B

**Jeff Hegedus** \\
07/12/13 #14593

Thom next time it blows go do a dozen remounts just offshore. In addition to the practice, this exercise tempers future judgement when considering going out in conditions possibly beyond one's working edge. You looked good out there, but those were not easy remount conditions.

**Morris Arthur** \\
07/12/13 #14596

I suggest that you start paddling *before* doing your "crux" move e.g. getting your butt low and/or your feet in…

Yes, I'm saying to start paddling while you're still sitting sideways in the boat. Awkward, yes, but stable (if you have stroke/bracing skills)

…and hey, am I the only cowboy on Bellingham Bay ?!

**Reivers Dustin** \\
07/12/13 #14597

Our group needs at least one cowboy. But when the horse is buckin, I'm goin sidesaddle. The big reason is I can ride sidesaddle no matter how crazy the water or wind. With both feet on one side, as long as I keep them near surface, I'm the rock. The key is to keep feet high. Once you let feet get deep, then the boat moves over your feet and it's faceplant city. You want your feet on the windward or up-wind side.

My deal is to work it slow and steady. 1)belly over the seat (face down), 2) rest and get organized, 3) turn over, butt all the way down in the seat with both legs high on one side, 4) rest and get organized, 5) swing one leg over (keep feet out, high in the water), 6) that's right, rest and get organized. 7) put one foot in, start paddling, … ok so this is the tricky part for some of youse guys who have trouble counting this high: 8) put the other foot in.

This thing about both feet on one side came to me in a dream. It was another fine mess that LG had gotten me into. There we were surrounded by angry water with our paddles feathered the wrong way. By shear desperation I sat the boat sideways and found I could relax quite well. I could work the radio, untangle my leash, right the wrong-doings of evildoers. yadda yadda.

Yard by yard, life is hard. Inch by inch, life's a cinch.

rd

**David Scherrer** \\
07/12/13 #14598

Ya put our left foot out, you put your left foot in, you put your left foot out and you shake it all about. Do the hokey pokey and you turn your self about…Yah..thats what its All about!\\
D.
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