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===== Finding Out Dan Was Okay =====

**Sat, Dec 10th - Dan Mayhew update\\
Erica Quam **12/10/22 #32822

Bev Mayhew (Dan Mayhew's wife) wanted us to let the paddling group know that Dan Mayhew is okay. He is in the ER, his vitals are stable, body temp is 96. He was in the water around an hour. We don't know any more details. Thank you to Bellingham Fire and all the paddlers sharing info about Dan. Bev was down in Seattle and is heading home soon. Stay safe out there everyone.

**Reivers Dustin **12/10/22 #32826

Whew. I've been hearing bits and pieces and holding my breath. Thanks Erica, and Bev for the best news. Knowing Dan we'll get a wry look at things that we learned.

Background: the usual suspects showed up at Marine Park this morning. The OC guys set up a downwinder. Mike Hammer and another SUP guy set up their own. These are tough to handle headwinds type craft. When us barnacles got in the water I noticed Dan was absent. Someone mentioned he had connected with Denise W. and Denise D. for a DW (as he often has). The Barnacles were: LG, LB, David S. Deano, Dmow and my own humble self.

Big SouthEaster going maybe 20 with gusts. Water very high, a "king tide" with lots of driftwood and junk in the water. The Easter made for some near-shore lee. So Barnacles did loops down to the tunnel. Waves were dang big. There must have been some ebb current going. Waves had some chunks mixed in. I did ok going upwind - even in that mixing bowl just past Post Point. At the tunnel it was nice in the lee. And going out into the bigs was not too bad for wind, but the waves were dang hefty. So I turned early and found myself having to fight really hard to get on the waves. Maybe river current plus ebb current? So I could feel myself tighten up. Starting to not be able to really pull hard. I still got a couple of nice drops. But I got eaten a few times (swamped cockpit, broach on the wave type stuff). So except for occasional gusts not really a nuclear day. I would think ok for a downwinder. Except the waves were a little non-typical. Some of the guys were saying that we were disappearing in the waves.

Thank goodness people were attentive and got Coast Guard moving. And just my two bits: OC boats are decent rescue vessel in skilled hands, surfski are not. (So careful about the heroics and get the professionals.)

The last I heard Dan's boat is not accounted for. Keep an eye out for it. First responders tried, but it gets shallow along north shore.

I'm pleased that we didn't get a lot of chatter on here about this before knowing about Dan's well-being and Bev's being notified first.

**neil bransfield **12/10/22 #32823\\
Is doing fine, just visited him at PeaceHealth.\\
All is good…

Neil

**beau whitehead **12/10/22 #32824

{{:incidents_stories:rescue_mp.jpg?direct&296x640|rescue_mp.jpg}}

**beau whitehead **12/10/22 #32825

Dans (Duncans) yellow Vega ski is still out there.

if anyone has a motor boat that can navigate shallow water, best chances to find it are west of Locust Beach, most likely in the Nooksack delta area. I’d advise against searching alone if you end up in the delta/swamp/river areas. If anyone finds it, please let the group know.

(Our fire boat tried to find it, but the water was too shallow)

**allipp@…**12/11/22 #32828

So it looks like Dan did have his VHF and was found because of the DSC function. It's not stated whether he made a radio call, or just hit the DSC button. Details can be found at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound on Facebook.

**Peter Marcus **12/11/22 #32829\\
Glad Dan is okay!! Just a reminder about DSC functions, don't assume just because you have a vhf your going to be automatically rescued, you have to register your VHF in order for DSC to work!!🎄🎄\\
And in other news…only 14 more paddling days until Santa and his Reindeer 🦌🦌🦌\\
Cheers.

**David Hooper **12/10/22 #32827

Glad to know that Dan is doing ok! Sorry the boat is gone, but very relieved that he's safe.

I had an interesting excursion today, that I'll share just for folks' information. I did a downwinder with Denise and Paul yesterday. It was great down by Governors Pt. but the heavy east made it really choppy crossing Chuckanut Bay, and that chop never really went away until past Post Point. Not the most epic rides for me, despite the strong wind - just too choppy and the easterly really wanted to take me to Gooseberry Point.

Today, I decided I'd just go do laps up by Governors Pt from Wildcat Cove. Those were the best waves yesterday, and I figured I could then paddle right next to the cliffs to get some respite from the SE wind going back to the south. Ana and Wilson were just picking up their car from a downwinder, and that's when I heard about Dan. They thought that the wind was dying though, which is what I'd seen in the forecast. I was a bit trepidatious, but my plan worked great - to a point. The wind was still really strong - still clearly gusting 40+. So strong, that when I got back to Whiskey Rock on my first lap and had to go out away from the cliffs to go around it, I couldn't actually get past the rock going against the wind and waves. The wind just wanted to turn me around. So I turned and did another lap, hoping the wind would die some for the next time back. It didn't. Same result. So, I tried plan B. I took another ride to Governors, but didn't want to deal with the chop across the bay, especially solo. So I paddled in the lee across the south end of Chuckanut Bay until I could pull out on a beach by Yacht Club Rd. I left my boat in a protected spot by a bunch of other kayaks, and was prepared to do the walk of shame back to Larrabee to get the car. But a really nice guy who was out doing yard work (and who happens to know Duncan from rowing), offered to drive me down there. So, a bit of extra time, but it all worked out.

I guess it's the topography funneling the wind, but those SE gusts really crank coming around the corner by Whiskey Rock - it was way choppier there than anywhere else I saw. And some of the downdrafts seem to blast in all directions, kicking up multi-directional chop. Sporty stuff, at least for me.

Dave H.
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