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===== Beginner Lessons =====

**Thanks\\
Charlie Hamlin** \\
May 31 #26891

Many thanks to all who helped rescue me yesterday (Saturday) off Marine Park and a special thanks to Peter Marcus for dragging me back to shore.

My takeaways from my “swimming lesson:”

1) More remounting in adverse conditions is a must;

2) I need a solution to avoid the tangle of boat and paddle leashes that was a major challenge along with the weeds in my efforts to remount; (Mike recommended a much shorter paddle leash to keep the paddle close and ready to paddle and brace; will do);

3) I need more time in my newly acquired V10 Sport before taking on Saturday’s conditions again. My V8 would have been a better choice for the day.

4) To offset my lack of experience, my plan was to take increasingly larger loops off the MP shore to gain the skills and confidence to handle the conditions. Clearly, I took a loop too far! But nothing ventured, noting gained);

5) I was quite pleased with the gear I chose to wear: a farmer john, warm long sleeve shirt and a splash jacket. At no point did I feel cold or concerned about hypothermia or that in the extreme that I could not swim to shore.

6) Last but not least, I was deeply impressed by the speed, concern and professional response of my fellow paddlers.

7) BTW, I would be pleased to have the takeaways of any and all those who helped rescue me.

8) It is great to be a member of this group. Thanks again. Charlie

**Jeff Hegedus** \\
May 31 #26893

Hi Charlie, nice post thanks! Regarding group input, I would say yeah, practice those remounts, and, guess what, there is a reason no one uses BOTH paddle and boat leashes; they tangle. Ditch the paddle leash :)

**Justin <eh.haole@…>** \\
May 31 #26894

The only way to get good at remounting in rough water is to get good at remounting in rough water.. safely

Is anyone doing surf ski skills clinics?

I didn't know how lacking my [sea] kayak skills were until doing a clinic with Tom Lowell during a another era. Now I make a point of confirming the ability to eskimo roll every sea kayak I get into.

I remember someone saying they do a boogie board style short wrist leash on whichever hand is the most fixed one during the paddle stroke and capsize.

**Reivers Dustin** \\
May 31 #26895

I'm with Jeff. It is uncanny how every little tiny strap, snap, dongle, loop, string or tab will find configurations that are impossible to imagine. When things explode, anything you do not absolutely require becomes your arch enemy.

**Larry Bussinger** \\
May 31 #26896

I humbly disagree Jeff. Your boat is no good without a paddle, and your paddle can get knocked loose or you may need both hands to control the boat. Boat leash to the boat and short paddle leash to the life vest. They should never get tangled.

Larry Bussinger

**David Hooper**

May 31 #26897

I'm with Larry B. Paddle leash to the life vest, boat leash to the knee or ankle. Have rarely had issues.

I also saw an interesting note on the Epic website recently, urging learning to grab the boat when capsizing so the boat leash is back up, not first line of defense. This is something I'm going to have to start practicing, because, as we all know, boat leashes can break. Seems like even more reason to keep a paddle leash, so it's easier to focus on the big thing that's gonna blow away easiest.

Dave H.

**John Rybczyk**

May 31 #26898

We get fooled by the notion that, for any given condition, the type of surf ski we paddle should be defined by whether or not we can paddle it without tipping over, when it should actually be defined by whether or not we can get back into it and resume paddling when we do fall in.

**Vaughn Balchunas** \\
May 31 #26899

The best thing I ever did was shorten my paddle leash to the vest. Not having to worry about anything but grabbing the boat on exit is huge. Should be back in the boat in 5 to 10 seconds even in rough water, with practice.

**paul clement**

May 31 #26900

I agree with Larry B. Short leash, paddle to vest and a boat leash to a belt. Make the disconnects easy in case things go bad. We were around you Saturday so when things get tangled, it’s best to disconnect and work it out.\\
pc

**James Klein**

Jun 1 #26902

I use a short paddle to wrist leash, made from a boogie board leash. Wrist cuff and short string that loops around the paddle shaft on the outside of my hand. But it's more of an oh shit I let go of my paddle because that's usually not a good thing to do.

Jamie

**OPS** \\
Jun 1 #26903

We also have these.

[[https://www.oceanpaddlesports.com/store-categories/Wrist-paddle-leash-p79286698|https://www.oceanpaddlesports.com/store-categories/Wrist-paddle-leash-p79286698]]
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